How to Make Better Decisions
February 1, 2026Pastor Patrick presented today's message, "How to Make Better Decisions." A video of today's message is here on YouTube. It may help to be familiar with the message but that is not required to enjoy the thoughts below.
Today's message was an intro to a sermon series "Clips of Wisdom" which amounts to a guided tour through the book of Proverbs.
Patrick mentioned Proverbs 1:7 in his opening remarks, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." then went on to discuss in some detail the complete meaning of the Hebrew word for fear. If you're interested, I touched on that last week when Pastor Clive mentioned the upcoming series: fear. Proverbs 9:10 switches what fear of God begins from knowledge to wisdom, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Another groundwork item Patrick covered was the four types of people focused on in Proverbs: the Simple (naive), the Fool (from "perverse"), the Mocker (scoffer, scorner), and the Wise. For more on each, click on each word for Bible Hub's summary page for that word and scroll down on the left side to "Topical Lexicon" for the meat of the matter. As Patrick explained, all four contain more depth of meaning than you might expect.
The Hebrew word for proverb is maw-shawl' (מָשָׁל). "Denotes any crafted comparison that presses truth upon the listener - ranging from a single, memorable proverb to an extended oracle, taunt-song, or parabolic discourse. Its artistry invites meditation; its authority rests in divine inspiration. Approximately thirty-eight occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. The word is never confined to one literary form; rather, it adapts to the speaker's purpose—wisdom instruction, covenant warning, prophetic revelation, or public lament." (BibleHub.com)Bonus
Modern "Proverbs"
On the same day as the message noted above, we started a series (for the first time) on Wisdom during our Family Dinner. The first (tonight's) exercise was to brainstorm modern proverbs (sayings, nuggets of wisdom, etc.) and explain the broader meaning of each. It was quite fun! Below is the list I had printed off of modern proverbs/sayings in case none came up. As it turned out, plenty came up on their own. Next week we start on proverbs in Proverbs.
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
A change is as good as a holiday.
A diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfect.
A drowning man will clutch a straw.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
A good listener is a silent flatterer.
A house divided cannot stand.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
A leopard doesn't change its spots.
A penny for your thoughts.
A penny saved is a penny earned.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
A problem shared is a problem halved.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
A thing begun is half done.
A woman's work is never done.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Actions speak louder than words.
All good things must come to an end.
All is fair in love and war.
All that glitters is not gold.
All's well that ends well.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
An empty vessel makes much noise.
An idle brain is devil's workshop.
As bright as a button.
As clean as a whistle.
As cold as ice.
As cool as a cucumber.
As fit as a fiddle.
As you sow, so you shall reap.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Beauty is only skin deep.
Beggars can't be choosers.
Best things in life are free.
Better late than never.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Bite the bullet.
Blood is thicker than water.
Break the ice.
Cat got your tongue.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Clothes do not make a man.
Cold hands, warm heart.
Cross the stream where it is shallowest.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.
Different strokes for different folks.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Doctors make the worst patients.
Don't blow your own trumpet.
Don’t carry coal to Newcastle.
Don’t cast pearls before swine.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Don’t kill the goose that lays golden eggs.
Don’t open a shop unless you know how to smile.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Don't put too many irons in the fire.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Easy come, easy go.
Eagles don’t catch flies.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Every dog has his day.
Fall seven times; stand up eight.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
First come, first served.
Flattery, like perfume, should be smelled but not swallowed.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune favors the bold.
Get out while the going (getting) is good.
Give credit where credit is due.
Give the cold shoulder.
Go the whole nine yards.
God helps those who help themselves.
Good things come to those who wait.
Grief divided is made lighter.
His eyes are bigger than his stomach.
Home is where the heart is.
Honesty is the best policy.
Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
If you play with fire, you'll get burned.
If you want peace, prepare for war.
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
It takes two to tango.
It is part of a good shepherd to shear his flock, not to skin it.
It’s better to lose the battle and win the war.
It's no use crying over spilt milk.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Kind words will unlock an iron door.
Knowledge is power.
Laughter is the best medicine.
Learn to walk before you run.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Like father, like son.
Like two peas in a pod.
Long absent, soon forgotten.
Look before you leap.
Love me, love my dog.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Money doesn't grow on trees.
More die of food than famine.
Murder will out.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Never say never.
Never test the depth of water with both feet.
No man is an island.
No news is good news.
Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm.
Once bitten twice shy.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Pleased as punch.
Politeness costs little but yields much.
Practice makes perfect.
Practice what you preach.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Rule of thumb.
Saved by the bell.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Show your true colors.
Silence is golden.
Silence is half consent.
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
Spill the beans.
Still water runs deep.
The benefit of the doubt.
The best things in life are free.
The course of true love never runs smooth.
The early bird catches the worm.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill.
The harder you work, the luckier you get.
The highest branch is not the safest roost.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
The only free cheese is in the mousetrap.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.
There's no place like home.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
There's no time like the present.
Time and tide wait for no man.
To add insult to injury.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Two heads are better than one.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Two's company, but three's a crowd.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
When it rains, it pours.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
Where there’s will, there’s way.
While the cat is away, the mice will play.
Words must be weighed, not counted.
You are what you eat.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
You made your bed, now lie in it.