Reflect

If I go to Walmart, I will probably get a cart with a squeaky wheel. I’m not guaranteed to get a defective cart each and every time, but my general observation of Walmart makes this a guiding principle that allows my shopping experience to be less frustrating.

Proverbs are not the same as promises. They are guiding principles, general observations of how life works, not guaranteed outcomes. We only have to look at a Proverb like 10:27 to understand this, since we all know a godly person who died much too young. The book of Proverbs does not guarantee that all will go well with us if we are wise; but rather, that making wise choices will, in general, lead to a more blessed, more successful, happier life.

In the end, we circle back to where we started in this reading plan. To live a successful life, we focus not on the expected blessings of wisdom, but on the One who is the source of all wisdom. The Lord is the one who prolongs life and brings justice to evil. He is the one who makes our plans succeed and establishes our steps. Like wisdom, success in life begins and ends with knowing God.

Respond

What does a “successful life” look like to you? Do you feel successful? Why or why not?

Have you ever “done all the right things” but still experienced a negative outcome? If so, how did that experience impact the way you feel about God?

What have you learned about wisdom during this reading plan? What have you learned about God? Yourself?