Our title identifies the theme running through this group of twelve proverbs (clearly so in eight of them). Here are twelve distinctive and vital counsels for Christian fellowship, all of them curing defects and enabling deeper ties of respect and love between the Lord's people.

A remarkable group of proverbs teach that spiritual joy must be deepened by the individual believer taking the rights steps here enumerated. They also show that joy needs spiritual priorities, restraint over material things, fellowship, control of anger, and worthy not trivial meat for the mind. Here is spiritual happiness!

Profound verses tell how to keep a calm mental, emotional state with joy in the Lord (no matter what). Here are the duties of appreciation, joy and gratitude even alongside woes, the need for food for the soul, and for simplicity, love, and self-control.

Remarkable and profound verses show the necessity of being wholly submitted to the Lord in all departments of the spiritual journey - including the direction of life, self-examination, advance in holiness, pride-abatement, and persecution. Almost every verse couples a human action with a divine response.

Here are six influences to be resisted: things that intoxicate (not only alcohol), peace and acceptance, the love of strife, the love of comfort and convenience, untested dreams and plans, and inner self-justification. Here also are the biblical ways of defeating them.

Twelve verses track the fallen state of mankind, revealing strikingly different and often surprising aspects of our lost condition. It stirs our sympathy, prayers and witness, and, of course, our gratitude for salvation. We see also the vast differences between being lost or saved.

Bandits raiding the trade routes of the biblical world paid a price in wounds and death at the hands of militia. Solomon applies their lifestyle to the spiritual cost of disdaining the Lord. Here are the blessings lost by neglect, or gained by coming to Christ.

Here are eight consecutive graphic proverbs presenting distinctive aspects of sanctification: the need for a plan, the special guarding of appetites and words, fleeing pride, fearing indolence, being outgoing, keeping utmost sincerity in worship, applying Truth, and being ever-correctable. These powerful helps explored.

The first proverb in this group announces the theme - the believer's reputation for shining integrity (and its works), showing that it encompasses a true view of self (humility), principled living, keeping personal spiritual independence, and other precious elements. With examples of typical failure.

- earthly and personal desires that is. Beginning with the need to curb determination to have one's way, Solomon deals with anger, longings in general, and the 'evil eye' of coveting. He powerfully emphasises the need to observe God's sacred boundaries in life.

Starting with a brief comment on the 'rod' in Proverbs, and what it does not mean, here is a remarkable 20-verse topic showing how Satan first makes sin desirable, promotes it through bad company, weakens thirst for regular teaching, then tightens sin's grip on us.

While God's forgiveness and spiritual life are free, the questions asked by buyers of large acquisitions may be asked when seeking a religion. Who made it? Does it have a Saviour? Does it work? Will it last? How will I be affected? What are the alternatives? etc

"Buy the truth" urges Solomon - a search for the explanation and meaning of life, and a relationship with the Lord. Don't sell it, as many do, for a godless life. Here is how the heart is given to God, and how eyes are opened.

Through four striking illustrations Solomon considers spiritual 'skills': a noble building showing the three stages of spiritual life, warfare showing strategies for resisting Satan, the uninitiated builder or soldier showing hopeless consequences, and the need for constant exercise of spiritual skills.

This group of verses unfolds five 'companions' of biblical truth as we search and apply it to life. Fascinating illustrations press home lessons on the need of: diligence, purity (in doctrine and methods), reality (especially the call to service), humility, and diplomacy (or sensitivity).

A sequence of verses showing how to steer oneself toward consideration of others, use 'unbreachable barriers' to avoid sin, maintain diligence in all things, avoid giving superficial counsel, register and convey disapproval of wrong, and treasure family devotion and the means of grace.

The most brilliant of men and women may be altogether disconnected when it comes to spiritual awareness or concern. Here are Solomon's jolting miniature parables designed to draw us from indifference to God and the soul, and bring us to know Christ the Lord.

People may be brilliant and accomplished in several fields of learning and skill, yet unreceptive and unaware when it comes to the purpose of life and reconciliation with God. Here are miniature parables of Solomon that appeal to us all to be open to God. As snow in summer, and…