A Word to the Wise

Proverbs for Peace and Prosperity

I’m currently reading through Proverbs in my quest to read through the Bible in one year. This portion of the “wisdom books” is a pleasure to read—even humorous, I think—particularly if you enjoy observing people and their laughably predictable behaviors. If you’re a leader, Proverbs is a roadmap for choosing your inner circle. If you’re a parent, Proverbs is a quick-reference guide to raising children. For everyone, though, Proverbs points the simple way to a God-pleasing, productive and joyful life.

Every book of God’s word is instructive, but the lessons of this book require no backstory or historical context, making them particularly accessible to those less familiar with the Bible. Like all scripture, Proverbs is as instructive for our decade as it was in 700 BC—but with pithy economy that appeals to modern ears. In fact, most news headlines unwittingly illustrate at least one verse in Proverbs; political intrigues, local crime news and “Florida man” stories reliably feature Proverbs’ quintessential fools.

We don’t have to scan headlines to find fools, though. The impulsive remark, angry spirit or companion of the wicked may live in our own home or lodge in our own hearts. Our wayward desires may pull us into dangerous currents. Some uncomfortable reflection may therefore reveal that the man in the mirror has earned his own arrows of rebuke from Proverbs’ quiver. Nobody escapes Proverbs’ pointed observations.

It’s hard to pick out favorite verses in this famous wisdom book. The topics covered in its thirty-one chapters speak to the everyday issues of fallen and sinful hearts. Proverbs touches on the nagging wife, the lazy man, the foolish son, and the gossip; it targets rulers, criminals and government grifters. It spares none, yet it points all to the truths that would guard them all from the ugly consequences it describes.

Most of its truths are repeated in multiple places with variations on the language or illustration; nonetheless, I’ll offer a few representative (and favorite) passages that capture our current moment.

On politicians, double-standards and lawfare, we have “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord (17:15).” On the topic of female celebrities who carry water for the Left, a brutal takedown: “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion (11:22).” On today’s vapid array of TikTokkers, pundits, and protesters, we have “a fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion (18:2).”

Speaking of opinions, Proverbs tell us to offer them with well-chosen and persuasive words—not passionate vitriol, but honey-sweetened wisdom. This one stings a bit for me, as my own family can attest that I’m often impassioned—if not brutally blunt— when I spot a dangerous red flag in my child’s life. However, even there, Proverbs offers a balancing thought: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy (27:6).” As I’ve told my children, “you’ll thank me later.”

Now that we’re on the verge of a new and (we hope) improved administration, we need Proverbs’s wisdom more than ever. It outlines the character required of our leaders and citizenry, and it even addresses wealth, poverty, and safety. The building blocks of a prosperous and productive nation are found in its Spirit-inspired pages—and that wisdom animated the pens of our founders, as well.

Let’s look at the economic precepts of Proverbs, where diligent work and wise planning predict prosperity, and laziness brings hunger and want. “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich (10:4).” Laziness isn’t just sitting around at home, though—it also includes fruitless activities, which includes spending excessive time on recreation: “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense (12:11).” When committed to God and aligned with his purposes, “the plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance (21:5).”

Sadly, diligence and wealth-building habits are foreign to the consciences of today’s over-entertained young, who would rather watch their phones, play video games or get lost in social media during their spare time. Yet their everyday habits and work ethics will largely determine their financial future—including home ownership and the ability to thrive without government assistance. It’s never too early to train our children in Proverbs’ timeless strategies for independence and prosperity.

Of course, even the most diligent will suffer in a country run by corrupt bureaucrats, and Proverbs has much to say about that, too. Wicked leaders earn “deceptive wages” (11:18) and their “unequal weights and unequal measures…are an abomination to the Lord” (20:10). We have long observed career politicians enrich themselves and impoverish their constituents through evil schemes—incentivizing victimhood, penalizing success, accepting bribes and buying votes, to name a few. As Proverbs says, “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering tongue works ruin.”

However, the poor will always be with us (as Jesus himself taught), so a good government will encourage industry while still showing compassion to widows, orphans, and those physically unable to work. Bad economic policies—despite their popularity on campaign trails—are cruel to the poor and an affront to God. “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him” (14:31). Generosity includes financial assistance for real needs, but it should also “teach a man to fish” and thereby promote self-supporting people. Such efforts are best accomplished at the local level, since massive and unaccountable federal aid rewards deception and breeds corruption.

What about “economic justice”? Showing preference to the poor is no biblical prescription, despite such suggestions by the theological left; neither should justice favor the wealthy or enrich government cronies. In fact, the entire economic spectrum stands exposed and equal before God because “the Lord is the Maker of them all (22:2)”. Other books in the Bible—Exodus, Leviticus, and Paul’s letters—also warn against favoring the poor, even in law. In the end, policies that favor wealth creation and wise habits do more to alleviate poverty than social justice narratives ever will. “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty (14:23)”.

So much more could be said about the macro-issues of life, but at the micro level, Proverbs provides some of its richest commentary. Feminists will be disappointed that folly itself is likened to a “loud” and “seductive” woman" who “knows nothing (9:13).” Man caves have thus been long sought by beleaguered husbands, as suggested here: “It is better to live in a corner on the roof than inside the house with a quarreling wife (25:24).” Proverbs also compares quarrelsome wives to “a continual dripping of rain (19:13)”. Archie Bunker was only the modern face of the ancient struggle.

Men don’t get a pass, though. If you’re lazy, wicked, or just plain old stupid, Proverbs has a word for you, too. For the latter category, we’ll start with a verse that should adorn every tavern entry: “A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating (18:6).” For able-bodied young men who frequent sofas and enjoying sleeping late, there’s this imagery: “As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed (26:14).” As for wicked men, Proverbs marks them as fearful and soft: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion (28:1).”

Speaking of those wicked men, they are easy to find in our noisy world of continuous news coverage and social media. They propose perverse or illogical ideas and are inherently opposed to the good, the true and the beautiful. Their words reek of malice and depravity, celebrating that which grieves the heart of God. They flock with anyone who shares this magnetic bent toward darkness. Proverbs identifies their kind and offers a sober warning (6:12-15, NASB version):

A worthless person, a wicked man,
Is one who walks with a perverse mouth,
Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet,
Who points with his fingers;
Who, with perversion in his heart, continually devises evil,
Who spreads strife.
Therefore his disaster will come suddenly;
Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.

Now that the new year hovers, we can move forward with a fresh commitment to wisdom. Though we may not control the levers of government, we do enjoy the even higher privilege of stewarding our personal provinces with godly wisdom; and we should walk with those similarly resolved. The fools will slouch toward ruin on their wide and brambled highway, but good things await the narrower path of the wise.