Book Brief - Be Skillful: Tapping God's Guidebook to Fulfillment

Be Skillful: God's Guidebook to Wise Living

Warren W. Wiersbe

Cook Communications Ministries (2004)

A former pastor, Warren W. Wiersbe has written 27 books in the "Be" series. The "skillful" referred to here is in "the lost art of making a life" as defined by God in the book of Proverbs. Approaching Proverbs in a thematic fashion Wiersbe relates the major themes of Proverbs while "skillfully" applying them to our lives in a practical fashion. He includes an outline and study questions which prove very helpful in organizing your thoughts while studying Proverbs.

"...the first essential for an effective study of Proverbs is faith in Jesus Christ so that you can honestly call God your Father. You can't make a life until you first have life, and this life comes through faith in Jesus Christ."

He has some very relevant application from the Proverbs that we would do well to heed.

"I note that many modern parents sacrifice time and money to help their children excel in music, sports, and social activities; I trust they're even more concerned that their children excel in knowing and obeying the Word of God."

"The all-seeing camera moves into the bedroom, the barroom, and the courtroom and enables excited viewers to enjoy sin vicariously. Movies and TV are instructing generation after generation of children how to ridicule virginity, laugh at sobriety, challenge authority, and reject honesty."

The chapter on "Enjoying God's Guidance" is the weakest chapter of the book with questionable, if not incorrect, advise on decision-making, which, unfortunately, is what the book of Proverbs is designed to help us with.

Although I would have preferred a verse-by-verse approach (this is, admittedly, difficult for the book of Proverbs as the narrative flow is not really linear), this is a good beginners guide to the rich truths found in "God's guidebook for a fulfilled life."

"People are willing to work diligently in their jobs because they know they'll earn a paycheck, but what about applying themselves diligently to God's Word in order to gain spiritual riches that are more valuable than gold and silver and jewels, riches that will last forever?"

Rating: Paperback