A Proverbs Driven Life: Timeless Wisdom for Your Words, Work, Wealth, and Relationships

by Anthony Selvaggio

This is a book about the wisdom God has given us in the book of Proverbs. By this wisdom, we can learn how to live in light of what is really true about ourselves, one another, and this wonderful yet deeply flawed world. Ultimately, therefore, this is a book about life lived for God in the light of divine truth. It's about life as God intends for us to live it. Proverbs does offer an infallible guarantee that a Proverbs-driven life will result in spiritual and practical blessings. But it is vitally important to remember that the goal of Proverbs is not finding earthly prosperity or even wisdom itself. The goal of Proverbs is to grow ever closer to the God who is Wisdom.

Genres: Christian Living, Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Discipleship

201 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Peter Krol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could give this one 4.5 stars. It was really quite good. It was written quite simply for a common audience. But it sure packed a punch.

Selvaggio is examining themes in the Proverbs and applying them to contemporary life. I found myself frequently delighting in the fact that Selvaggio was asking what I thought were all the right questions. And he delivered answers that aren't very popular among Christians, but yet are highly biblical.

For example, he shows how wealth can be a good thing when we work hard so as to be more generous. The need for counsel when selecting a marriage partner is critical ("but we're in love!"). Corporal discipline is necessary for faithful parenting - but should never cross the line into anger, manipulation, or abuse.

This is primarily a book of conclusions. Selvaggio shows you where he got them, and then he applies them diligently. I would LOVE to find a book somewhere that also explains how to build a mind of wisdom and understanding, so as to train people in how to develop these conclusions themselves.

Any recommendations?

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful topical overview of the book of Proverbs. His introductory chapter on how to interpret the proverbs is worth the price of the book. It is helpfully not exhaustive, and it is arranged into the overarching themes of communication, work, wealth, friends, marriage and children. I was pleasantly surprised to find someone say what I've always thought regarding finding a spouse of noble character and have felt is typically ignored in most preaching. That is, not only should you look for a spouse of noble character, you should aspire to be a person of noble character--one worthy to be found. I would recommend this book as a resource for adult and senior high Sunday School curriculum.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sound and Edifying and Convicting - after all it is about Proverbs! My favorite chapters were on Wealth and Marriage. It would be a good discussion book for a couple or devotional for an individual.

pg. 146 "Simply stated, we must trust Scripture more than we trust ourselves. We must believe what Scripture says about us more than we believe our own self-assessment."
pg. 161 "We must walk through life consciously aware that in this fallen world are actual threats to our souls and our marriages."

[Ko Matsuo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find Proverbs really difficult to read. Sometimes it feels like a flood of fortune cookie inserts with no relevance to the rest of the Bible.

Selvaggio does a good job at proving a framework to read the Proverbs. He organizes them according to larger themes. He provides an entryway by which we can look at the books and see something bigger. The book is not perfect by any means, but its a start.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can learn a lot from Proverbs, but it is an incomplete picture for how to live your life. I think this book provides some understanding for how to live well, however, it felt like it was missing something. The author incorporated some other scripture to support the verses from Proverbs, but I would like to have seen more.

[Bryan Kuranaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selvaggio does a good job in mining the various proverbs and applying them to the areas of work, money, friendships, and marriage. The beginning and end of wisdom is God Himself. A proverbs driven life is one that starts with a fear of God and a realization that we do not have it all together. We need God's help and we find it through time in the word, time in prayer, and time with God's people.

[Amaris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the chapters hit the nail on the head.
Other areas, not so much.
It was good, but there's better to be found elsewhere.

-Amaris

[Isaac Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing groundbreaking in this book, but a solid thoughtful look at the proverbs and how they apply to our everyday modern life.

[台耀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author makes it clear that it is not a self-help book and does not aim to provide steps to solve problems.

Rather, the chief end of attaining wisdom must be the privilege of knowing our Creator.

In particular, I like the particular quote used by the author: "...God gives the framework for godly thinking but he will not do our thinking for us... We are responsible for the decisions we make as we seek to be wise (to think in a godly way) and to avoid being foolish (to think in a godless way)..."

[Divanshu Sandhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very practical book drives out solid Biblical principles for day to day life from the book of Proverbs, which is full of wisdom.It's very easy to read and very applicable to our life in terms of work, friendship, marriage, parenting and so on. I would definitely recommend this book to those who are seeking Wisdom in their life (We ALL must seek wisdom all our life). Wisdom is a gift of God, He gives only to those who ask and seek. Wisdom leads us to live a right life for the glory of God our Savior.

[Joel Rockey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little devotional from the book of Proverbs. The introductory chapter is worth the price of the whole book. In that chapter he shows how to properly interpret and apply the book of Proverbs - this was very helpful to me! (that chapter was 5 stars...the rest was about 3.5 stars) Recommended.

[Beth Peninger]

Originally I gave this title 4 stars. I am revising my stars to zero.

The reason I am doing so is that since reading this title, several things about my faith journey and expression have changed and I no longer subscribe to evangelical ideologies.

[Rob Natiuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clear and interesting study of the Bible's principles of successful living. The principles presented are timeless and applicable to any situation we face. I plan to occasionally re-read it.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful book to give you God's perspective of how you live everyday.

[Dave Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review will be posted here on 1/21/11.

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes sense of the hodgepodge of wisdom in proverbs - organizes by subject - discount rate for Kindle version

[CCCfaithathome]

This book was the backbone of our summer series on the book of Proverbs. It is easy to read and accessible to any adult, though we can't wholeheartedly support his section on marriage.

[Hollie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. So many wise, hard, convicting, encouraging words for Christians today.

[Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read! Biblical, practical ... highly recommend!

[Joseph]

This is an excellent book for studying the themes in the book of Proverbs. I would recommend this for group or individual study.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excellent! <3

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical book, will be rereading for sure!