Is it time to upgrade your neighborhood?


Proverbs Couplet: 8:12-21. Focus Proverb: 8:12

Want to upgrade your neighborhood? Be a better neighbor and dwell with wisdom.

I love this couplet of verses--actually, the whole chapter is rich in practical ways we can walk wisdom's journey.

In this couplet GOD makes many promises to those who purposefully, diligently seek His wisdom. From laborer to king, wisdom provides guidance in all aspects of life.

In our focus verse, GOD shares the value of prudence, knowledge, and discretion. Of the three characteristics of wisdom, two require humility and restraint.

Prudence. I think prudence is one of the most underrated characteristics in our world. Prudence operates with an eye toward the future.

  • It's the Proverbs 31 woman who spins, dyes, and knits woolens for the upcoming winter (31:21).

  • It's the farmer who tills, sows, waters, and fertilizes for the future harvests (6:8).
  • It's the young couple who tithes to their congregation and also tithes into savings for retirement.
  • It's all those efforts that are quiet harvests that bear riches that to others seem to come from nowhere.


Discretion comes from a place of gratitude and satisfaction. It's not about showing off.

  • Discretion uses discernment like an art form.
  • Discretion can protect us from scandal, harm, and foolish endeavors.
  • It does this with a quiet perspective of humility.


If we brought just these two characteristics into our own neighborhood, imagine how much better they would be.

May we upgrade our neighborhoods by dwelling with wisdom, my friends.

Proverbs 8:12--“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and acquire knowledge with discretion..." Tree of Life Bible Society Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs

[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

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