Adam McLane

Wisdom

rodin__the_thinker2He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
he who cherishes understanding prospers.

Proverbs 19:8

Adam’s translation

Wanna sleep at night? Chase after wisdom with all you’ve got. But don’t just chase wisdom, put it into action.

For the past couple of months I’ve been living in Proverbs. Sure, I do a lot of tweeting and Facebooking on my iPhone. But I’ve also been giving the Bible app (and my snail Bible) a workout. And almost all of my reading has been in Proverbs. On the trolley. At the office. At the dining room table. At football games. Backstage during sessions at NYWC. On planes. Over coffee. You get the idea.

Again and again, I find myself blown away by this stuff. This was recorded a few thousand years back and it is just as relevant today as it was back then.

Here’s a sampling of the verses I’ve bookmarked in the last 3-4 days:

Proverbs 14:15 “A simple man believes anything,
but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.“

Proverbs 14:23 “All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.“

Proverbs 15:18 “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
but a patient man calms a quarrel.”

Proverbs 15:23 “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word!“

Proverbs 16:19 “Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.“

Proverbs 17:5 “He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.”

Proverbs 18:6 “A fool’s lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.“

Proverbs 18:12 “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.“

Proverbs 18:24 “A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.“

Proverbs 20:19 “”A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid a man who talks too much.“

Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.“

Proverbs 21:21 “He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.“

What one thing you do you when you are faced with tough times and hard decisions?

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Comments

2 responses to “Wisdom”

  1. Lars Rood Avatar
    Lars Rood

    Adam- Great reminder of the incredible usefulness of the scriptures to both the “real world” and today. When I am faced with tough times and hard decisions I take that and pray/think about it while I run or walk. For me I find that it’s only when I am alone and without distractions that God then translates this to my circumstance. Running for me works because I can’t be on a “device” while I do it.

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  2. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    My church set up a team of 7 ladies who pray for me (1 for each day of the week) so the first thing I do is send an SOS in their direction. Knowing they’re praying for me gives me great encouragement.

    Reply

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