Prescribing Proverbs – August 1st – RX One

PRESCRIBING PROVERBS
August 1st, 2021

A Proverb a day keeps Untruth away

Proverbs 1:1-6, ‘These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king—written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; a manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; to teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.’ (MSG)

Prescription (RX) One: Start with God

Proverbs 1:7, ‘Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.’ (MSG)

Years ago, in one of my grade school classes, we were all given a pop quiz. Of course, it landed on each of our desks unexpected (that’s why it’s called a ‘pop quiz’) and was welcomed with the typical barrage of complaints and sighs. The teacher reminded us to read all the instructions prior to taking the quiz. We all settled into the two-page long test.
There were a few of us who finished faster than others, and as we turned it in, our teacher shushed us and dismissed those finished out to the schoolyard. Some classmates raised eyebrows as we turned in our quizzes and went back to their own. As kids trickled out to the playground eventually, they did so sheepishly, some red-faced, others spewing frustration, “That was so stupid! Why would she trick us like that?” they vented. To which, those of us who finished quickly, replied smugly, “You had the same instructions we did which you should have read first as she instructed us to.”

The gist of the quiz was to read all the instructions, and if you read all the instructions as advised, the last instruction informed you to jump to the last question of the test. Once you did so, the final question congratulated you for following directions and said you were completed with the quiz and could turn it in to the teacher without answering any questions. The best part was you were excused from class for the rest of the period. Those who had not read the instructions, but instead started in on answering the multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank quiz questions went through two-pages of questions that ended up being unnecessary to complete.

In beginning our new series for August, I am reminded of that occasion from my grade-school years. As I began excavating through Chapter One of Proverbs, I immediately am stopped by the words, ‘Start with God—the first step’. It reminds me of that silly quiz which I happened to be one of the fortunate ones who used to follow every instruction I was given (as close to the letter as I could, mind you) so I skipped to the final question immediately and got to go out to play quickly.

But I spent many ensuing years not following instructions, and my ignorance and obstinance got me really lost on a lot of useless trails. By not reading manuals, I ‘broke’ things I could have used more effectively, and by not following roadmaps and markers, I took many unnecessary detours and found myself lost frequently. I didn’t get to ‘pass GO and collect $200’ very often. I found myself steeped in paying for ridiculous ‘tickets’ and hoping for ‘Get out of Jail FREE’ cards and I put carelessly my earnings in a purse with holes (Haggai 1:6b).
Our Father has breathed His instruction for our living all over the pages of a handbook called the Bible, or God’s Word. It is our reference with how to manage this life, and if we follow His instructions, we get to embrace others we meet along this journey, we receive His blessing and favor, and someday we will all be welcomed into His presence forever. (That’s a long time! and also better than collecting any $200 when we pass GO!)

So He instructs us to 1) ‘Start with God; and, 2) The first step in learning: bowing down to God. And that’s what I am going to do: start each moment of each day with Him and bowing down to Him as best I can. It’s like finding, since I followed the instruction, I can skip all the way to the end of the pop quiz, and now I get to go play.

I encourage you to do your own study of Proverbs as well as follow along with me! Here’s how it works: take a Proverb a day (there are 31, so perfect for the month of August) and read the chapter that corresponds with the day. Then stop on a verse that grips your attention. Focus on the verse(s) for the day as it is highly possible the Holy Spirit is speaking to you through what He helped you unearth. It’s almost like a Treasure Hunt! I will share with you this month Golden Nuggets the Holy Spirit leads me to, and I would love to have you share with me what He reveals to you in your mining excavation also!