As I decided to dive deeper into learning the books of wisdom from the bible, I began reading The Book of Proverbs today.
What is The Book of Proverbs?
Proverbs is a collection of sayings and instructions meant to teach wisdom to the young and advanced alike. The ultimate objective of this book is to urge readers to seek wisdom itself and personifies wisdom as an attractive woman seeking human disciples and companions. Father Mike Schmitz from Hallow simply describes it as a script on how to live a good life. If you do good things, good things will happen to you and vice versa. However, it is important to note that this book is the “rule” and not the “exception.” In being that life is too complex for it to be this easy. Unfortunately, we all know good people who have had bad things happen to them and this particular book of wisdom does not offer comment on that phenomenon. Proverbs is “fair” to all extent as it offers a balanced way of looking at the world, yet Proverbs ≠Promises.
To me Proverbs represents motivational hope. The blessings that could be bestowed upon you if you do everything right. As I sat reading and contemplating, Lee Brice’s song, Love Like Crazy came to my mind.
Love Like Crazy chronicles a righteous man who, through hard work, fervent praying, and the help of his supportive wife, leads a life full of blessings. Below you will find the lyrics with paralleled proverbs underneath each section. Therefore, here is my case on why Love Like Crazy represents a modern-day Book of Proverbs.
Love Like Crazy
Lee Brice
They called them crazy when they started out
Said seventeen’s too young to know what love’s about
They’ve been together fifty-eight years now
That’s crazy
“To find a wife is to find happiness, a favor granted by the Lord.”
18:22
He brought home sixty-seven bucks a week
He bought a little two bedroom house on Maple Street
“It is better to be humble with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.”
16:19
Where she blessed him with six more mouths to feed
Yeah, that’s crazy
“Children’s children are the crown of the elderly.”
17:6
Just ask him how he did it, he’ll say, “pull up a seat”
It’ll only take a minute to tell you everything
“The human heart plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.”
18:12
Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse “I love you”
“There are friends who bring ruin, but there are true friends more loyal than a brother.”
18:24
Go to work, do your best, don’t outsmart your common sense
“Whoever pursues justice and kindness will find life and honor.”
20:21
Never let your prayin’ knees get lazy
And love like crazy
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
15:8
They called him crazy when he quit his job
Said them home computers, boy, they’ll never take off
“Do not answer fools according to their folly, lest you too become like them.”
26:4
He sold his one-man shop to Microsoft
And they paid like crazy
“The appetite of the diligent is amply satisfied.”
13:4
Just ask him how he made it
He’ll tell you, faith and sweat
“Whoever ponders a matter will be successful; happy the one who trusts in the Lord.”
16:20
And the heart of a faithful woman
Who never let him forget
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.”
IX: 25
Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse “I love you”
“Iron is sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another.”
27:17
Go to work, do your best, don’t outsmart your common sense
“Go from the face of the fool; you get no knowledge from such lips.”
14:7
Never let your prayin’ knees get lazy
And love like crazy
“Those who turn their ears from hearing instruction, even their prayer is an abomination.”
28:9
Always treat your woman like a lady
Never get to old to call her “baby”
“Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all.”
IX: 29
Never let your prayin’ knees get lazy
And love like crazy
“The Lord is far from the wicked, but hears the prayer of the just.”
15:29
They called him crazy when they started out
They’ve been together fifty-eight years now
Ain’t that crazy?
“Houses and possessions are an inheritance from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.”
19:14