Tag Archives: seek wisdom

Reading:
Proverbs 20:11-20

In the last few weeks, I suppose a lot of people have come to wish they had a stash of gold and jewels instead of the devalued or useless paper assets they hold.

Without question, gold and precious stones are of great value. Why, I don’t exactly understand. But that’s the way it is.

What about my lips?

Or to frame the question differently, what about my words?

And the thoughts and knowledge and attitudes behind those words?

“There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel” (15).

Sure, gold and rubies are precious jewels in their own right.

But lips of knowledge? Now there’s another category of precious jewel!

(By the way, my Spanish Bible uses “prudent lips” in place of the KJV’s “lips of knowledge.”)

[Every purpose is established by counsel (Proverbs 20:18)]
from Proverbs 20:18

A little bit more from Proverbs 20: So Ask for Them!

Reading:
Proverbs 18:1-12

American and global economic structures have sure taken a pounding the last two or three weeks.

Insurance companies, mortgage companies, banking companies, credit companies, auto companies — who else has been shown to be unstable, weak, and cracking?

This week in particular, stock markets have trended overall downward. The plunge from record highs has been stunning and breath-taking. Today is the last day of the business week — will they regain lost ground or will they collapse into a pile of financial rubble?

How does this or how will this impact me and my family?

Will this fear-inducing display of economic gravity take down Anabaptist Bookstore with it?

In what or whom will we find rest and peace?

“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit” (11).

So many people thought they were secure and safe and sure in their investments, in their savings, and in their jobs.

Those strong cities have been besieged. Those strong walls have been breached.

Now what will they do?

[The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit (Proverbs 18:11)]
Proverbs 18:11

[The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe (Proverbs 18:10)]
Proverbs 18:10

A little bit more from Proverbs 18: Before