Summer in Proverbs | Proverbs 1:1-7 | Curtis Bridges

Today, Curtis kicked off our new series in Proverbs with a message titled “The Beginning of Wisdom.” We explored Proverbs 1 and 9, where Scripture teaches that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”We learned that wisdom is more than knowledge or understanding—it’s the ability to discern the best course of action in the complexities of life. We clarified the difference between:Knowledge (facts),Understanding (insight into those facts), andWisdom (applying understanding in real life with discernment).Read a chapter of Proverbs each day. Match the chapter to the day of the month, and ask God for one piece of wisdom to apply in your life.Learn from someone older in the faith. Ask them, “What have you learned about God through the challenges you’ve faced?” Let their insights help shape your journey of wisdom.At the heart of wisdom is a healthy, reverent fear of God—a fear not rooted in terror, but in awe. It’s the fear of missing out on the life God invites us into. This kind of fear draws us near to Him, humbles us, and renews in us the posture of a learner.We also looked at the life of King Solomon, who began his reign by asking God for wisdom. Though he started well, his story reminds us that wisdom must be continually pursued. When we drift from reverence for God, we also drift from the wisdom only He can give.Jesus offers an invitation to walk with Him and learn “the unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11:28–30). And James reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we simply need to ask—God gives it generously (James 1:5).Two ways to respond this week:Imagine the life you could experience if it were marked by God’s wisdom—freedom, joy, and confidence, even in the face of hard decisions and difficult people.Let’s keep walking in wisdom together.