I have been reading through Proverbs regularily again and was impacted by the topics covered in the first two chapters alone. I think your life would turn out quite well if you based your life on the principles in those first chapters alone.
The first seven verses in ch. 1 spell out the 'ends' of what the writer deems a worthy life. It begins with a reverence, a respect, a fear of the Lord. The antithesis of these statements or the ideal 'end' is the life of a fool who despises wisdom and discipline.
The tone of the writing is immediately intimate as it is a father passing on his wisdom or instruction to his son. Something I would say could happen more in our age - something that I was privy to and enjoyed from both my father and grandfather. These are words from someone older, wiser, further along the way - and yet they are filled with love and with dreams to set direction for the generation to come.
Here are some of the instructions given:
1) Be careful who your friends are. Who they are you will become.
2) Disaster is the end of those who refuse wisdom and destruction belongs to those who hate knowledge.
3) If you search for Wisdom, call out for it and seek it - ch. 2 vs 10-11 ...wisdom will enter your heart, and knowlege will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.
4) Watch your sexual appetites. Sexual indescretion is not wise - 'none who go there attain the paths of life'.
5) Honor your parents - the tone of the writing is 'if you accept my instruction' - to honor our parents is to listen to the wisdom they have to offer.
Good lessons right off the bat. Don't be stupid, don't hang around stupid people all the time, keep it in your pants and listen to mom and dad.
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