Proverbs , Sarah Barry
PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE
Passage: Proverbs 21:20~31  
Key verse: 21
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(C)
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
24 The proud and arrogant person(F)—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(G)
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous(H) give without sparing.(I)
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.(N)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.(Q)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
Cross references
- Proverbs 21:21 : Ps 25:13
- Proverbs 21:21 : Mt 5:6
- Proverbs 21:22 : S Pr 8:14
- Proverbs 21:23 : S Ps 34:13
- Proverbs 21:23 : S Pr 10:19; 12:13; S 13:3
- Proverbs 21:24 : Jer 43:2
- Proverbs 21:25 : Pr 13:4
- Proverbs 21:26 : S 2Sa 17:27
- Proverbs 21:26 : S Lev 25:35
- Proverbs 21:27 : S 1Ki 14:24
- Proverbs 21:27 : S Pr 15:8
- Proverbs 21:28 : Isa 29:21
- Proverbs 21:28 : S Pr 19:5
- Proverbs 21:29 : S Pr 14:8
- Proverbs 21:30 : S Job 12:13; S 15:25
- Proverbs 21:30 : S 2Ch 13:12; S Job 5:13; Isa 8:10
- Proverbs 21:31 : Ps 33:12-19; Isa 31:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
What are your pursuits in life? People pursue education, honor, money, wealth, family, popularity, and fame. These things have some merit. But they cannot be the true purpose of our lives. Those who pursue righteousness and love can find true life, prosperity, and honor (21).
The best pursuit is to seek God’s wisdom for our lives. Wisdom enables one to pull down the strongholds of wickedness (22). Wisdom helps us to choose our words carefully (23). There is no human wisdom or way that can succeed against God (20). The wise trust in God and experience victory in the Lord (21).
On the other hand, those who reject wisdom follow wickedness. And, whatever they do, the wicked are foiled. Also, the wicked are full of folly and fury (24). The wicked are lazy and bear its bad fruits (25-26). The wicked are detestable in all their ways and their sacrifices are detestable. They are deceitful and full of pretense. But the wise listen carefully, give thought to their ways, and the Lord helps them (31). Let’s repent our wicked ways and seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory.
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me victory when I seek your wisdom. Protect me from following wicked and foolish ways.
One Word: Seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory
The best pursuit is to seek God’s wisdom for our lives. Wisdom enables one to pull down the strongholds of wickedness (22). Wisdom helps us to choose our words carefully (23). There is no human wisdom or way that can succeed against God (20). The wise trust in God and experience victory in the Lord (21).
On the other hand, those who reject wisdom follow wickedness. And, whatever they do, the wicked are foiled. Also, the wicked are full of folly and fury (24). The wicked are lazy and bear its bad fruits (25-26). The wicked are detestable in all their ways and their sacrifices are detestable. They are deceitful and full of pretense. But the wise listen carefully, give thought to their ways, and the Lord helps them (31). Let’s repent our wicked ways and seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory.
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me victory when I seek your wisdom. Protect me from following wicked and foolish ways.
One Word: Seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory