It would be a mistake to listen to these proverbs as humanistic, secular pearls of wisdom. The very foundation of proverbs is on the fear of the LORD - being in a right relationship with God.
In Proverbs 4 , Solomon says, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Thought it cost you all you have, get understanding." The phrase, "all you have" refers to your own worldly wisdom - all of your understandings that culture has taught you about living. To get wisdom, we have to give up our worldly wisdom and exchange it for God's. our thinking has to be transformed.
People quote from Proverbs 8, "With Me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity." The health and wealth prosperity preachers love verses like this - always out of context. The very next verse says, :My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver." This verse shows that wisdom doesn't always yield more money, but that which is even more valuable - in the next verse - "I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice." In God's eyes - and in godly people's eyes - these things are much more valuable than earthly riches.
So read Proverbs as you would an Epistle, searching for God - and searching for how to walk in manner befitting one of the King's people. In proverbs, we can discover God in a new way, unlike all of the other Biblical genres.
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