A proverb is a short, pithy saying which gives insight on how to live your life.  The book of Proverbs teaches us how to live godly lives, pleasing to the Lord.

A proverb reveals human behavior; the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.
It gives us two choices, one leading to the living God or one leading away from Him.

What is the definition of a proverb? 
(NASB) Proverbs 1:2-6 “To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
4 To give prudence to the naïve,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.”

Did you notice in verse 2, we are to know wisdom and receive instruction – we are to read a proverb with a willingness to be taught?  In that same verse, discerning the sayings contained in a proverb will result in understanding.

Do you want to live wisely?  Then be teachable and receive instruction that is beneficial to you from God’s word.
You may have heard that to grow in understanding we need to do what we now know and more understanding will be given.  A proverb instructs us how to live a godly life.

Did you notice in verse 3, we are to receive instruction in wise behavior, we will be taught righteousness, the righteousness pleasing to God?  There is much to learn in this book of Proverbs.

Did you notice in verse 4, the people who are naïve, the ones who are simple and not suspicious of being led down wrong paths are taught prudence?  We are not to be gullible and believe everything someone tells us…rather, we are to think and pray about what we hear…comparing it to God’s word.

Did you notice in verse 5, to be a wise man or woman is to hear and increase in learning? No matter our age!  Godly counsel is to be highly valued…by anyone at any age.  We are never too young or too old to listen and respond to Godly counsel.

Did you notice in verse 6, we are to understand a proverb by thinking about it and putting it into action in our lives?

How are you living your life?  Is it according to God and His counsel through His word?