| A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH |
| More than mere survival. |
| There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. 14:12 |
| Proverbs frequently talks about life and death. Wise living, it says, tends to make you live longer, while foolish living will push you into an early grave. If you take this observation at face value, you'll have a problem: plenty of people who live foolishly survive into old age. But Proverb's concept of life and death includes much more than physical survival. By life, Proverbs means "real living" full of peace and joy and wisdom. By death, it means spiritual as well as physical decay. A person who misses the way of wisdom may be as good as dead, even though he is still walking around. Proverbs on "real living": 3:18, 21, 22; 4:23; 8:34-36; 10:11, 16; 12:28; 13:12; 14:27, 30; 15:4, 27; 18:21; 19:23; 21:21; 28:16. Proverbs on "real dying": 2:16-18; 5:3-6, 22, 23; 10:21; 14:12, 32; 15:10; 19:16; 21:25; 27:20. Life Questions: Can you remember a specific experience that represents, for you, "real living"? How about "real dying"? |