Proverbs 4

I love highlighting Bible verses that I feel are of importance to my spiritual growth. Many brethren who have read my Bible or at least flipped the pages of my Bible before commented that my Bible is very colorful.

But when it comes to the Book of Proverbs, you’ll only see a few verses being highlighted.

It is not that I can’t find any verse that is of importance to my spiritual life, on the contrary, if I were to highlight, I would have to highly 80% or more in the whole Book of Proverbs.

This is because this Book is filled with practical Christian life applications that are of great significance to our spiritual growth.

So it is needless to say that there are tons to glean from today’s Bible reading.

But I’ll not write too much here, as I would hope you can also share how you’ve been edified and what you’ve learnt from this chapter.

Bible Passage: Proverbs 4

I think this chapter can be summed up in these words:

Esteem, Acquire, Treasure, and Apply True Wisdom

This chapter began by using the analogy of a loving father who gives good instructions to his only son.

To most of us, a ‘father’ is a figure of authority and honour, so as a son, it is only right and wise to listen obediently to his father’s instructions.

he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

keep my commandments, and live.

Proverbs 4:4 (ESV)

Our earthly fathers may not be very educated or necessarily have great wisdom, but they have our interests in their hearts. Therefore whatever instructions they give us, they are deemed best for our lives.

The instructions that our earthly fathers give us can caution us from doing wrong, but the instructions that our Heavenly Father give us not only can caution us from doing wrong, they can also give us spiritual life.

So, in the verse above, I’m sure all of us can detect immediately that the ‘word’ and the ‘commandments’ come from our Father in Heaven, for they can give life.

Our Heavenly Father is the Creator of the whole universe; He created everything according to His wisdom and His Word.

Therefore it is needless to say that we who are His children must listen and abide by His word, for our Lord Jesus had also reminded us,

And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the

Father has told me.”

John 12:50 (ESV)

The commands/instructions of the Lord has power, the power to give life. No one in his or her right mind would want death.

The word of God had been in the world since time began, but sadly, man in his folly has chosen to ignore it, and thus man has to face the consequences of rejecting God’s word.

We all always say that we have to be practical in our doings, and this is very true and necessary.

But practical things have to be things that can be of benefit to us and also for the benefit of others, so in regards to wisdom, she is practical and we must acquire her (v5) for our benefit and for others.

V 21 admonishes us to keep the word of God in the midst of our hearts. How do we do that? Let’s see how the psalmist does it.

Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.

Psalms 119:78 (NKJV)

My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.

Psalms 119:148 (NKJV)

A proud person is a foolish person without knowing the word of God, without wisdom. So the psalmist taught us how we can acquire wisdom, and that is to meditate on His precepts and His word, even staying awake to meditate through the night.

Besides acquiring wisdom from the word of God, we can also open our ears to others who have already acquired wisdom through the word of God.

We have to be humble to learn from others, emulate them in applying wisdom in our daily dealings.

Do share your thoughts on this wonderful chapter with our readers and me.

May God shower His wisdom upon us in abundance, so that we can walk right in His sight, pleasing Him in all that we do.

Shalom!