unshakable

Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.

Proverbs 30:9-12

When spouses realize marriage is a 100%/100% giving towards each other relationship, they are a unified team, their trust in one another becomes unshakable!

first steps

The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.
The man’s oration to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
I am more stupid than any other man,
and I lack man’s ability to understand.
I have not gained wisdom,
and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
Proverbs 30:1-3

Acknowledging reality is a healthy thing, and confessing ignorance is the very first step in becoming wise.

read the instructions

Without revelation people run wild,
but one who listens to instruction will be happy.
Proverbs 29:18

Have you ever tried to put together Ikea furniture without reading the instructions? Life is similar; you might get it together without reading the instructions, but it's a lot more likely you'll make a mess! Read your Bible!

Use it up!

A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
Proverbs 26:7

Wisdom is meant to be practical and useful. So, how are you putting it to use?

Delivery!

The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist
is like clouds and wind without rain.
Proverbs 25:14

Don't promise what you cannot deliver!

There is no I in teamwork

By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
 A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 24:3-6

Success comes not by rugged individuality, but by working together.

The Game of Life

Don’t wear yourself out to get rich;
stop giving your attention to it.
As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears,
for it makes wings for itself
and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Proverbs 23:4-5

Make a life, not a living!

Guards!

The one who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 21:23

Your brain is like a prison guard, and your mouth is like a convict trying to escape; keep it locked up and there won't be trouble!

Conduct yourself accordingly

Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,
and the pride of sons is their fathers.
Proverbs 17:6

If grandchildren are the joy of grandparents, and parents are the object of children's attention, shouldn't we act so that we make both groups proud? Conduct yourself accordingly!

Avoidance issues

A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
Proerbs14:9

Some people work harder at avoiding work than they would if they settled into a job!

Make a mess!

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,
but an abundant harvest comes
through the strength of an ox.
Proverbs 14:4

Success comes through hard work, and hard work can get a little messy at times. Don't be afraid to make a mess in the journey to success!

Take a walk

The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20

The next time someone tells you to "take a walk," maybe you should follow their advice and walk with a different group!

Try it today!

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
but a good word cheers it up.
Prov 12:25

Cheerfulness and optimism go a long way; try it today!

Oink Oink

A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
Proverbs 11:22

You can clean one up, put lipstick and jewelry on it, but in the end, a pig is still a pig!

Cut it out!

The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate,
but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.
Proverbs 10:31-32

If you are known for saying the wrong things, cut it out and begin saying the right things!

Fast food

Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved out her seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat;  she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her female servants;
she calls out from the highest points of the city:
“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense,  she says,
“Come, eat my bread,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;
pursue the way of understanding.
Proverbs 9:1-6

Would you rather have fast food, or a Thanksgiving feast? Inexperience is cheap and quick, but will will never satisfy, while the pursuit of wisdom is a never-ending banquet of delicacies.

common sense

“The Lord made  me
at the beginning of His creation,
before His works of long ago.
I was formed before ancient times,
from the beginning, before the earth began.
I was born
when there were no watery depths
and no springs filled with water.
I was delivered
before the mountains and hills were established,
before He made the land, the fields,
or the first soil on earth.
I was there when He established the heavens,
when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
when He placed the skies above,
when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
when He set a limit for the sea
so that the waters would not violate His command,
when He laid out the foundations of the earth.
I was a skilled craftsman  beside Him.
I was His  delight every day,
always rejoicing before Him.
 I was rejoicing in His inhabited world,
delighting in the human race."
Proverbs 8:20-31

Wisdom is often known as common sense, and it's been around a long time!. It is called "common" because it's everywhere and available to everyone, but you have to look in the right places to find it!

family ties

My son, obey my words,
and treasure my commands.
Keep my commands and live;
protect my teachings
as the pupil of your eye.
Tie them to your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call understanding your relative.
She will keep you from a forbidden woman,
a stranger with her flattering talk.
Proverbs 7:1-5

While you can't choose your family members, you can make wise choices based on understanding!

Ants in your pants!

Go to the ant,  you slacker!
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.
How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.
Proverbs 6:6-11

Want success? Work like you have ants in your pants!

Trapped!

A wicked man’s iniquities entrap him;
he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin.
He will die because there is no discipline,
and be lost because of his great stupidity.
Proverbs 5:22

If we are the product of our decisions, we want to make wise ones so we're not trapped by them!

Watch where you step!

The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they don’t know what makes them stumble.
Prov 4:18-19

I think we would all agree it's easier to hike a trail in the daytime than at night!

giving credit

Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;
then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10

Give credit where credit is due, and success will follow.

Guardrails

For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up success for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity
so that He may guard the paths of justice
and protect the way of His loyal followers.
Prov 2:6-8

Integrity isn't just the road to success; it is also the guardrails that keep you on the road!

Give and Take

My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t be persuaded.
If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush  and kill someone.
Let’s attack some innocent person  just for fun!
Let’s swallow them alive,  like Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the Pit.
 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder.
Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share our money” —
my son, don’t travel that road with them
or set foot on their path,
because their feet run toward trouble
and they hurry to commit murder.
It is foolish to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
but they set an ambush to kill themselves;
they attack their own lives.
Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;
it takes the lives of those who receive it.
Proverbs 1:10-19

If it's true that you get back what you give, then those who plan to take will end up with less than they  began with!