In effort to share and shamelessly disrupt others’ “commute” through this book, I have compiled a short list of verses along with some personal reflections on them. The gospel is in full bloom in the sage’s pages.

In the past I have been guilty of treating the Book of Proverbs a little bit like a commute to work. I sped through familiar passages and topics while aiming to get where I needed to go. Often times, this destination has been a rebuke that I needed to hear concerning my tongue or some help toward counseling people more effectively. In short, I did not enjoy the commute through Proverbs like I should.

However, I recently begun reading this book on my days off, leisurely making my way through and highlighting along the way. You’ll never guess what happened. I began to see and smell the gospel flowers in full bloom. I heard the chirping birds and their songs of deliverance. The gospel notes are hit surprisingly well in this wisdom book. Some days I feel like Jacob grabbing ahold of that text, “I will not let you go until you bless me” (Gen. 32:26). God has been good; I’ve been greatly blessed to say the least.

In effort to share and shamelessly disrupt others’ “commute” through this book, I have compiled a short list of verses along with some personal reflections on them. The gospel is in full bloom in the sage’s pages.

(Prov. 11:4) Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

My chief need is not to accumulate wealth but to overcome my infinite debt of unrighteousness. Christ Jesus is my everlasting righteousness in spite of my infinite demerit (2 Cor. 5:21)

(Prov. 13:7) One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

In my sin I pretend and perform like I have or am something. The truth is: I am weak, helpless, and broken (Rom. 5:6ff). Though he was rich, Christ the King left the throne of heaven (Phil. 2:5-11) to be a weak, poor, humble servant that he might make a poor sinner like me rich in him (Eph. 1:3; 2 Cor. 8:9)

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