21 Life Lessons From the Book of Proverbs

"Wisdom calls aloud to the people. She cries out.” Thus Proverbs 1:20-21 reveals the theme of one of the greatest books of the Bible. The Book of Proverbs is full of great tips and advice – and wisdom is praised more than anything else – more than 100 times. So, let’s enjoy – and learn from – Solomon’s great volume of wisdom. Proverbs deals with various aspects of the human experience and guides us in the way of right living. The book of Proverbs also encourages us to seek after wisdom, while also telling us where that wisdom can be found. This wisdom must be sought like buried treasure. It also must be viewed as a precious jewel. We must seek after it diligently and not let go of it for all our days. The truth is, true wisdom always begins with God. Ultimately, the book teaches that wisdom can be found, but only by those who search for it diligently. Are you ready to discover what wisdom this incredible book has for your life? Here are 21 life lessons from the Book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 1:7

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This verse teaches that the fear of God is foundational to true wisdom; all other types of learning are worthless unless built upon knowledge of the Lord Himself. Notice there is a sharp contrast between the wise life and the foolish life.

More than 3,000 years ago, King Solomon realized it isn't enough to just acknowledge God. We have to respect the Lord for who He is – the great Creator of all that exists, the wise Architect of this incredible universe, and the loving Father who is listening to your call out for help – and waiting to teach you just a little more of the lessons of life.

Proverbs 10:12

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Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

“Be nice!” your mother used to tell you. Caring about those around us isn’t always easy. But it’s so much better to live in harmony than in constant strife. It all starts with “Love one another!”

When Solomon refers to guarding the heart, he really means the inner core of a person, the thoughts, feelings, desires, will and choices that make that person who he or she is. The Bible tells us that our thoughts often dictate who we become. The mind of a person reflects who they really are, not simply their actions or words. This is why God examines the heart, not simply the outward appearance and what he or she appears to be.

Proverbs 11:12

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A beautiful person who exercises no wisdom is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

Yes, she may have a great smile. Sure, he look like a classic Greek statue. But if they don’t use the good sense God gives them, they are as useful as jewelry in a pigpen.

The book of Proverbs is a treasure trove of practical wisdom inspired by our Creator God. Each proverb is a short statement that uses every day, familiar illustrations to teach moral, ethical and spiritual principles. These principles apply to all people. The real appeal of this remarkable book is that it contains practical wisdom, understanding and knowledge that people can understand easily, at least on the surface.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Spending time with the kids and grandkids is such an important investment in the future. At first glance this sounds like a wonderful promise to parents – exactly what every God-fearing parent would love to have as a promise from the Creator of marriage and family. Naturally, Christian parents possess an unquenchable hope that their children will remain with the faith in which they are reared. Or, if their child departs for a while, the parents cling to the belief that the child will return. But it isn’t a guarantee from God to parents that their children will stay in church. While this verse doesn’t guarantee to parents that children reared faithfully will keep the faith as adults, we know that there are numerous benefits to teaching your child the way and obeying His way of life.

Proverbs 27:17

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As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

We’ve all seen this in action! Two people complement each other to that they become far more than they could ever be by themselves. No two people are exactly alike, which means that no two friends will have the same way of relating to us. Some we can trust to help us with certain tasks that our friends will not assist us in completing. Proverbs 27:17 have such a friend in mine. The passage likens the interaction between two faithful friends who are seeking the improvement of one another to the sharpening of an iron stone or other iron tool against an iron sharpener. Just as a man might sharpen the face of his sword against a sharpening iron in order to make it more suitable for combat, so does a faithful friend equip his friend for success by constructive criticism.

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish.

We’ve all been in that terrible place where nobody knows what they’re doing. All you can think about is getting out of there – because nothing is going to be accomplished. It is possible that in a quick reading of one translation of the Bible could lead to confusion as to this verse’s meaning but if you pay attention to the sense of the text and the meaning of the specific words used, the meaning of the verse is obvious. While many people this verse is about the importance of vision and leadership, this verse says nothing of the importance of having a church that is led by vision or a visionary. Ironically, this verse should underscore the importance of honoring God’s revelation and warn those who would water it down by intentional or unintentional misuse.

Proverbs 3:5

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

God is God and you are not. So, quit pretending you know more than the Creator of the Universe. This is a familiar passage to many. Verse five is a complementary pair of commands. We are told, positively to trust the Lord and negatively, not to trust our own understanding. Those two things are mutually exclusive. In other words, if we trust in the Lord, we cannot also depend upon our own ability to understand everything God is doing. Most of us have a desperate desire to understand, but in so many areas we must acknowledge that we cannot understand. Our limited understanding will lead us astray.