Proverbs 24 Devotional Study with Pastor Jason Van Bemmel

Forest Hill Presbyterian Church

www.foresthillpca.org

Proverbs 24 emphasizes the importance of living according to God's wisdom, which includes discernment and skill for living well. Wisdom, honesty, obedience to authority, diligence, and hard work are key to a good life. Envy is one of the things that can derail a person from a life of wisdom. It is unwise to envy those who do not live according to integrity and wisdom, because they have more trouble than one might think. Wisdom is the skill to live right, understanding is seeing connections between actions and consequences, and knowledge is knowing the truth. Fools are not patient for these things and seek immediate gratification.

Other things that can derail a wise life include planning to do evil, devising folly, and scoffing at what is right. It is also important to not give up in the face of adversity. God is watching over our souls, understands our intentions, and will reward those who are faithful. The righteous may fall, but they will rise again, while the wicked will be ruined when they stumble. Do not rejoice when an enemy falls, because God may see this as scoffing. Instead, fear the Lord, honor those in authority, and do not join with those who do otherwise. Be diligent, plan ahead, and do your work. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and we need to humbly ask the Lord to write wisdom on our souls.