In his Preface, Proverbs, Wisdom for All Ages, Thomas L. Seals wrote:
Proverbs is truly wisdom for all ages. It is the one book in the Old Testament which gives practical advice on how to live godly lives in the midst of a changing world. It has no equal aside from the small epistle of James in the New Testament. For this reason, we have undertaken the task of writing this book in order to equip the man and woman of God with the wisdom of Proverbs. Through the application of such wisdom, in our daily lives, we can be made better men and women of God and thus make a better society.
I most certainly attest to these thoughts because God’s wisdom is second to none and far superior to the deepest thinking minds of any age! How could man have any good and honorable concept that God forgot or overlooked?
Have you ever considered Proverbs for daily Bible reading? Neither had I until it was suggested in an article or a tract that I read at least 30 years ago. To my regret, I did not write down the name of the article or the tract, not to mention the author or the year of publication, but the suggestion was well taken. At that time, it was a most welcomed suggestion because then I was still struggling to make reading my Bible a daily reality. I have done what I could to encourage those who have expressed the desire to become daily Bible readers and simply did not know where or how to begin.
The reason this suggestion for daily Bible reading caught my attention immediately was the fact that Proverbs has 31 chapters, and there is no month with more than 31 days. To begin, read each day the chapter corresponding with the day of the month. It is so easily done if you first have a willing, sincere mind and a strong desire to come to know God’s Word and how He deals with us. Proverbs presents the mind of God in a very pointed and self-examining way. If you wanted to read the entire book, one source indicated it can be read in 1 hour and 40 minutes. A lot of us spend more time than that every day reading newspapers, magazines, novels, etc. The time spent on the Internet, cell phones, texting, TV, movies, etc. far exceeds 1 hour and 40 minutes daily!
One of the things that makes Proverbs easy to use as a daily Bible reading method is it does not matter which day of the month you start reading. The key to your success is once you start, do not let a day pass without reading the chapter that corresponds with that day of the month. If it is the only passage you read the entire day, your goal is accomplished. It will only take a few minutes even if you are an average reader. Speed is not your goal; gaining the wisdom, knowledge and understanding from the all-knowing God is paramount as eternity lies before us. Read slowly, carefully and expectantly. Which version of God’s Word should you use? The one you will read. Just make sure it is a Bible version and not a paraphrase. Why? The Psalmist David said in Psalm 119:160, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
Reading Proverbs daily will instill godly wisdom that is beyond calculation. Speaking of this wisdom, Proverbs 8:1 declares, “Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?” Wisdom speaks in verses 10-14, “Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. I, wisdom, dwell with prudence [penetrating consideration], and find out knowledge and discretion.” Proverbs 8:17 states, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.” Verses 22-26 announce:
The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primal dust of the world.
James 1:5 is a most familiar passage stating how to gain godly wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” The only way we get wisdom or anything else is because God gives it to us. We deserve and merit nothing. Everything we can fathom is a gift from God.
After we have asked and received godly wisdom in obedient, submissive and trusting faith, we are told what this priceless heavenly treasure involves. James first explained worldly wisdom as having bitter envy, self-seeking, boasting and lying against the truth and is earthly, sensual, demonic. Continuing James 3:17 reads, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Isn’t that rich? We will strive to achieve that level of wisdom until this life is over!
Reading and living daily the Book of Proverbs will enrich us and encourage those in our sphere of influence for the remainder of our lives. In addition, developing the spiritual discipline of daily reading the Proverbs will increase our knowledge and understanding of who God is. Our minds will be transformed, and we will hold His wisdom and righteousness in the highest reverence.
