One of the things we encourage our leaders to do is to read the day’s chapter of Proverbs. It’s not something we’re legalistic about – – not a big deal if you miss a day – – but, I encourage leaders to plan on reading Proverbs the rest of their lives.
Wisdom is the saw we use to cut our way through life, and Proverbs sharpen our wisdom saw.
Today Tim Keller had a post explaining how a mini-guide to Proverbs is found in Proverbs 3:3-12:
In my regular, daily Bible reading over the past year I read through Proverbs 3, a passage I’ve studied and preached through many times. But during this reading, I realized that in verses 3 through 12 we have all the themes of the rest of the book, and therefore a kind of mini-guide to faithful living. There are five things that comprise a wise, godly life. They function both as means to becoming wise and godly as well as signs that you are growing into such a life:
1. Put your heart’s deepest trust in God and his grace. Every day remind yourself of his unconditioned, covenantal love for you. Do not instead put your hopes in idols or in your own performance.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart (Prov 3:3-5a)
2. Submit your whole mind to the Scripture. Don’t think you know better than God’s word. Bring it to bear on every area of life. Become a person under authority.
Lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov 3:5b-6)
3. Be humble and teachable toward others. Be forgiving and understanding when you want to be critical of them; be ready to learn from others when they come to be critical of you.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Prov 3:7-8)
Here to read the rest from Tim Keller.
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Other posts on Proverbs:
Leaders know how to pick up a crumb and carry it into the next room
I found this the 2nd time I read through proverbs. It is a thing I am trying to live by but I still have a long way to go/. Dick j
Thanks for this post from T.Keller, Chris. Some great insights from him. In January I started reading through Proverbs (most days) after reading a blog you wrote that referred to that practice; it’s amazing the familiarity of the chapters after just 3 mo., & the way the verses come to mind on a regular basis. Thanks for putting the idea out there – I hope to continue it for some time (life, as you suggest!).
Jill, I cannot tell you what a joy it is to hear from you – – I still think of you as our newlywed couple. Thanks for commenting. Yes, Proverbs for the rest of our lives.