The Devotional – 1402 – Security in Wisdom?
Proverbs 3:1-4 – My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my
commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let
love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your
neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then
you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Comments and challenges
There would be few to argue or labor over questioning that there
is security in wisdom, but as always I stand at the ready to rub in the
direction that chafes, rather than to pet and comfort the ears that often like
to be tickled. If the wisdom you and I seek does not line up with the Living
Word of God; how then shall it be of any value to the one who has it? For example:
someone has said about others, “My friend knows how to hold their liquor!” “What?”
This does not man the person a better drunk than me (if I were a drunk) it
simply makes the person’s nose and facial features glow in greater detail with
intoxication.
5. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and
lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all
your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths
straight. 7 Do
not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This
will bring health to your body and nourishment to your
bones.
The
verses above are so wonderful and if you have ever leaned on your own
understanding of “anything” you already know the trouble that can cause. I have
often said when doing so… “Well this is another fine mess you’ve gotten
yourself into Jesse” or if you have been within hear shot you here, “Jesse,
Jesse, Jesse”! Yet if I take that same event to the LORD first and filter it
through His wisdom my heart will sing within with words like “Ah LORD God, You
are so wonderful to me” and audibly you will hear; “Thank You LORD”!
In
one moment of time we utterly fail with a false sense of wisdom, or we allow
God to be glorified by using His Wisdom and understanding. When we shun evil
wisdom the result is always health and nourishment to our physical being.
This wisdom is one of the “BIG” failures of our lives and there seems to be no way “praise God” to express this except by saying to all of us that, this is where faith in God or faith in wealth meet “head on”. How wonderful it is to know that I am not where I should be in giving; it is wonderful because I know that it is the same with you. In other words, “I am not alone in this wisdom of giving to God the “first fruits” of ALL my crops. There are some folks who live in poverty because they give too much and there are others who have abundance, but give too little, therefore both barns of these families do not overflow, nor do their vats spill over with refreshment. We could spend much time on this subject.
No one likes to be disciplined by God, yet in every case of discipline the love of God is very clear. I do not suggest that we seek discipline as one seeks blessing for that is to live in opposition to the wisdom and understanding of God, yet discipline does a work in us that blessing does not, chastening however grievous will always lead the saint to the peaceful fruit of “righteousness”, God does not train us in blessing, He trains us in discipline to equip us to live righteously and receive His gift of blessing and peace.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is
more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more
precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with
her. 16 Long life is
in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are
pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18
She is a tree of life to those
who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
There
are a lot of “wisdoms” in the world around us, but there is only ONE wisdom
that can produce ETERNAL results worth living for. Unbelieving people search
the world over for the purpose of wisdom and understanding. God has prepared
the heavens and the earth for us to see with our eyes, hear with our ears and
feel with our hands the marvelous work of the Wisdom of God in Creation (you
and I are a part of creation). Creation is like a very large neon sign saying
over and over again. This Creation of mine I give to you because I love you.
Use
it to glorify Me and be blessed beyond your ability to contain it.
19 By wisdom the
LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set
the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let
drop the dew. 21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out
of your sight; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament
to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble; 24
when you lie down, you will not
be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep
will be sweet. 25 Have no fear
of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.
Use
it to glorify yourself and be cursed beyond your ability to have it.
27 Do not withhold good from those who
deserve it, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll
give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your
neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. 30
Do not accuse a man for no reason-- when he has done
you no harm. 31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, 32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but
takes the upright into his confidence. 33
The LORD's curse is on the house
of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the
humble. 35 The wise
inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.
The
choice is yours!
HAPPY SNOW DAY! NEW ENGLAND
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