“The proverbs of Solomon.” (Proverbs 10:1-3, NASB)

The passage for today marks the beginning of King Solomon’s collection of proverbs. They are considered to be timeless advice from the wisest man who ever lived on earth. The word “proverb” basically means “short, traditional sayings that offer practical advice, moral lessons, or general truths based on common sense, experience, or cultural wisdom.” They are often passed down through generations and are pithy statements that can guide behavior and reflect shared values. However, the book of Proverbs in the Bible is different because it is a collection of wise sayings from the wisest man on earth, whom God gave the gift of wisdom. It means Solomon’s proverbs reflect what is right and wrong, good and evil from God’s perspective, and show what pleases Him and doesn’t. It begins by saying:

“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. Ill-gotten gains do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, but He will thrust aside the craving of the wicked.”

Whether Solomon intended or not, I believe that words in the Proverbs are arranged, ordered, and placed according to God’s will. I believe this because people who wrote the Scriptures were led by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:20-21 says, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Christians believe that the Bible is divinely inspired and that the Holy Spirit is the real author behind the scenes, moving people to write the right words. Therefore, I believe that there are no accidents in the Bible. The first three topics that Solomon addressed were: the proper relationship between parents and children (verse 1), the right gain and use of money (verse 2), and the appropriate way to channel one’s desires (verse 3).

The proverbs of Solomon, or any other wise sayings in the Bible, do not directly tell us what to do or not do. Instead, they provide simple principles concerning a matter and expect the people to think and choose. To me, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 is a perfect companion to the proverbs. It says, “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” It means it is up to us to “examine” things, relationships, circumstances, and even biblical truths, and choose for ourselves the right way to go. Further, examining things carefully requires something to measure them against. It is implied that we are to examine or measure things based on the truths of the words of God. Even Solomon had to examine his life with the gift of wisdom to draw conclusions. In Ecclesiastes 1:13, he stated, “And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.” In other words, God provides timeless, proven principles, and we are to think through things and choose the right path ourselves. We are to choose “that which is good” and steer away from “every form of evil.”

This is harder than it sounds. It is because there are many grey and neutral areas in life issues. For example, what does a “wise” son look like? What does it mean to be a “foolish” son? What kind of character, life decisions, and behaviors constitute wise living? Solomon plainly states that a wise son will make a father glad, but a foolish son will bring grief to his mother. It made sense to me because men show respect and honor for one another, and women are more emotional. Regarding money, we can ask questions such as: What constitutes “ill-gotten gain” and what makes a person “righteous” in a financial setting? Obviously, stealing, robbing, or doing illegal work is wrong. But what do you think of financial gains through following jobs: owning a liquor store, creating and writing software for games, growing tobacco, making wine, and making content for social media as influencers? It’s not easy, especially when it comes to relationships and money. We must examine things carefully, taking cues from the timeless principles in God’s words, and do our best to hold on to what is good and stay away from evil.

• Do you believe Solomon deliberately placed filial relationships and earning money first?
• What does it mean to evaluate things thoroughly, keep what’s good, and avoid what’s bad?