TOP
TEN  TIPS  FOR
LIFE
 BY Mark Moring
Campus Life May/June 1999
 

Now that the school year is
almost over, you are probably
wondering, What's Next?  Maybe it's
a job.  A vacation.  Summer camp. A
mission trip.  Or packing up for
college.  Whatever it is, you might be
thinking, Am I ready?  Especially if
you are about to graduate.   What
you want is real-world advice, some
choice words for life.  You will find
plenty of'em in the book of Proverbs
(in the Bible)- wise sayings that will
guide you through just about anything
life might throw your way.  The book
is packed with good advice.  So, from
Proverbs, here's our Top 10 List of
wise words for life:

1.  GUIDANCE- (Proverbs 3:5-6)
        Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make
your paths straight.

This might be the most quoted
passage in all of Proverbs; maybe
you've memorized it.  But wherever
you are headed in life, these words
will always remind you who directs
your paths.
 

2.  DISCERNMENT- (Proverbs
14:12)
There is a way that seems
right to a man, but in the end it
leads to death.

Yeah, that verse ends on kind
of a downer.  But you get the point:
Sometimes something seems right,
but it might be the wrong choice after
all.  That's why we've always got to
ask God to help us make wise
decisions.

3.  CONFIDENCE-  (Proverbs
3:25-26)
Have no fear of sudden
disaster or of the ruin that overtakes
the wicked, for the Lord will be your
confidence and will keep your foot
from being snared.

Finishing high school can
be kind of scary.  You might not feel
as confident as you did before.  But
remember, "The Lord will be your
confidence".

4.  WORK-  (Proverbs6:6-9)
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!  It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest...

        Life lessons from an ant? Yep.
Ants might be the hardest-working
critters alive.  They are always busy,
always planning ahead.  Being on
your own- whether in college or at a
full-time job--is hard work.  It's
tempting to get lazy- especially in
college, where it is easy to sleep
through those early-morning classes.
Mom won't be there to tell you, for
the 14th time, to get out of bed; there
will be "no commander, no overseer
or ruler."  You will have to kick
yourself into gear, because nobody
else will do it for you.

5. RELATIONSHIP-  (Proverbs
12:26)
        A righteous man is cautious in
friendship, but the way of the
wicked leads them astray.

Here is a great verse on
choosing friends wisely.  As you
begin to develop new friendships
after high school, ask God to point
you to people who won't lead you
astray.

6.  SEXUAL PURITY-  (Proverbs
6:25-26,28)
Do not lust in your heart
after her beauty or let her captivate
you with her eyes, for the prostitute
reduces you to a loaf of bread, and
the adulteress preys upon your very
life...Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?

You might be saying,
"Prostitutes and adultery? That
doesn't apply to me."  But these
verses are about much more than
that.  They're about the strong
temptation of sex, a temptation that
affects us all.  This passage clearly
says sex outside of marriage is also
outside of God's perfect plan.  When
we violate that plan, we walk "on hot
coals"- and get burned!

7.  MONEY-  (Proverbs 11:28)
            Whoever trusts in riches
will fall, but the righteous will
thrive like a green leaf.

        Whether you are off to college
or a job, it's easy to think that
money will bring you happiness or
solve your problems.But the Bible is
clear that money doesn't do those
things.  If you wonn a "thrive like a
green leaf," pursue righteousness,
not riches.

8.  PARENTS-  (Proverbs 23:22,25)

        Listen to your father, who gave
you life, and do not despise your
mother when she is old...May your
father and mother be glad; may she
who gave you birth rejoice!

        It's perfectly natural to want
independence-- and, ultimately, to
break away from Mom and Dad.  But
don't rush that process.  Even when
you are on your own, your parents
are still your parents and deserve
your respect.  Do what you can to
make them proud and glad - you are
their kid!

9.  COMPASSION-  (Proverbs
19:17)
He who is kind to the poor
lends to the Lord, and he will
reward him for what he has done.

        We all tend to get caught up in
our own lives that we sometimes
forget there are hurting people
around us.  But God always wants us
to share his great love with others.
Volunteer with a local ministry.
Take a short-term missions trip.
Make time to reach out and touch
someone.

10.  THE FUTURE-  (Proverbs
23:18)
There is surely a future hope
for you, and your hope will not be
cut off.

You are probably wondering
what your future holds.  But this
verse says you don't have to worry
about it.  If you follow God, he'll
take care of it- and he will take care
of you.  Nothing can cut you off from
his love.  He will carry you through,
all the way.