Proverbs 19:1–19
What’s in Your Pack?
My father was a history buff. He spent much of his free time learning about and, with his hobbies, emulating the great men who explored and trekked through new territories all over our young country. Over the years his focus shifted from the mountain man era of the early 1800s to the peri-revolutionary war era of the mid to late 1700s. Men like Jim Bridger and Daniel Boone were read about and researched. As a child and teenager I spent many a day alongside my father as he hunted or participated in Rendezvous. What fascinated him most were all the things that were needed to start and sustain an excursion. Two of the most important were the muzzleloading rifle and the possibles bag.
(my dad on the left with a friend on a trek)
As summer begins to fade and fall approaches, many of us are getting ready to head back to school, return to work, or step into a new season of responsibility. We check our schedules, organize our supplies, buy new clothes, and pack our bags.
But Proverbs 19 reminds us that there is another kind of preparation we need to make—the preparation of our heart.
Imagine an old mountain man preparing to leave camp for a long journey. He would carry a possibles bag—a small leather bag holding the things he might need along the trail: a compass, fire-starting materials, food, cordage, a knife, and other essentials. He couldn’t carry everything. He had to choose carefully what was worth the weight.
As we prepare for the fall, Proverbs 19 challenges us to consider what we are carrying in our own “possibles bag.”
Proverbs 19:1 reminds us that integrity is more valuable than wealth gained through dishonesty. Put integrity in your bag. When pressure comes at school or work, character will matter more than achievement.
Verses 2–3 warn about acting without knowledge and then blaming God when things go wrong. Put wisdom and patience in your bag. Don’t rush into decisions simply because everyone else is moving quickly.
Verses 4–7 remind us that relationships can change when money, success, or circumstances change. Put loyalty and genuine friendship in your bag. Be the kind of person who stays faithful when there is nothing to gain.
Verses 8–10 emphasize wisdom, understanding, and righteous living. Put teachability in your bag. A person who thinks they already know everything has little room left to grow.
Verses 11–12 give us a powerful lesson about controlling our anger. Put patience and self-control in your bag. You will encounter difficult coworkers, classmates, teachers, customers, and circumstances. You cannot control everything that happens, but you can control how you respond.
Verses 13–19 continue with lessons about relationships, discipline, correction, anger, and responsibility. They remind us that wisdom isn’t merely something we know—it is something we live.
So, as you walk into this new season, ask yourself:
What am I carrying?
Am I carrying bitterness from last year? Fear about what is ahead? Anger toward someone who hurt me? Pride that keeps me from listening?
Or am I carrying wisdom, integrity, patience, humility, self-control, faithfulness, and a willingness to learn?
A mountain man didn’t fill his possibles bag with everything he owned. He carried what he needed for the journey.
Neither should we.
Prayer:
Lord, as I enter this new season, help me carry what matters. Give me wisdom when I need to make decisions, patience when people frustrate me, humility when I need correction, courage when things are difficult, and integrity when no one is watching. Help me leave behind the things that weigh me down and walk faithfully with You each day. Amen.
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