Daily Devotion

Learning from Proverbs 30:4 NIV > Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! When you read this verse, what comes to your mind? Is there a person you are thinking of? Who has ascended to heaven and come down? As believers, this verse naturally reminds us of Jesus Christ. What is also amazing is this: How did Agur know that God has a Son? This was written long before Jesus came into the world. It reminds us that God is able to reveal truths and mysteries to people even before the fulfillment comes. Sometimes, what God reveals may not happen immediately, but that does not mean it will never happen. God’s timing is different from ours, but His plans and promises will surely come to pass. Reflection Am I willing to trust God even when I do not yet see the full fulfillment of His plans? Let’s pray...

Learning from Proverbs 30:2–3 NIV > Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. Whose words would be included in the Book of Proverbs? Surely such a person must be someone of calibre and wisdom. Yet Agur was not proud or boastful. Instead, he spoke with great humility. Rather than praising himself, he openly admitted his limitations before God. This teaches us something important: A truly wise person knows that there are still many things he does not know or cannot do. The more knowledgeable a person becomes, the more he realises how limited he actually is. Pride says, “I know everything.” Wisdom says, “I still have much to learn.” Lord, give me a humble and teachable heart. Help me not to become proud, but to always recognise my need for Your wisdom and guidance. Amen!

Learning from Proverbs 30:1 NIV > “The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man’s utterance to Ithiel: ‘I am weary, God, but I can prevail.’” Different Bible translations render it differently:  NIV: “ *an inspired utterance* ”  ESV: “ *the oracle* ”  KJV: “ *the prophecy* ” When we hear such words, we know they carry weight and significance. They are not casual sayings, but words worthy of our attention and reflection. The first phrase says: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.” Perhaps some of us today feel the same way. We may feel tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed by life. Even Agur, a man whose words were recorded in Scripture, openly admitted his weariness before God. Yet his response was not hopeless. He still believed he could prevail. We may not know what Agur was going through, and I may not know what you are facing today. But one thing we can learn from him is this: turn to God and continue believing.  *You can prevail. You can over...

Learning from Proverbs 30 Do you know who Agur is? Most probably many of us would say, “Who is this person? I don’t know him.” Yet this man’s words of wisdom were featured in one of the final two chapters of the Book of Proverbs. When we learn how to write an essay, we are often taught that the introduction and conclusion are very important.  Likewise, the placement of Agur’s words near the ending of Proverbs must have a purpose. Most of Proverbs 1–29 are connected largely to King Solomon and his wisdom sayings. But when we come to Proverbs 30, the tone changes. Agur speaks with humility. Instead of boasting about wisdom, he openly admits his limitations before God. This reminds us that true wisdom is not about knowing everything, but about recognising how much we still need God. Sometimes, the wisest people are not the most famous, but the most humble. God can use even lesser-known people to speak truths that impact generations. Over the next few days, let us dwell on these wisdom...

Learning from Proverbs 1-29 Before we go into Proverbs 30 and 31, this can be seen as a closing reflection for Proverbs 1–29, which are connected mostly to King Solomon and the collections of wisdom sayings. One thing we may notice is this: Why are there so many repeated themes and similar verses throughout Proverbs?  *This is intentional.*  Wisdom is not just about learning information once, but about continually reminding ourselves how to live rightly. People easily forget. That is why Proverbs repeatedly talks about: 1. Fearing the Lord 2. Guarding our words 3. Avoiding pride 4. Being diligent 5. Choosing good companions Wisdom requires *constant reflection and practice.*  Different verses may repeat similar lessons using different examples and pictures so that we can understand them more deeply. Just like in life, our struggles are often repetitive. People repeatedly struggle with anger, temptation, pride, greed, and careless speech. Hence, God keeps reminding us agai...

Learning from Proverbs 29:21 NIV > A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. > 从小娇纵的仆人，最终必反仆为主。 This verse reminds us about the importance of balance in how we treat people. Kindness is important, but without wisdom, boundaries, and proper guidance, people may slowly become entitled or disrespectful. This situation is not limited to masters and servants. It can happen in families, schools, workplaces, and many other relationships. For example, in a workplace, if a boss or supervisor is overly lenient all the time without accountability or discipline, some employees may eventually take advantage of the situation or even become disrespectful. The issue is not about being kind, but about lacking wisdom in leadership and guidance. True care includes both grace and boundaries. I like this Chinese saying: 恩威并施 Reflection Am I showing kindness with wisdom and proper boundaries? Let’s pray 🙏 Lord, help me to lead and treat others with both kindness and wisdom. Teach me...