Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai
INTRODUCTION
We have come to the final part of this year’s Proverbs Challenge, and in today’s study we shall be looking at the synopsis of chapters 21-31. These chapters contain a wide array of wisdom on practical living, justice, relationships, and virtues, culminating in a focus on the virtuous life looking at main topics such as diligence, humility, and godly fear.
DAY 21 - CHAPTER 21
Scriptures (Verse 16): “The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.” NLT
(Verse 21):“The lovers of God who chase after righteousness will find all their dreams come true: an abundant life drenched with favor and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction.” TPT
Revelation: You can never go wrong with following after righteousness, but you can never be right following after foolishness.
Application: If there was ever any motivation for following after righteousness these two verses spell them out. More than ever before we must follow after righteousness. It’s not that we will never do wrong but when we do, it will not be on purpose.
DAY 22 - CHAPTER 22
Scriptures (Verse 10): “Say goodbye to a troublemaker and you’ll say goodbye to quarrels, strife, tension, and arguments, for a troublemaker traffics in shame.” [TPT]
Revelation: Unhealthy relationships create undue stress and tension
Application: Be decisive about severing toxic and unhealthy relationships. Never give anyone the power to manipulate you.
DAY 23 - CHAPTER 23
Scriptures (Verses 17-18): “Don’t allow the actions of evil men to cause you to burn with anger. Instead, burn with unrelenting passion as you worship God in holy awe. Your future is bright and filled with a living hope that will never fade away.” TPT
Revelation: Anger displaces us from our God given purpose and future
Application: We have an assured future in God. We must continue to channel our passion towards the worship of God instead of burning in anger to the wickedness of the world
DAY 24 - CHAPTER 24
Scriptures (Verses 30-34) “I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” [NLT]
(Verses 33-34 )TPT says: “Professional work habits prevent poverty from becoming your permanent business partner. And: If you put off until tomorrow the work you could do today, tomorrow never seems to come.”
Revelation: There’s always a lesson to learn from every situation even if it’s how not to do something but it takes effort
Application: We must never allow a learning opportunity slip by always being aware, open to learning and sensitive to the Holy Ghost
DAY 25 - CHAPTER 25
Scriptures (Verse 13): “Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!” MSG
Revelation: The ear mark of reliable friendship is meaning and doing what one says
Application: Lord Jesus, please surround me with reliable friends and grant me the grace to be a reliable friend myself
DAY 26 - CHAPTER 26.
Scriptures (Verses 4-5) “Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself. Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn’t get a swelled head.” MSG
Revelation: Never stoop low to the level of fools in order to make a point or retaliate.
A quote by George Bernard Shaw is fitting here:
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.”
To wrestle with a pig is to engage in a struggle with an opponent that benefits from the struggle even without winning it
Application: We must always be the bigger person and not respond to the words of a fool with more foolish words. Instead, we should answer with words of wisdom seasoned with salt and grace.
DAY 27 - CHAPTER 27
Scriptures (Verse 17): “As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].” AMP
“It takes a grinding wheel to sharpen a blade, and so one person sharpens the character of another. “ TPT
Revelation: The more we have “spiritual interaction” with one another the more we are sharpened, strengthened and encouraged.
Application: For iron to sharpen iron in this context, there has to be “friction” and “pressure” that’s why two knives for instance can’t sharpen themselves but a sharpening
tool (file) can sharpen a knife. It is not a matter of two people massaging each other’s ego but instead introducing different points of view, challenging our resolve with objective interpretation of scriptures. We must be willing and open to interacting with those who are “stronger”, “more mature”, those who are not afraid to tell us the truth. It takes a “harder” material to sharpen a blade
DAY 28 - CHAPTER 28.
Scriptures (Verse 23): “If you correct someone with constructive criticism, in the end he will appreciate it more than flattery.” TPT
Revelation: A genuine and God-fearing person would appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.”
Application: We must always be future-thinking and concerned about what truly matters and not become people who massage another’s ego or expects someone to massage ours. So we must tell, expect and accept the truth even if it hurts now for the sake of the future (Psalms 15:5 MSG, Ecclesiastes 7:8
DAY 29 - CHAPTER 29
Scriptures (Verse 17): “Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.” NLT
Revelation: Discipline a child early enough in life to avoid heartache in the future. Indulgence is not a mark of love but a bait for destruction
Application: Severally in the book of Proverbs we are admonished to discipline our children. Many restrain from discipline and indulge them indiscriminately because they think they love their children too much but Proverbs 13:24 says:
“If you withhold correction and punishment from your children, you demonstrate a lack of true love. So prove your love and be prompt to punish them.” TPT
Proverbs 19:18 “Don’t be afraid to discipline your children while they’re still : says TPTyoung enough to learn. Don’t indulge your children or be swayed by their protests.”
CHAPTER 30 -DAY 30
Scriptures: (Verse 5): “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” NLT
Revelation: Every Word of God is tried, tested and proven true
Application: Psalm 12:6 tells us that the Words of the Lord are pure Words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. We must never doubt God’s Words; especially what it says about us. We must pray that the Lord grants us the grace and strength to continually trust in His unfailing Word
DAY 31 - CHAPTER 31
Scriptures (Verse 4): “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.” NLT
Revelation: Respectable people should steer clear of all sorts of intoxicants. Read Proverbs 23: 31-35. If you have the ambition to become somebody in this life then you must refrain from certain actions.
Application: There are consequences for all actions we take. Although this verse refers to wines and strong drinks, the same applies to things that will impact your judgment, your resolve and your reputation. Because as long as you remain a nobody no one cares. But as soon as you get out there, ready to or already making an impact in the world then people will go searching for mud to sling at you. And if by your actions either as a youth or past adult life you have by the lack of self-control engaged in anything scandalous, it will come out in the open.
CONCLUSION
The book of Proverbs serves as a comprehensive guide for navigating the complexities of daily life, offering practical wisdom that is both timeless and profound. It paints a multifaceted picture of wisdom, described in terms such as instruction (Proverbs 1:2-3), insight (Proverbs 2:10-11), wise dealing (Proverbs 3:21-22), discretion (Proverbs 5:1-2), learning (Proverbs 9:9), prudence (Proverbs 8:12), guidance (Proverbs 11:14), understanding (Proverbs 4:7), teaching (Proverbs 6:20-23), and knowledge (Proverbs 18:15).
Through these aspects, Proverbs teaches us how to relate with God (Proverbs 3:5-6) and others, and how to care for ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Proverbs 4:20-22). The lessons extend to managing relationships with friends (Proverbs 17:17), neighbours (Proverbs 27:10), strangers (Proverbs 25:21), spouses (Proverbs 31:10-12), children (Proverbs 22:6), and even the poor (Proverbs 19:17).
A recurring theme throughout the book is the importance of recognizing the consequences of our actions and inactions. Righteousness brings life and blessing (Proverbs 10:16), while foolishness leads to ruin (Proverbs 14:1). Hard work is rewarded (Proverbs 13:4), but laziness results in poverty (Proverbs 6:9-11).
Proverbs reminds us that wisdom is not only about knowledge but about applying it in our everyday lives, ensuring that our paths are directed by understanding and guided by the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). And that should be our prayer and desire, today and everyday of our lives.
