Walking in Wisdom: Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22 Devotional Study with Pastor Jason Van Bemmel Forest Hill Presbyterian Church www.foresthillpca.org Proverbs 22 contains wise sayings, or truisms, that offer practical life advice but are not to be taken as promises from God. For example, a good name is more valuable than riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and poor will meet before God, who is the maker of them all, so it is better to be humble and fear the Lord. Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it," is not a promise, and should not be used to justify harsh parenting. Instead of behavior modification, parents should teach their children to trust the Lord, pray, think, and grow in God's love. Discipline should be done with love and patience, not with an overly strict, micromanaging approach. Generosity to the poor is also emphasized, as is staying out of debt. Those with wealth should share and not exploit the poor, as God is gracious and generous to those who are spiritually poor. People should treat others as they would want to be treated and should strive to live with integrity, humility, and justice.