Go Beyond

Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish writer best known for his novel Don Quixote, defined a proverb as “ a short sentence based on long experience.” That is a really good definition. Every culture has their proverbs — nuggets of wisdom based on long experience and passed from generation to generation.

As an Hispanic kid who grew up in South Texas, “dichos sabios” or wise sayings were a part of everyday conversation and certainly the spice of parental advice. I heard my fair share of “dichos” throughout my growing up years. The rhyme and rhythm of these proverbs made them easy to remember. For example: “A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda” is translated “God helps the one who gets up early.” This dicho is related to “the early bird gets the worm” and is an admonition to work hard.

Over the years I have enjoyed collecting proverbs from different cultures. I especially enjoy cowboy proverbs, wise sayings forged by the rugged men who rode hard for the brand. Who can argue with these wise words: “Never miss a good chance to shut up!” or “Don’t get mad at somebody who knows more’n you do. It ain’t their fault.” My favorite is “Don’t squat with your spurs on!”

Years ago while traveling in Africa, I purchased a book of Swahili Sayings. One of my favorite is translated, ”Better to stumble with a toe than a tongue.” Sounds a lot like Proverbs 18:21 which cautions, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

The greatest collection of proverbs are found in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. Most of the material in this book came from King Solomon (Proverbs 1:1), regarded as the wisest man who ever lived. The men of Hezekiah are credited with compiling the material recorded in Proverbs 25–29. Proverbs 30 is attributed to Agur the son of Jakeh and Proverbs 31 to King Lemuel.

The major theme of the Old Testament book of Proverbs is wisdom. The book belongs to what biblical scholars call the “wisdom literature” of the Old Testament. The words “wise” and “wisdom” are used at least 125 times in the book. The practical and cautionary wisdom of Proverbs is designed to help us acquire and apply God’s wisdom to our daily lives.

I have heard numerous sermons over the years on the Proverbs 31 woman. This is one of my favorite chapters in the book and beautifully describes the ideal woman or wife. However, Proverbs has much to say to men. Solomon often uses the phrase “my son” suggesting that the truths recorded in the book should be passed along by godly parents to their children — certainly from fathers to sons.

Because Proverbs offers so much practical wisdom for men, I have prayerfully written “The Proverbs Man” — a new small group resource especially for men that we will give away at Kingsland’s men’s event in October. Each lesson begins with an exegesis of the proverb or proverbs under consideration to promote understanding of the passage. The sections that follow are designed to draw out practical wisdom that can help men live in a way pleasing to God. The reflective questions are designed to help men think deeply in order to live wisely.

In keeping with the spirit of Proverbs to pass on wise counsel to children, I asked my good friend Bobby Cooley to write the concluding “Pass It On” section of each lesson. Bobby had one of the worst childhoods ever and, after coming to faith in Christ, has truly become a Proverbs Man and a remarkable Dad. Bobby’s challenge to pass along the instruction and wisdom of each proverb to the next generation is personal, practical, and measurable.

The most essential thing for the effective application of the wisdom of Proverbs is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which makes it possible for a man to call God his Father. God is ready to empower men through the Holy Spirit to become a Proverbs Man — a man whose life reflects the value and joy of biblical manhood.

We look forward to sharing this new resource this Fall at our Men of Kingsland gathering. We want to see men embrace the practical and cautionary wisdom of Proverbs and do life in community with other men because alone is dangerous.