If I have not already thought through a story or an anecdote I will waffle through giving way too many details so that by the time I get to the punchline there is very little punch.

Proverbs 1:1-33

Reference:  v.2 (Proverbs is) for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight.  (NIV Bible)

Explore:  I can often be a messy rambler.  If I have not already thought through a story or an anecdote I will waffle through giving way too many details so that by the time I get to the punchline there is very little punch.  I'm sure you have sat through many stories, presentations and work meetings filled with people who speak similarly.  You start with good intentions to pay attention and listen out for the purpose of the speech but after 20 minutes of, "I met with the client on Tuesday... no, maybe it was Wednesday... actually it was just after I'd had my lunch meeting with the CEO... oh no, that was another client..." you tend to lose patience.  If people can not work out the point of a story, lecture or meeting then they will be less likely to stay attentive to the very end.

Application:  When Solomon was writing the Proverbs he set out his point right from the very start: this was to be a book of wisdom.  As a wise writer he explains at the very beginning what you can expect when you read through Proverbs.  For someone who tends to just start at the beginning of a Bible book and read through, without a great deal of background research, these first verses gives me a great heads-up on what Solomon's point for this book is.  I hope that as we read through Proverbs, some of Solomon's writing wisdom will rub off on my story telling!

Prayer:  Lord, Solomon asked for wisdom and You gave it to him generously.  May we now learn from the wisdom he received from You.  Amen.

Communication is crucial as we convey God's message to the world.  What is your best form of communication?