The Power of Proverbs
After eating a meal in an American Chinese restaurant, what do most people look forward to?
“Ding, ding, ding!” if you said, “A fortune cookie!”
A simple Google search confirms, “Served complimentary with the check, this iconic, crisp cookie containing a, often prophetic or wise, paper slip provides a final, engaging element to the dining experience.”
You probably have a fortune cookie ritual; mine is to read the fortune out loud and add the name of the city I’m in, for example, “You will unlock great wealth…in North Pole!” Everyone laughs because we know there’s no real power in the slip of paper—it was manufactured in a factory by laborers hurrying to get paid and go home.
But something inside us hopes it might be true…
Many readers of the Bible have found something more reliable than a fortune cookie, something that doesn’t include massive doses of MSG, and “fortunately,” has the “Inspired by God” stamped across its pages. If you said, “the Book of Proverbs!” you’re spot on!
What makes the Book of Proverbs in the Bible any different from a fortune cookie?
That’s a very relevant question to consider, otherwise, we may be tempted to treat both as novelties to be read and dismissed. Solomon stated his reasons for writing and compiling the Proverbs in his introduction, Proverbs 1:1-7 ESV:
Verse 1: Unlike fortune cookies, the Proverbs come from a high-level and legitimate source:
“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:”
They are intended to provide a purpose and depth simple cookies can’t provide. As the Word in Life Study Bible puts it, “Proverbs, by contrast, presents biblical wisdom grounded in God’s perspective—truth that isn’t exhaustive but potent, meant to provoke reflection and redirect lives.”
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
Proverbs is written intentionally, covering issues for every age group and every station in life, “from friendship and finances to speech and sexuality”—not random sayings, but interconnected gems teaching how you can secure the wisdom to navigate this world successfully. The Proverbs will benefit most if you prayerfully think through the sometimes-obscure meaning.
One meaning is absolutely clear, and extremely relevant for us today: wisdom doesn’t come from fantasy, or by creating our own realities, or by denying biblical knowledge, it starts with humbly accepting that God is Truth, that he knows more than you do, that you will never fathom the depths of His knowledge but you’d be a fool to not try. Wisdom begins when you honor and obey God.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Today, begin the journey to experience the power of Proverbs!
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