Here are some notes I had made about my devotions in Proverbs a little over a month ago. This book is filled with pieces of wisdom, with different ones standing out to us at different points in our lives. On this particular day, many of the verses from the eleventh chapter caught my attention. Here they are (I have the Amplified Version by the way):
Proverbs 11:2 - This verse points out how we often swell up with pride with ourselves, making it seem as if we are all-important and have everything under control, but the reality is that we are consumed with longing, emptiness, and shame within. On the other hand, the lowly and humble "who have been pruned and chiseled" will receive "Godly wisdom and soundness." While I understood the meaning of the word "pruned", I wanted to have a better understanding of how it applied to this verse. Here is Websters definition of the words.
Pruned: Divested (removed and disposed of) and cleared of what is unsuitable and superfluous. (More than is needed; no useful purpose.)
To me, this speaks of how if we turn to God in our times of tribulation and allow him to remove all that is unnecessary, we will come out of the fire purified and more focused on him. It seems that we often cover ourselves with adornments (such as position, talent, or accomplishment) to make ourselves appear important. The problem is that when we focus our efforts on exalting ourselves, we take the focus away from God, not only for ourselves, but for others as well. It is practically impossible to travel on the narrow path our Savior has for us when we are lugging around so much unnecessary baggage. This verse shows how Jesus wants to remove all the excess articles that distract us from him, then desiring to chisel us into the individual he desires for us to become. If we let him remove our self given acclamations, and let him shape us with his loving hands, he will leave his fingerprints on our lives.
Proverbs 11:3 - "The upright shall be guided by integrity..." If we desire to walk in God's path of righteousness, we must be honest in all things, letting Christ's truth guide our steps.
Proverbs 11:6 - "The righteousness of the upright(which resides in every area and relation) shall deliver them..." I need to strive for righteousness in EVERY area of my life. From my public actions, to secret thoughts. From my closest friends to distant acquaintances. I cannot only give Christ a part of me, I must surrender all to him.
Proverbs 11:8 -"The (uncompromisingly) righteous is delivered out of trouble..." Not only do I need to be striving to live faithfully in every area of my life, I must always work towards a lifestyle of purity in order to live in uprightness. While God does not require constant accomplishment or perfection, he does instruct us to continually pursue his holiness.
Proverbs 11:23 - "The desire of the righteous brings only good..." Even my pure hopes and dreams can be used by God, but only if they are wholesome and blameless in his sight. That includes motive.
On another note...
Proverbs 11:16 - "A gracious and good woman wins honor for her husband...but a woman who hates righteousness is a throne of dishonor for him." Even before I am married, I need to strive to honor my future husband by living an upright life.
