Joyce Meyer - In Search of Wisdom: Life-Changing Truths in the Book of Proverbs

T he Book of Proverbs is considered the Bibles book of wisdom, and it deals with both the practical and the spiritual issues of life. Wisdom is one of the greatest assets we can possess, and in order to have it, we must seek it diligently. Wisdom is simply the proper use of knowledge, and I like to define it as doing now what we will be happy with later in life. If we do as God instructs each day, then our tomorrows will be pleasing to Him and pleasant for us.

Each chapter of Proverbs is filled with principles that will benefit us if we obey them. I know numerous people whose lives are now falling apart because they have not made wise decisions in the past. Had they lived according to the principles Proverbs teaches, they would have none of their current problems, and their lives would be prosperous, peaceful, happy, and fruitful. When we search for wisdom and apply it to our lives, we will enjoy blessing, peace, joy, and fulfillment. We will be a blessing to others and live a life that is pleasing to God.

Proverbs contains thirty-one chapters. The Old Testament king Solomon wrote the first twenty-nine of them, with the exception of 22:17 through the end of . Its interesting to note that King Solomon and the other writers of Proverbs did not sit down and write all of these wise sayings in a short time, but that the book was compiled over a period of perhaps as many as two hundred years. This assures us that its wisdom has been tried and proven.

Proverbs includes teaching on how to treat people; wisdom; knowledge; understanding; discretion; discernment; prudence; the fear of the Lord; how to think; the importance of words; how to manage finances and the importance of staying out of debt; how to behave in marriage; cultivating good relationships; how to handle offenses, correction, and discipline; having a happy heart; anger; laziness; attitude; generosity; honesty; work; poverty; greed; and more. I do not intend for this book to address every subject mentioned in all thirty-one chapters of Proverbs. Instead, in each chapter of this book, I will focus and expound on several principles from the corresponding chapter in Proverbs, principles that I believe will greatly help you manage your daily life and obtain and grow in wisdom.

In order to follow the wisdom Proverbs offers, we need to be willing to obey Gods Word no matter how we feel, what we think, or what we want. This simply means that walking in wisdom requires spiritual maturity. Proverbs helps us gain that maturity as we learn its principles and secure Gods help to practice them. The search for wisdom is a journey, and having its principles worked into our character and become our natural responses to the issues of life requires time, thought, and practice.

Throughout this book I will ask you some questions about the lessons Proverbs teaches. These are easy yes-or-no questions Ive included simply to inspire you to think and to ask yourself how you are living relative to the principle being taught in a specific section of the book. These questions will also help you determine whether you are following wisdom. Reading about and knowing biblical principles is good, but knowledge that does not lead to action will not help you on a practical level. The questions will help keep you from merely reading Proverbs abstractly without applying its teachings to your life. They are not meant to make you feel uncomfortable, but to prompt you to apply what you are reading so that if you need help in the area to which a question pertains, you will allow the truth to make you free.

If you want to incorporate Gods Word into your daily life, which is Gods desire, this study of Proverbs will be very beneficial to you. In looking at other books written on Proverbs, I found a variety of ways to approach the process of writing this book. I kept feeling drawn to write about this book of the Bible, but I lacked clarity regarding how to go about it because it covers so many different subjects. In addition, many of the same topics are covered in several chapters. I settled on writing one chapter of this book on each chapter of Proverbs. Some chapters are longer than others, and my prayer has been that the Holy Spirit would guide me concerning what to highlight in each one.

As you read this book, I strongly suggest that you read the entire chapter of Proverbs to which each chapter pertains. The text of the Book of Proverbs is included in this book to aid you in this study. I pray you will be enlightened with Gods wisdom and His ways as we begin this journey through Proverbs and as we search for wisdom together.

As we begin our study of Proverbs, I believe that defining and gaining understanding of the seven key words or phrases used frequently throughout its thirty-one chapters is vital. These seven principles are interwoven into many of the principles that Proverbs presents, principles that should guide our actions in everyday life. Knowing what these terms mean is foundational to understanding and applying the whole of the message God wants to teach us through the Book of Proverbs.