As we officially entered the last month of the year, I decided to share an exercise one of my spiritual mentors has practiced for 25+ years. I will be reading a Proverb a day for December.
There is a time for everything, the changing of seasons lays out a framework for the practices we should take up in our own lives. Winter is a season of looking at your foundation, hibernation, and gaining wisdom through the reflection of hardship. December and specifically Christmas is a time to strip everything back to the foundation and promises of God. I believe this practice of reading a proverb a day fits in perfectly with the rhythm of the season. It fits perfectly into December; there are 31 Proverbs and 31 days ending with New Year’s Eve. I want to grow in wisdom before setting new goals for the new year.
Purpose of Proverbs
The Proverbs were written by King Solomon arguably one of the richest and wisest people who have ever lived. His wealth, inflation-adjusted, is estimated to have been $2 Trillion. King Solomon was raised as a God-fearing man under his father King David. David being, a man after God's own heart, wrote many of the Psalms. When Solomon became King of Israel, God blessed Solomon with wisdom, riches, and honor.
The Proverbs intends to teach wisdom and discipline. As stated in Proverbs 1: 4-6, “They make the naive mature, the young knowledgable and discrete, the wise hear them and grow in wisdom, those with understanding gain guidance, they help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings, the words of the wise, and their puzzles.” But, all wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord. Wisdom is not natural. Wisdom needs to be sought and provided to us from something greater than ourselves. Wisdom is a gift. When we recognize our position under God’s authority we are able to receive his wisdom and correction.
Lesson 1: Avoid Evil Associations
Avoiding evil associations is the first lesson King Solomon expands on. These sorts of people are looking to profit off of the innocence of others. They might provide enticing offers saying, “We’ll find all sorts of precious wealth; we’ll fill our houses with plunder. Throw in your lot with us; we’ll share the money.” (Proverbs 1: 13-14) But, what makes you think they will share the money with you. The truth is they will treat you like they treat the innocent and naive. Constantly looking for an angle to gain an edge and “they hurry to spill blood.” Pick your associations carefully because those are the people you do life. Evil people will ruin your life.
Lesson 2: Listen to Lady Wisdom
Numerous voices are looking to get our attention. Amongst the voices is Lady Wisdom. But she needs to be sought out. “Wisdom shouts in the street; in the public square, she raises her voice. Above the noisy crowd, she calls out. At the entrances of city gates, she has her say…” (Proverbs 1: 20-21) The mind is the city square, the shouting voices are the voices we allow take grasp of our minds. Wisdom is there trying to shout over the voices in our minds. Often she is difficult to hear because we have voices competing for her attention. We need to be wary of what we consume that takes hold of our minds. We need to take time to quiet the voices and meditate on what is righteous, "just, and full of integrity."
King Solomon lays out the path of the clueless and provides a warning. “When terror hits you like a hurricane, and your disaster comes in like a tornado, when distress and oppression overcome you. Then they will call to me, but I won’t answer; they will seek me, but won’t find me because they hated knowledge and they didn’t choose to fear of the Lord. They didn’t want my advice; they rejected all my corrections. They will eat from the fruit of their ways and they’ll be full of their own schemes." (Proverbs 1: 27-31) The seeds we sow today we reap in 12 months from now. Every decision has a consequence. If we seek wisdom today we will “dwell securely” and be “untroubled by the dread of harm.” Seeking out wisdom today secures your mind for the uncertainty of tomorrow.