Consider this ‘wisdom’ check a barometer to see how we are doing as a human race in heeding the words of wisdom recorded by King Solomon in the biblical book of Proverbs. Solomon, the son of King David, asked God for wisdom and God granted his request. Solomon is said to be the ‘wisest’ man who ever lived, and also the ‘richest’ man who ever lived. Though he was wise and rich, Solomon was not a perfect person, he commited sins just like the rest of us, but his wise words and proverbs of Godly and practical wisdom written down for us in the Bible, is wisdom we would be wise to follow in our daily lives today, especially since it was God who supplied Solomon with his wisdom.
Perhaps certain people will come to mind as you read through the following ‘selected’ proverbs of Solomon, such as specific political leaders, or high profile people in the entertainment industry, athletes in professional sports, broadcast journalists and commentators, print media news people, or people you know in your own corner of the world, including your local pastor and other religious leaders, but especially have ‘yourself’ in mind as you consider how we are all doing in following Solomon’s advice for making this a better world to live in for the nearly 7.1 billion people today!
So…let’s see how we are doing around the world in applying Solomon’s wise words of advice to our daily activities in society, in government, and in our personal lives.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:3-5
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. 3:6
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 3:7
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 3:27
Do not contend with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm. 3:30
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put devious lips far from you. 4:24
There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. 6:16-19
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 9:10
A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. 10:1
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions. 10:12
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. 10:19
When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom. 11:2
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. 11:11
The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. 11:25
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. 12:1
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who shames him is as rottenness in his bones. 12:4
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. 12:15
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. 12:22
Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. 12:25
A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 13:1
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 13:3
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly. 13:16
He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. 13:24
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and finds none, but knowledge is easy to him who has understanding. 14:6
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. 14:12
A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless. 14:16
In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 14:23
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. 14:29
He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. 14:31
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. 14:34
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 15:1
The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. 15:14
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and turmoil with it. 15:16
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger pacifies contention. 15:18
Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but pleasant words are pure. 15:26
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 15:28
The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility. 15:33
Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice. 16:8
The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. 16:9
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; all the weights of the bag are His concern. 16:11
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. 16:16
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. 16:18
He who gives attention to the word shall find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. 16:20
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 16:24
A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends. 16:28
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. 16:32
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts. 17:3
A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. 17:10
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. 17:15
He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 17:27
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is counted prudent. 17:28
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe. 18:10
He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. 18:13
What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar. 19:22
He who assaults his father and drives his mother away is a shameful and disgraceful son. 19:26
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. 20:1
Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance. 20:18
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. 21:1
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, because they refuse to act with justice. 21:7
The execution of justice is joy for the righteous, but is terror to the workers of iniquity. 21:15
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles. 21:23
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. 22:6
Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, even strife and dishonor will cease. 22:10
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. 25:11
Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you. 25:17
Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. 25:19
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. 26:4
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 26:12
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. 27:1
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all things. 28:5
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked though he be rich. 28:6
The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him. 28:11
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan. 29:2
When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest. 29:9
A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back. 29:11
If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, all his ministers become wicked. 29:12
When the wicked increase, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall. 29:16
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained. 29:18
The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. 29:25
Well, after reading these proverbs, how do you think we are all doing in practicing and applying these words of wisdom to our daily lives? These examples of Godly wisdom are just a small percentage of the practical bits of wisdom imparted to mankind through the ages by Solomon in the biblical book of Proverbs. There is much more wisdom to be harvested from the book of Proverbs, which would make our world and our daily lives go so much smoother if we would abide by God’s words of wisdom for living in this world. How sweet it would be if world leaders, including our own president here in America, would follow these words of wisdom. The positive trickle down affect it would have on the rest of societies everywhere would be astonishing! Of course we know that Satan wants to ‘twist’ words of wisdom whenever he can to make good things appear evil, and evil things appear good! THAT is the wide ‘mainstream’ road Satan wants to pave leading as many people as he can straight to Hell. But if those of us who love God, and believe in His son Jesus Christ, will continue to follow the ‘narrow’ road that leads to Eternal Life…then we will truly be wise!