Proverbs 25:4 (NLT)“Remove the dross from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.” The Scum on the Surface In order for silver to be useful, the dross must be removed. Dross is the scum, the dirt, and the lighter, inferior metals that float to the surface when silver is being worked. If…

Proverbs 24:4 (NLT)“Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.” The Wealth of the Student This verse is the powerful continuation of the truth that a house is built by Wisdom and established by Good Sense. But Solomon goes deeper: he says the rooms are filled by Knowledge. Wisdom…

Proverbs 23:4-5 (NLT)“Don’t weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird!” The Exhaustion of the Chase Let’s be clear: the goal of your life is not “more money.” If wealth is your primary compass, it will lead you down a…

Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)“A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” The Sight of the Prudent In life, business, relationships, and finances, it is incredibly easy to say or do something we know leads to trouble. We see the red flags, we hear the warning…

Proverbs 21:3 (NLT)“The LORD is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices.” The Religious Hustle God is not like man; He cannot be conned, and He will not be hustled. Our pride often convinces us that if we sacrifice enough, give enough, or “do” enough, it…

Proverbs 20:3 (NLT)“Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.” The Strength of Softness In today’s climate, it seems like fighting is the only way. We live in a culture saturated with violence and fueled by rage. Society tells you that you’re a “chump” if you back down or a…

Proverbs 19:3 (NLT)“People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.” The Mirror of Accountability Have you ever wondered why so many people are walking around with a chip on their shoulder? Often, the person they are truly angry with is themselves. It is a painful but necessary truth:…

Proverbs 18:3 (NLT)“When the wicked arrive, contempt, shame, and disgrace are sure to follow.” The Company You Keep Think about this for a moment: When you arrive, who shows up with you? In Psalm 23, David declares that when the Lord is your Shepherd, “goodness and mercy” follow you all the days of your life.…

Proverbs 17:3 (NLT)“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” The Management of the Fire Untested faith cannot be relied upon or trusted as genuine. Every believer’s heart will be subjected to the “heat” of life. Solomon compares this process to the intense fire used to purify precious metals.…

Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)“Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed.” The Alignment of Intent This is one of the most frequently misunderstood verses in the Bible. Many read this and think it’s a magic formula: “If I tell God what I’m planning and slap ‘In Jesus’ Name’ on it, He is…