Author: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon’s name appears in 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1.
Date of Writing: This book was written around 900 B.C. During King Solomon’s reign as king, the nation of Israel reached its pinnacle spiritually, politically, culturally, and economically.
The Book of Proverbs is like a treasure chest filled with wise sayings to help us live in a way that pleases God. It was mostly written by King Solomon, who was known as one of the wisest men who ever lived. God gave Solomon wisdom, and he wanted to share it with everyone so they could live smart, kind, and godly lives. Let’s dive into some of the wise lessons from Proverbs and see what we can learn!
1. The Beginning of Wisdom
The first and most important lesson from Proverbs is this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Now, “fear” here doesn’t mean being scared of God; it means respecting Him, listening to Him, and trusting His ways.
Imagine you’re on a path, and you have two choices: one leads to good things, and the other leads to trouble. Proverbs tells us that if we follow God and respect Him, we will choose the right path, the one that leads to wisdom, joy, and life.
Lesson: True wisdom begins when we put God first in everything we do.
2. Listening to Parents and Teachers
Proverbs has many lessons about listening to your parents and teachers. It says, “My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.” Parents and teachers give us advice because they love us and want what’s best for us.
Just like when you learn to ride a bike, you need someone to show you how. If you ignore their advice, you might fall and get hurt. But if you listen, you’ll learn to ride safely and have fun! In the same way, Proverbs teaches that we should listen to people who are wiser than us because they can help us make good choices.
Lesson: We should listen to wise advice from our parents, teachers, and others who care about us.
3. Be Kind and Honest
Proverbs has a lot to say about being kind and honest. One of the sayings is, “A kind word cheers up the heart, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” This means that our words are very powerful. We can use them to make people feel happy or hurt.
If someone is sad, a kind word can make them smile again. But if we use mean words, it can hurt someone’s feelings and make them angry. Proverbs teaches us to choose our words carefully and always be kind, even when it’s hard.
Another lesson in Proverbs is about being honest. “The Lord hates lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.” This means God wants us to tell the truth, even when it’s difficult. When we are honest, people can trust us, and it makes God happy.
Lesson: Our words matter! We should always be kind and honest, just like God wants us to be.
4. Working Hard is Important
Proverbs also talks about the value of working hard. It says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” This means we should learn from the ant, a tiny insect that works very hard to gather food and prepare for the future.
Sometimes we might feel lazy and not want to do our chores, homework, or other responsibilities. But Proverbs teaches that working hard is important because it helps us grow and makes us strong. When we do our best in everything, we are honoring God and making good use of the talents He has given us.
Lesson: We should always do our best and work hard, because that pleases God and helps us succeed.
5. Choosing Good Friends
Proverbs says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” This is about choosing the right friends. If you hang out with friends who are kind, wise, and make good choices, they will help you make good choices too. But if your friends make bad choices and don’t listen to wise advice, you might end up doing the same and getting into trouble.
Think of it like this: If you’re building something and someone comes along with good ideas, they help you make something amazing! But if someone comes along and knocks everything down, it ruins what you’re trying to build. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with good friends who help you build a strong life.
Lesson: Choose friends who encourage you to make good choices and follow God’s ways.
6. Self-Control is Important
Another lesson in Proverbs is about self-control. It says, “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” This means that if we don’t control our actions and emotions, we can get into trouble easily.
Imagine a city with no walls—enemies can come in and attack! In the same way, if we don’t control our anger, our words, or our actions, we might hurt others or ourselves. Self-control helps protect us from doing things we’ll regret.
Lesson: Learning to control our actions and words is important because it helps us stay on the right path and avoid trouble.
7. Trusting God
One of the most famous verses in Proverbs is “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This means that instead of trying to figure everything out by ourselves, we should trust God to guide us.
Sometimes we might not understand why things happen or what the right choice is, but Proverbs tells us that if we trust God and follow Him, He will show us the way to go. Just like a GPS guides us when we’re lost, God leads us when we trust Him with all our hearts.
Lesson: We can trust God to guide us, even when we don’t understand what’s happening.
Key Lessons from Proverbs:
- Wisdom starts with loving and respecting God: When we put God first in our lives, He helps us make wise choices.
- Listen to wise advice: Our parents, teachers, and other wise people give us advice to help us make good choices.
- Be kind and truthful: Our words have the power to make people feel good or bad, so we should always choose kindness and honesty.
- Work hard: Whether it’s chores, homework, or other tasks, doing our best honors God and helps us grow.
- Choose good friends: Friends who make good choices can help us stay on the right path.
- Practice self-control: Controlling our words and actions helps us avoid trouble and make wise decisions.
- Trust God: No matter what happens, we can trust that God knows what’s best for us and will guide us.
Proverbs is like a guidebook for life, filled with lessons that help us make good choices, be kind, and trust God every day. When we follow these wise sayings, we grow closer to God and live a life that makes Him happy!
