Proverbs 20 Devotional Study

Why the party scene won’t make you happy

From movies to music, our culture seems to hold the party scene on a platform and shout, “This is where you’ll find fulfillment!” Where else will you meet someone special, solidify your social status, and make memories you’ll tell your kids about one day?

In reality, the air smells like body odor and alcohol. The conversations rarely go deeper than surface level. And the decisions you make can affect the rest of life, but not for the better.

The party scene might be interesting, but is it the kind of life we want to lead?

Drunkenness often leads us to do things we never thought we’d do — pick fights, avoid responsibility, cheat others — all the while concealing and numbing the longing in our hearts for something more (Proverbs 20:1-6).

Only a relationship with Jesus can fulfill us and sustain us. Proverbs 20:7 says, “The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.” The righteous are not those who never mess up, but those who carry no blame because Jesus has paid for their sins.

When we ask Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to see things as they really are (Proverbs 20:12). And as our priorities change, our lives begin to change. Instead of overindulging in wine or strong drink, the Bible tell us to fill ourselves with wisdom from God and His people. When the volume of truth gets turned up, the voice of the world gets tuned out.

Our greatest moments didn’t happen inside the walls of a rager. We were created for more. The Lord is working in us even when we can’t see Him (Proverbs 20:24). And as we seek our fulfillment in Him, wisdom can become our legacy.

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Reflect:
Proverbs 20:1	Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 20:2	The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Proverbs 20:3	It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Proverbs 20:4	The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Proverbs 20:5	Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:6	Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Proverbs 20:7	The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 20:8	A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:9	Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Proverbs 20:10	Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 20:11	Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Proverbs 20:12	The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Proverbs 20:13	Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Proverbs 20:14	It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Proverbs 20:15	There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 20:16	Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Proverbs 20:17	Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Proverbs 20:18	Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Proverbs 20:19	He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Proverbs 20:20	Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Proverbs 20:21	An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Proverbs 20:22	Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Proverbs 20:23	Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Proverbs 20:24	Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:25	It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Proverbs 20:26	A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:27	The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs 20:28	Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Proverbs 20:29	The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
Proverbs 20:30	The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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