Writers 
Life becomes easier when we walk in the seven foundational principles of Proverbs. We are promised that when we walk, our steps will not be
hampered, and when we run, we will not stumble (v. 12). Just think about how much time we waste if we do not take time to seek and heed wisdom. I think it is safe to say that every divorce is caused by at least one person in the marriage ignoring godly principles; every bankruptcy and every failed business can be attributed to the same problem. Wisdom requires that we slow down and take time to consider and examine situations before we get involved in them and, once we are involved in them, to thoughtfully solve problems through wise decision-making.
We frequently make commitments without considering what fulfilling them will actually require of us. I once asked a friend in ministry how she decided which speaking invitations to accept and which to decline. She told me that before she responded to an invitation, she thought through every detail of what it would take for her to do it. She thought about matters such as how long she would be away from home, what kind of preparation time she would need to invest, and how far would she have to travel. Although these are all logistical questions and not ministry-related ones, she was wise to ask them. If we do not ask wise questions, we may agree to do something and then later complain about it and dread doing it because we did not consider the details involved in it. It is always better to pray and think about a commitment before giving an answer.
Walking in wisdom and in the other principles found in the Book of Proverbs is a process that takes time. Just as the sun shines brighter and brighter as the day progresses (v. 18), so does our godly behavior. Let me encourage you not to be discouraged if you realize you have made many mistakes because you did not use wisdom. Just begin now to search for it with all of your heart. Looking back never helps or improves the future. All we can do about our mistakes is to confess them, ask God to forgive us for them, and then learn from them. Our mistakes can probably educate us more than most other experiences if we will let them.
The apostle John wrote that if we continue in God’s Word, we will know the truth and it will make us free (John 8:31–32 KJV). Continuing in
God’s Word involves more than merely reading or hearing it. It involves meditating on the Scriptures and actually putting them into practice in our
lives. Proverbs 4:21–22 teaches us to not let God’s words out of our sight and to keep them within our hearts, “for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”
God’s Word is very powerful, and it accomplishes great things in and through us if we continue in it. Keeping our heart full of it is one of the wisest things we can do.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
What we allow into our hearts is very important because it becomes part of us. For this reason, we should make sure that what we allow to come into and remain in our hearts is what we truly want in life. For example, if we allow anger to take root in our hearts, we will experience the unpleasant results of anger in our lives. What is in our hearts will eventually come out in the form of words (Matthew 12:34), and the power of life and death is in the words we speak (Proverbs 18:21). We are to keep our mouths free from perversity and keep “corrupt talk” far from us (v. 24).
As I read Proverbs, it is clear to me that God’s will is for us to have and enjoy an amazing life. In His goodness, He has shown us the path we should follow if we want to live that way. However, if we do not follow His wisdom, we forfeit much of what Jesus has provided for us through His death and resurrection. Many people will be in heaven who never enjoyed the lives they lived while they were on their way to eternity.
