Important Lessons

These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, David's son:

He wrote them to teach his people how to live - how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just and fair in everything they did. "I want to make the simple-minded wise!" he said. "I want to warn young men about some problems they will face. I want those already wise to become the wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth."

How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! Proverbs 1:1-7 (TLB)

But then, because the Preacher was wise, he went on teaching the people all he knew; and he collected proverbs and classified them. Ecclesiastes 12:9 (TLB)

When Tun Thwin, from Quebec, Canada, was in eighth grade at school. he took scripture lessons on a weekly basis. The lessons were about stories from the Holy Bible. His scripture teacher asked them to learn by heart the names and order of the books of the Bible and then asked them to recite them in class. Taking these scripture lessons during his preteen period was helpful in his character formation. The lessons strengthened him spiritually and helped him become a more disciplined person.

Now, as an adult, Tun reads the Bible in the early morning during his daily devotional time. When he searches for a scripture reading, the memory of the names and order of the books makes it easy for Tun to find the specific chapter and its verses. When he searches for a reading, he remembers his thoughtful teacher whose lessons prepared him for the struggles he would face in his life. Tun is grateful for this grace filled preparation, which set him out on his journey of faith.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the people who have prepared us for a life of faith, in Jesus' name. Amen.