Wednesday · 2026-09-09

A Good Name, Humility, and Teaching Righteousness

Today's devotional focuses on wisdom from Proverbs 22, exploring the profound value of a good name, the blessings that accompany humility and the fear of the Lord, and the enduring importance of teaching children righteousness.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 22:1–31 (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/prov/22?lang=eng)

Context:
The Book of Proverbs is a collection of inspired wise sayings, primarily attributed to King Solomon, designed to impart practical wisdom for daily living and moral conduct. It belongs to a category of Old Testament literature known as "wisdom literature," which offers counsel and reflection on human behavior, adversity, mortality, and devotion to God. Proverbs 22, like much of the book, uses poetic structures, such as parallelism, to make its principles memorable and to illustrate how righteous choices lead to different outcomes than foolish ones. The overarching theme is that true wisdom originates from "the fear of the Lord".

Reflective Questions:

1. Proverbs 22:1 states, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." In what ways does prioritizing a good reputation and the respect of others (built on integrity and righteous actions) bring more lasting value and happiness than the pursuit of material wealth?
2. Proverbs 22:6 teaches, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." What specific "ways" are we commanded to teach children, and what consistent efforts can we make daily as parents, mentors, or examples to instill righteous principles that will stay with them throughout their lives?

Closing Tying Insight:
Proverbs 22 offers timeless guidance that emphasizes the eternal over the temporal. It reminds us that our character, defined by a good name and genuine humility before God, far surpasses any worldly accumulation. Furthermore, the diligent effort we invest in teaching children righteousness forms a lasting foundation for their lives and future generations. Today, let us center our efforts on building and maintaining a good name through sincere humility and by consistently teaching and exemplifying the Lord's ways within our homes and communities.