These heavenly promises of life, health, and prosperity and honor seem detached from earth’s harsh realities. If you compared Proverbs, to Job and Ecclesiastes, the promises in Proverbs seem false to human experience under the sun. Are these truly promises?

Jesus has given some wisdom to us, but we are still much in need. Where do we as Christians turn for such wisdom? True wisdom is from above.

You must commit to God’s Words. Through His words, he will give you a godly and socially winsome character so that you are protected from the influence of wicked men and women.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning or foundation or prerequisite of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is that affectionate reverence, by which the children of God bend themselves humbly and carefully to their Heavenly Father’s law. You have the book before you – Will you study it diligently? Will you receive it?

The tongue is powerful. Training your speech and thoughts by the grace of the Holy Spirit results in spiritual maturity. However, oftentimes Christians wander and become unnatural. The mouth that was made to bless is allowed to curse.

The normal christian life is access to God. The normal christian life is listening to God. The normal christian life is service of God. Christian, this we have been equipped for the rest of our days.

The angels gave the Shepherds a sign to look for. The baby will be in swaddling clothes and in a manger. Question 1: To what did they respond? Question 2: How did the shepherds respond to these words concerning the revelation and purpose of God’s love?

The Holy Spirit reveals at the birth of Jesus, at Christmas, that Jesus is a stone and a sign opposed. Is Jesus your rock? Or, will he be your ruin? Pledge allegiance to him and you will rise. Deny him and you will fall. There is no third option.

We are prone to wander. However, through this instruction from James we may stay on the path of true Christian faith. Where there is fire, there is smoke. Where there is faith, there is fruitfulness.