Simply Living: Modern Wisdom from the Ancient Book of Proverbs

by Cecil Murphey

Book Overview

The book of Proverbs deals with the human search for meaning. Through reason, experience, common sense, and observation, the sages sought to discover God in the details of daily life. In Simply Living , Cecil Murphey reacquaints us with dozens of proverbs--some familiar and some forgotten--and helps us apply these ancient insights to the problems with which we contend in our modern lives.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0664222676
• ISBN13: 9780664222673
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Really Living

Living simply in my opinion is experiencing life at its best or really living. The book of Proverbs is a practical guide for daily living at it's finest. If everyone followed Proverb's sage advice it would truly create a continual state of heaven on earth. Cecil Murphey's book is a most pratical look at how to walk out our faith. Using various individual Proverbs, he shares about living with God, family, business and law, as well as living and working with non family members. In writing about these eternal truths Cecil shares experiences from his own life to illustrate their meaning. which really helps you see how to practically apply them in you daily walk and also makes for interesting reading. If you've struggled with understanding Proverbs or just want to gain deeper understanding into these life changing truths, Cecil's book is for you.

One of his best!

In SIMPLY LIVING, Cecil Murphey takes the most secular book of the Bible, Proverbs, and gives us practical glimpses of God working in our everyday lives. His examples and characteristics show the people we have all met, known or been challenged by. The book is divided into 4 sections, Living with God, Living with the Family, Living and Working with Others, and Living with Business and Law. Each few pages, offer practical gems of the ancient that can instruct us in our walk in the world. This book could easily be used for a bible study group, or short daily meditations. This is one of my favorite books by this prolific and talented writer.

Makes the Proverbs come alive

For years I've gotten a lot out of reading Proverbs--practical, wise living. But I've wondered whether I was understanding fully all that the biblical author was saying. Now Cecil Murphey explains the meaning of 50+ proverbs, drawing on stories and personal experiences to flesh them out. I read one or two each morning--and grieved when I'd finished the book and no longer had Cecil to give me a fresh perspective on how to wisely--and deliberately--face my day.

Deserves a wider audience

This book merits attention beyond the Christian niche market. As someone who does not identify himself as a Christian, I would not ordinarily come across a book aime at the religious market. However, a friend who knows of my pursuit of spiritual wisdom through Eastern and Western philosophies, gave me this book. What a revelation. What impresses me most is how this book about biblical proverbs has such relevance to modern life. Because they have passed through to popular culture, many proverbs are familiar even to those of us who are not conversant with the Bible. Sadly, in some instances, the original meaning of many proverbs has been lost as they become slogans in emotional wars over social issues. For instance, in the section of the book dealing with family life, there is a chapter devoted to the maxim "spare the rod and spoil the child." These words can be a source of authority for many parents and school administrators, while at the same time they can be provocative fighting words to opponents of corporal punnishment. The widsom of "Simply Living" is that it finds a soothing middle ground through its examination of the historical intent of Proverbs and the interpretation of their meaning in our current cultural context. There is another throught-provoking chapter on the role of a wife, as well as whole sections devoted to ethical issues that touch our personal and professional lives. While this book is about proverbs, it does not contain platitudes. It deserves a thoughtful reading by Christians and non-Christians alike. > > This book merits attention beyond the Christian niche market. As someone who does not identify himself as a Christian, I would not ordinarily come across a book aime at the religious market. However, a friend who knows of my pursuit of spiritual wisdom through Eastern and Western philosophies, gave me this book. What a revelation. > > What impresses me most is how this book about biblical proverbs has such relevance to modern life. Because they have passed through to popular culture, many proverbs are familiar even to those of us who are not conversant > with the Bible. Sadly, in some instances, the original meaning of many proverbs has been lost as they become slogans in emotional wars over social issues. For instance, in the section of the book dealing with family > life, there is a chapter devoted to the maxim "spare the rod and spoil the child." These words can be a source of authority for many parents and school administrators, while at the same time they can be provocative > fighting words to opponents of corporal punnishment. The widsom of "Simply Living" is that it finds a soothing middle ground through its examination of the historical intent of Proverbs and the interpretation of their > meaning in our current cultural context. > > There is another throught-provoking chapter on the rol