Proverbs: Short Sentences Long Remembered; Proverbs 1:20-33

We sit down to eat our meal at the Chinese restaurant, the bill comes out, and everyone cracks open their fortune cookies. Then, we read those short sentences aloud to each other and ponder their meanings. I've kept track of a few of the more interesting ones I've cracked open: "No one grows old by living, only by losing interest in living." Wow! I felt that one! "Do not dwell on differences with a loved one - try to compromise." That's good advice. "Real courage is moving forward when the outcome is uncertain." That was probably the most fitting one I've ever read after loading up at a sketchy buffet! Something within us loves to read those little pieces of paper and puzzle over what they might mean. I wonder if that's why we appreciate the book of Proverbs so much. But, of course, unlike fortune cookies, proverbs don't come with a bill; they come with a promise! "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance" (Proverbs 1:5). Today, we begin our summer series, "Proverbs: Short Sentences Long Remembered." I'm eager to share these wise words with you and see where they take us.