A Fool No More

 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7, NIV)

Throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon wrote about fear. Fear, as Solomon used it, means to be in awe of and to revere. This awe and reverence occur because of who God is—omnipotent, omniscient, holy, omnipresent, faithful, good, majestic, etc. It also refers to God’s wisdom given to people and their obedience to Him based on what God tells them. Once a person becomes aware of God, that person can either reject Him or accept and obey Him.

Two ways exist to acknowledge the fear of the LORD: rejecting and accepting. (LORD is YAHWEH in Hebrew.) If a person rejects the LORD, then chaos and disharmony enter his heart and life and the world around him. When people acknowledge the LORD and fear Him, they accept Him as God and LORD. Order and calm occur. This order and calm shows by all creation working together with peace. Because God created all that exists, God’s knowledge is ultimate. His wisdom is the greatest. Accepting God as LORD means accepting God and His wisdom and knowledge. It also means living in harmony and peace with God within His ultimate plan of peace, calm, order, and harmony.

Fearing the LORD is the “beginning of knowledge,” Solomon wrote. Since God created all that exists to work at its best and in harmony with the rest of creation, seeking God’s wisdom and learning from Him causes us to gain the best knowledge. This knowledge from God, when obeyed, will cause the best outcome. Fear of the LORD—knowing Him and actively listening to Him—is from where we learn best. We humans can learn by seeking knowledge by reading, listening, watching, and doing. In each of these ways, God can teach us when we seek Him and His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

God wants us to seek Him, which we do when we revere Him and recognize He is sovereign. In our seeking, He will teach us as we listen to Him and then live out that new knowledge in our lives. Only God teaches the best lessons by which to live. Living in this way causes us to seek and revere God more, and may lead us to believe in Jesus, His Son. When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, He washes our sins from us, gives us eternal life, and gives us an eternal relationship with God.

Solomon contrasted the person who fears the LORD and receives knowledge and wisdom from Him. He called a fool the person who does not fear God. What fools did Solomon write about? Since he contrasted them with those who revere, learn from and live with wisdom from God, a fool is a person who does not do these things. The fool’s life causes chaos and discord in his life, the lives of people around him, and in his relationship with his Creator—the LORD God.

Solomon taught more about this fool. He said the fool despises wisdom and discipline. He looks down on the wisdom and discipline a wise person gets from God. The fool considers the LORD and His children are insignificant. Because he disconnects himself from God, the source of truth and good, he is amoral. The fool is selfish, disregarding others and harming creation. By doing that, he declares these people have no worth to him; he does not care about them. The fool disconnects himself from God and other people. He cares not for his social or legal standing in the community. The fool chooses not to live by the values and judgments of society, which mirror many of God’s values, ethics, and judgments. This fool possesses self-created wisdom.

Solomon compared the person seeking true wisdom from its source, God, with the person who does not. He called this person a fool. The seeker of God gains true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He cultivates discipline, benefiting humanity and nature. The person who seeks God helps keep calm, harmony, and order in his community and the world. He gains a closer relationship with God, then comes to believe in His Son, Jesus. This seeker of God gains his heart’s desire and eternal reward of living with and being in a close relationship with God. The fool becomes surrounded by discord and chaos. His wisdom and knowledge will often fail him and others because it comes from the mind of a fallible. The fool strays from God; intimacy with God eludes him.

What is the remedy for the fool about whom Solomon wrote? Solomon's recording at the beginning of this verse reads, "Fear the Lord." Yes, this fear can include fearing judgment for our sins, but it should not stay that way. For a fool to change, he must arrive at the point of revering God, seeking Him and His ways, and seeking change in his life. He must come to the point of confessing and repenting of his sin and believing in Jesus, the Son of God, as His Savior. When the fool seeks God for His life, he receives calm, peace, and harmony. The past fool will live in communion with his community while caring for them and God’s creation. The once foolish man will fear God, gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from its fount—God, and experience peace within himself and with others. He will be God's child, enjoying eternal closeness with God.

God should be foremost in our thoughts. Seeking God will affect our actions, words, and attitude. Taking from Solomon’s thoughts:

1.      Choose to make God and His ways your primary thoughts and let those affect your words, actions, and thoughts.

2.      Gain knowledge of and from God. Grow in His wisdom, a gift He gives to those who follow Him.

3.      Give these gifts back to Him as a service offering.

Your obedience to God is your offering back to Him from His good gifts of salvation, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these (good) things will be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33, BSB)

Wisdom and Reverence

 

Closest of Bonds

 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.”

— Proverbs 18:24

 

I’ve heard this verse taught many ways, most often about the “friend who stays closer than a brother.” We all crave this type of friend. One who’s there for the joys of life and for the hardest times of life. One who encourages you and one who chastises wisely by teaching you.

 

Today, I’ve read three rabbis’ thoughts on this verse and I’ve considered the life of Jesus. The rabbis recognize the first “friend” is something you go out and strive to make. They then state, that of these, you will have a few who become more than that friend you may see or talk to periodically. Some or maybe only one of those friends will love you closer than a relative. They will love you like they love themselves.

 

These “friends” you make come from two different words. The first instance of it translates to companions. The second translates to as people as intimate as family.

 

Two rabbis found the first part of this verse as the cause for the second. They believed and taught you should make friends because among them, one or more may become closer than a blood relative and stick with you through sunny and stormy days. 

 

The third rabbi taught these two parts of the verse contrasted. He taught that although you should make friends to be a “man of friends,” you should seek out friends who love you, since some of these will “stick closer than a brother.”

 

In looking at Jesus’ example shows He made friends. Let’s look at his closest circle of friends, the twelve men He called to follow Him. Of these, one most assuredly did not stick closer than a brother, Judas Iscariot. Three of them, Jesus was closest to—John, James, and Peter. All of them Jesus taught, called, appointed, and purposely spent concentrated time with during His last three years on earth. Other than Judas Iscariot, these men obeyed Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:18-20. He commissioned them with these words. 

 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Each of these eleven men spent the rest of their lives obeying Jesus commissioning. It was only John, James, and Peter, though, whom He took when He went to pray. It was they who saw Elijah and Moses speaking with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. These three men went with Jesus as He raised Jairus’ daughter from death. It was Peter on whom He said He would build His church (the Christian church in Jerusalem, from where missionaries were sent). Peter was the preacher to thousands on the Day of Pentecost. It was John to whom Jesus passed the care of His mother. James, along with John, became prominent leaders in the early church, along with Peter, and they both expressed willingness to be martyred for their faith. James was the first disciple to be killed for His faith. John was the last disciple to die and had been persecuted and exiled for his faith. Jesus spent time with these three men because He was preparing them for leadership roles in the church. He spent time with them because they cared deeply for Him—in joys and anguishes.

 

Jesus intentionally met people. Of those, He made friends/companions. Some of those He created into deeper relationships. And some of these became closer than brothers to Him. 

 

Yes, we should make friends because that can lead to close friendships, like the first two rabbis taught. As the third rabbi taught, we should make friends, but seek out those who love you like family (John, James, & Peter). Jesus met thousands of people intentionally. Most of them came to see Him perform miracles or hear His wise teaching. Some became followers yearning for more. Some became friends whom Jesus grew to know. Jesus purposefully chose twelve men to follow Him and into whom He could impart spiritual truth, leadership, and authority. Eleven of these men accepted that calling and commission. Jesus saw the love and passion of three of the men and that they were closer to Him than His own brothers. They’d do anything to help Him and they did. 

 

Yes, we need a circle of friends in life. At one time we need the expertise of one of them and at another time the expertise of another. Yet, we also need daily, walk-beside-me friends who know our background, our heart, our intentions, and our purposes. These friends are closer-than-a-brother friends who when you say SNAP (stop now and pray) they will and will ask how they can help no matter the cost—physically, financially, emotionally, or locationally. They’d give you anything they had if you needed it. They’d do whatever at whenever time you needed. The blood that runs through you, runs through them. It’s the blood of salvation flowing from the throne of Jesus that unites us with Himself and each other.

 

Go out and intentionally create friendships. Create bonds closer than a brother. Allow the love of Jesus flowing through you to unite you with others. 

 

Maybe you feel you can’t trust anyone enough to get close anymore because of being hurt in the past. Jesus can heal that pain. Its sting will go away. Trust Him to heal you, cleanse you from sins, save you for eternity, and lead you to these close loving and trusting bonds. Just admit Jesus is the Son of God who came to save you. Believe in your heart this truth. Confess your sins and repent of them. 

 

We all crave friends and close bonds. God created us for relationship with Himself and other people. Let Him bring you into relationships with other people. Let Him use you to tell others about Jesus and teach them how to live like Jesus. Build relationships of all levels. Create relationships that are closer than a brother. We all need those people.

Attending Means More

 

 

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart.” (Proverbs 4:20-21)

 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

 

My children, listen to my words of wisdom and live them out. Make them part of who you are by thinking about and meditating on them. In this way, these wise godly ways of life will become yours in what you watch, say, think, and do. Remember most of all to guard your heart, for from what flows out of it in action and word shows if you are living according to God and His wisdom, about which I taught you. [paraphrase]

 

Attending to someone’s words is more than acknowledging him speaking, more than hearing him speak, and more than listening to what he says. Attending is listening, meditating on, understanding, and then acting upon what is taught. Inaction to what is taught is action. It’s refusal to believe and obey the person’s wisdom and teaching. 

 

Keeping a person’s words in one’s heart is part of attending. It’s a pondering on it, guarding that lesson as important, and acting upon it. Keeping a person’s words changes one’s life. In this passage, the person speaking was Solomon, the one to whom God granted wisdom as his gift. Keeping Solomon’s teachings—his words—can be considered equal to keeping God’s words because wisdom comes from God. 

 

Keeping God’s words is guarding them in your heart so that lies cannot change your mind, heart, and actions. Keeping God’s words protects you from evil. They remind you of what is good (from God) and what is evil. They protect your mind and the people you teach and help. They protect your heart so that your spirit is not confused and put into chaos. God’s words keep you connected to Him through His Spirit living in you, a believer in Christ. 

 

How can you hear, listen, and know God’s words, His wisdom? By reading, studying, and meditating on what you read in the Bible every day. By listening to Bible-based preaching and teaching. By praying and fellowshipping with other believers. 

 

Are you attending to and keeping God’s words? In what way are you slacking off in your relationship with Him—praying, reading and studying His word, worshipping Him, listening to Bible-based preaching and teaching? It’s never too late to return to God and to hear, listen to, keep, and do what He says. Right now, take the time to pray to God and return to Him.

Poverty and Riches

O God, I beg two favors from You; let me have them before I die. First, help me to never tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and, thus, insult God’s holy name. Proverbs 30:7-9 (NLT)

These verses from Proverbs 30 appear to be an obvious teaching, especially after living as an adult for a while. We realize we tend to forget about God when life is easy. We leave Him. Parties, friends, vacations, and buying new things occupy our minds, as do thoughts of how smart we were to earn that money. Instead, we could praise God for what He gives and tell people of His faithfulness and love. When life is hard, we can grow closer to God because we recognize He gives what we need and because we pray to Him continually. Alternately, we can insult Him by blaming Him for not providing what we need and/or then stealing those items. Once we realize these tendencies, most probably after we have experienced both excess and poverty, we can learn from them.

When we read Proverbs 30:7-9, perhaps we think of tangible things we need, like money, shelter, food, drink, clothes, and medicine. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus addressed people’s need for these things. He spoke of clothing and food and said if the Father clothes the flowers is such fine colors and feeds the birds without them worrying what they will eat, how much more so will He take care of our needs, we whom He made in His image. Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came to give us life more abundantly.

As we take this thought a step further, what other needs, non-physical, do we have? Jesus cares about the whole being. Humans have mental, emotional, and spiritual needs, along with physical needs. We need to feel safe and secure, be fed, know truth, experience peace, endure, and trust physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Life is more than just food, clothes, and where we will sleep, Jesus said. It includes every facet of who we are-mind, spirit, heart, and body. God takes care of the whole person throughout his or her life.

Jesus saves us from sin and death, a timeline of now and not yet. Most people consider the salvation He gives as something they will receive in the future after they die, the “not yet” of the timeline. Salvation happens when we believe in Jesus as God’s Son who died for our sins and when we confess and repent of our sins. When we accept the salvation He offers, He cleanses us from our sins, making us pure so we can live eternally with Him in heaven. Still, salvation is more than “not yet” in our lives. Jesus came to save us now and throughout our whole lives, too, the “now” part of the timeline. The saving now is spiritual, bodily, mental, and emotional, a feeling safe from torment, persecution, prejudice, abuse, and a host of other things. This saving “now” includes feeding our minds, spirits, and hearts with good things, too. Paul wrote about what we should think upon to feed us in Philippians 4:8-9 when he gave a list of “whatevers” to consider. We need to feed ourselves with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Jesus became wisdom for us, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:30. His Spirit teaches us God’s wisdom and knowledge and gives us understanding. We need to know truth. Jesus said, in John 14:6, He is the truth, way, and life. Jesus is truth. We can seek and rest secure knowing Jesus always tells and teaches truth while other people tell their “truths.” We can feel safe and secure knowing Jesus as the Truth. We can stand and endure knowing Jesus saved us. Ultimately, no matter what happens while we are alive, we recognize God wins and we will be with Him in heaven.

We, who have accepted the salvation Jesus gives, can know we are secure with God and can ask for His guidance, protection, and provision. Jesus’ saving us includes clothing us. Just as He feeds the birds and feeds us with His truths, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, Jesus, in Matthew 6, promised God would clothe us. Part of the clothing God gives to each of His children is about what Paul taught the Ephesian believers in Ephesians 6:10-20. He told them to put on the armor of faith. Faith in God is what enables each believer in Jesus Christ to “stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” We can stand firm and trust God because of who He is and His attributes - all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, wisdom, grace, mercy, and love. To stand firm, Paul told the Ephesian Christians to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, and to hold the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. And, while wearing this armor, he told them to pray in the Spirit. Always keep in close communion with God while staying alert, Paul said. Notice all the pieces of armor come from God. God is faithful and gives faith. His strength never fails. Jesus is Truth and makes us righteous, gives us salvation, with His righteousness. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and His gospel, good news, is peace and gives peace. He is the Way to the Father. No one can go to the Father except through Him. Jesus gives His Spirit to each person when they believe in Him for salvation. By the Spirit of Jesus with faith and prayer, we can clothe ourselves with the armor of faith, then stand firm by trusting God. God provides and clothes us with His armor.

Because of the “armor of faith,” we, Christians, can be secure, feel safe and secure, be nourished spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Believers can rest sure of their ultimate salvation. God will give us His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding if we ask. Jesus reveals His truths to us when we seek Him. God meets our mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Jesus told His followers not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear and where they would sleep. With Jesus as our Savior, we realize God cares and provides for our whole being. He feeds and clothes us and gives us shelter. God knows what we need before we even ask, but desires to hear from us and commune with us, so pray continually in the Spirit. Understanding this about God’s provisions, recognize when we have plenty and little, and be content with what He gives. Take note that what we own comes from God, not ourselves. Glorify Him for what He gives. Seek His plan for the gifts. Do not hurl insults at Him for what we do not have. Trust His heart and praise Him. Be faithful to God because He is faithful to us.

Will you deny the Lord when He gives overabundantly to you by walking away from a close communion with Him? Or will you seek Him and His purposes for what He gives you? Will you insult, blame, and curse God with your actions and words when He seems not to listen to your prayers and provide for your needs? Or will you trust in Him and His love for you while praising Him for what He has done and will do? Proverbs 30:7-9 brings us to the point where we must consider choosing faith in God and His purposes and love and being content with what He gives. Without trusting that God loves and cares for us, Satan might lead us astray with his lies, so that we insult God and turn our backs on Him. Trusting God means we will praise Him and be content whether or not He gives overabundantly. Will we seek His will, and trust and praise Him or insult and walk away from Him?

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

In whom do you trust?
Who gives you strength to live in this world?

In poverty and wealth, Jesus is still your Savior and Lord.

Whom will you trust and praise?

 

Wisdom is...

Job 28

As I continued reading my Bible this week, I came across a passage I have not studied since high school thirty-two years ago. Many people know the basic story of Job. Job was the man who had everything and lost it because God gave Satan permission to test him. Satan believed that Job revered and followed God solely because God blessed him. Satan wanted to prove his theory and asked God to give him permission to do that.

My reading this week focused Job 28. This chapter is in the middle of the third discourse of the book. Job spoke about wealth versus wisdom. In the previous chapter, Job compared a man of integrity, himself, with a wicked man. A key feature of a man of integrity, according to Job, is his righteousness. God brought before Job’s eyes in chapters 38-42 that he was not righteous or wise. He rebuked and challenged Job in chapters 40 and 41 about his brazenness in contending with Him and his rebuking of Him. God also challenged Job about his justifying himself while condemning God, the One who created everything including the behemoth and the One who can stand against Leviathan. Before Job gets to this point with God, we must read and study a very astute point he makes to his four friends.

Job told about his righteousness and what becomes of the wicked in chapter 27. In chapter 28, the chapter of our study, Job began by speaking of earth’s treasures - gold, silver, and jewels -  and the trouble man goes through to acquire them. He spent eleven verses explaining the effort humankind expends getting the earth to release these “treasures.” Job contrasted this with acquiring wisdom. He began this contrast in verse 12, “Where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?”

Humankind does not understand the value of wisdom, nor is it found in the land of the living. Job began to explain how rare and priceless wisdom is. No part of creation holds wisdom. Its value is incomparable with regard to minerals or jewels. Acquiring wisdom is of greater importance than all things earth gives. With this foundation laid, Job asked again in verse 20, “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?” God hides wisdom from the living and from the birds that see everything as they are flying. Abaddon and death (destruction and death) heard of wisdom. Since wisdom is a greater wealth than minerals and jewels, we must search for wisdom.

What, then, is wisdom? Where do we find it and how do we acquire it? Understanding about wisdom was my study this week. The four books within the wisdom literature of the Bible say the same thing, “The fear of the LORD (Yahweh) is the beginning of wisdom” (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 15:33; and Ecclesiastes 12:13). This “fear” the Bible writers speak of is awe, respect, and reverence of God and His majesty, greatness, and power. Job 28:21 says, "Thus it (wisdom) is hidden from the eyes of all living." Verse 23 says, "God understands its way and knows its (wisdom's) place." As we recall, created things do not hold wisdom nor dispense it. Proverbs 8 gives detail about wisdom. It says in verses 22 and 23, with examples in verses 24-29, the LORD possessed wisdom before the beginning of creation. The LORD is the possessor of wisdom. Neither earth, jewels, nor minerals possess wisdom. Since God is the originator and establisher of wisdom (Job 28:27) and His works come from wisdom (Psalm 104:24), He is the giver of wisdom. God knows where wisdom resides (Job 28:23).

Before we go any further, we want to understand what wisdom is and why we want to find it. Most dictionaries define wisdom as good decisions, justice, and judgment, based upon knowledge, insight, understanding, and commonsense. Dictionary.com, macmillandictionary.com, merriamwebsterdictionary.com, cambridgedictionary.com, freedictionary.com, and urbandictionary.com each define wisdom this way. A biblical dictionary adds other elements to this definition. Biblestudytools.com says wisdom comes from moral thinking leading to moral conduct and deals with moral problems. It also defines wisdom as being socially sensitive. Biblehub.com adds that wisdom is prudent in matters of war, administration, religious affairs, and active everyday life. Biblehub.com states wisdom is shrewd, active, and careful. From these we realize wisdom is more than just knowledge or understanding. Wisdom is action based on knowledge. This makes us able to understand why Job spoke of wisdom and understanding separately in verses 12 and 20. Action is the difference between wisdom and understanding. A wise person has these characteristics according to the wisdom literature of the Bible (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and parts of the Psalms):

• Knowledgeable (Proverbs 8:12),
• Moral (Proverbs 8:5-7),
• Just (Psalm 37:30 and Proverbs 8:15 and 20),
• Understanding (Proverbs 4:7, 8:12 & 14, 14:33, and 17:24),
• Skillful in every part of life (Proverbs 8:5-7 & 12),
• Seeks wisdom (Job 28:18, Proverbs 8:1, 8-9 & 19),
• Recognizes God as the only God and turns to Him (Job 28:28 and

 Proverbs 15:33),

• Reveres God (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7 & 9:10),
• Keeps God’s commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13),
• Asks God for wisdom (Proverbs 2:6),
• Blessed by God through wisdom (Proverbs 3:13 & 8:35),
• Learns from all situations (Proverbs 8:2-3),
• Understands wisdom and receives it benefits of being, existence,

 substance, and wealth (Proverbs 4:7, 8:18-19 & 21),

• Righteous (Psalm 37:30, Proverbs 8:5-7 & 20, 10:31),
• Humble (Proverbs 11:2 & 15:33),
• Hopeful (Proverbs 24:14),
• Heart is given to God (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17),
• Works for God (Psalm 104:24),
• Noble (Proverbs 8:5-7 & 12),
• Can be powerful (Proverbs 8:14),
• Can be rich and honored (Proverbs 8:18),
• Rejoices at God, His work and majesty (Proverbs 8:30),
• Respects and listens to wisdom (Proverbs 8:31), and
• Is favored by God (Proverb 3:13 & 8:35).

Besides wanting these characteristics, why would we want wisdom and how do we acquire it? Our logic stream arrives at these questions after considering what wisdom is. First, Proverbs 24:14 states wisdom is for your soul and gives you a future and a hope. How can this be? The answer to that lies in Ecclesiastes 8:16-17, I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task God has done on the earth (my paraphrase). Acquiring wisdom requires your heart. It requires your seeking after God because God is the author and establisher of wisdom. The Bible tells us to seek wisdom and we will find it (Proverbs 8:1). Proverbs 2:6 states, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Fear of the LORD, that is reverence, awe, and worship of the One God, is the beginning of acquiring wisdom and continues to be the source of wisdom (Job 28:28; Proverbs 15:33). Wisdom is hidden from the eyes of the living (Job 28:21), but can be found when a person seeks God (Job 28:23). God says many times in His Word, the Bible, that when we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29, Matthew 7:7). God said in Jeremiah 24:7 that he would give us a heart to know Him because He is the LORD. A person’s desire is naturally to seek God. He created humankind this way.

In Job 28:18, Job stated that getting wisdom is greater than getting riches. Solomon, the man to whom God gave great wisdom, said the same thing in Proverbs 8:8-9 & 18. Solomon said that a man is blessed when he finds wisdom (Proverbs 3:13). In Proverbs 8, Solomon personified God’s wisdom. Solomon taught, “For he who finds me (wisdom) finds life and obtains favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 8:35). A wise person can glean wisdom in good and bad situations (Proverbs 8:2-3).

At the end of the book of Job, God chastised Job. Job repeatedly asserted to his friends that he did not deserve what befell him as punishment from God for sins. He stated forthright that he was a man of integrity and upright in all things before God. In chapters 38-42:6, God rebuked Job and posed questions to him leading him to see that He was not as righteous as he thought. This reminds us we, too, are not so righteous as to be above discipline, but that God loves us. God reminds us in Jeremiah 29:11-13 and Proverbs 24:14 that if we seek Him with our heart, we will find Him and find a hope and future with Him. Job’s response to God’s chastisement teaches wisdom. He acknowledged the power of God whose purposes he did not and we may or may not understand. Job admitted he spoke of things he did not know or understand. He acknowledged that he saw God then. From what Job saw and heard, he realized his errors and repented (Job 42:1-6).

It takes a humble person to seek for and recognize God. God is faithful and wants be found by each person. He waits for each of us to seek Him. When we seek God and find Him, our honest response to Him is reverence and awe, fear as the Bible says. When we find God, we begin our learning, which includes wisdom, God’s version not humankind’s version. God bases His wisdom His righteousness, truth, and goodness. The wisdom He gives teaches a person to cast aside personal gain and seek truth and good for each situation.

We each have a set number of days in our life. We do not know them, nor does anyone else. God, as the creator of everything, knows how many days each person has to live on this earth. He has not left us without Himself though. God put a desire into each human to seek Him and His absolute truth, rightness, and goodness. He put a desire within us to go beyond ourselves and better the world around us and at large. This requires wisdom and selflessness. God’s Word tells us how to find wisdom, by seeking and fearing Him. When we seek God in selfless pursuit, we will find Him, He says. When we find Him, we will grow in Him and acquire wisdom.

The second most important thing we must understand is that to receive wisdom, we each must give our heart. The most important thing is that God waits to be found and be in a relationship with each one of us. We get to make that decision for ourselves. God does not force it on anyone. From the first persons, Adam and Eve, God sought relationship with humankind, but did not force humankind to choose. We each have the choice to do whatever we want, that is a gift to us from Him. We can choose to seek God with all our heart and be in a daily relationship with Him. Otherwise, we can choose to walk away from God and do what we want. Choice is a gift we are given. Salvation and life are a gift from God to those who choose to have a relationship with Him. Wisdom from God is a blessing from God that comes out of a relationship with Him. Job summed it up in 28:28, “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’” God said in Proverbs 8:35, through Solomon, “Blessed is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and it designates the process by which wisdom matures the individual. A wise person watches and waits for God daily.

We each have a choice to make.

Do we seek God or

Do we turn away from Him and seek just for ourselves?

Give Us Our Daily Bread

There will not be the regular blog post this week as I have been super busy with ministry. However, I came across a particular Proverb that I had never caught by eye before. I think this is the best way to consider our circumstances and what we pray for. It is Proverbs 30:7-9:


 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

I have seen and found this to be true. When we have enough and do not need anything, our human tendency is to grow slack in our praying to God. When we are in need, that is when we call upon God the most. This prophet Agur, son of Jakeh, was teaching his people and his students.

We should keep in touch with God, in a daily relationship with Him, through prayer. When we pray we praise Him, thank Him, and ask for what we need. As we do this, we become grateful and content. If we do not keep in touch with God daily, we become discontent and want more or grumble that we don't have enough. The prayer should be, as Agur said, "give me neither poverty nor riches, but only my daily bread." It takes a wise person to recognize this about human inclinations and instruct that our prayers and requests to God be only what we need knowing that we are greedy and inclined to take the glory instead of giving it to God.

Take this thought with you today and through the week as you prepare for Easter. God did not provide just a sacrifice to cover us for our daily sin, like the rams and bulls of the Old Testament. He provided more abundantly that we could ever think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) by providing His one and only Son, Jesus, as the ultimate once-and-for-all sacrifice for all our sins for everyone in the world for all time. God loves us that much that He would give the ultimate for us. Since that is the case, God will definitely provide for our daily needs. Consider the Israelites in the wilderness; God gave them manna for each day. When they tried to hoard it, it went rancid. When we try hoard money to provide our needs, we become spoiled, too. We set ourselves up to be like God providing for our own needs. We turn away from His as our ultimate provider.

We are allowed to choose. Will we choose Yahweh God to follow and trust Him to provide for us or will we choose to rely upon ourselves and lock God out of our lives? It is our choice. What do you choose?

Principles and Vision

Proverbs 29:13, 25-26 and John 6:51 (NASB) 

13. “The poor man and the oppressor have this in common : The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.”

25. “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.”

26. “Many seek the ruler's favor, but justice for man comes from the LORD.” 

John 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven ; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever ; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." 

The rulers from whom we seek guidance and justice may no longer follow God. They know who God is, maybe. As God shows us throughout His Word, men in power may begin on the path with God, but often they lose that vision and fall back on principles. Principles, by themselves, are not evil, but when they lead us to do things that are not God’s vision for us right now, then they are wrong for us to follow.   

God’s vision could pertain just to our self. We may no longer allow God to give us His vision and lead us. What we allow to lead us will determine our success and end. This does not mean principles are terrible; they are insights into our morals. It does mean principles without the vision from God, or God’s guidance, are just that, principles, thoughts by which to live. Principles are not actions for God, nor are they necessarily led by God. Principles can come from God, or self-discovery, or life, or Satan. We must be careful to follow the principles from God. The only way to know if principles for the task are from God is always to follow the vision of God. God’s vision for us will lead us to follow Him, to do His work. Our idea of God and who He is may appear to justify our neglect of duty. We might not think God wants to forgive them, for example: when people marry outside their faith and we find no impetus to tell them of the righteous God. This creates a barrier between our principles and God’s vision. God’s ultimate vision is for everyone to be saved. Who are we to judge whom God wants to save or not?  

To get beyond even this, we need to consider if we are ready to act upon the vision God gave us. Have we allowed God to make us into vessels in which we carry His love and mercy to others? Have we gone beyond the need for milk and now live on the meat of the Word? Christ calls us to follow Him. Who was He to us? He said, “"I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (John 6:51, NASB). He commissioned us to go to the uttermost parts of the earth. Now, what does that mean? Since Christ told us He was bread broken for us, we must become broken bread in sharing the Gospel with other people. Notice I did not say you must have principles, but you must do something, become bread and share the Gospel. This is the vision God gives each of us. He will give to each of us a personal vision of His plan for our lives, too.    

Step back, though. How do we become broken bread? Do we take the kernel of corn and bake it? No, that provides no nutrition; it provides only a hot kernel. To make bread, the corn must be ground, mixed, kneaded, rolled, and baked. Many events must occur before the corn can become bread and give nutrition. This is the same for believers. Before we can be broken bread, as Jesus was, we must go through difficult times for useful service to others. There will be hard times of grinding and smoothing the corn. Next, God's Spirit mixes in us with His grace to provide nutrients for others and ourselves. God then bakes us so we become more than we were by ourselves and so we no longer resemble the person  we were. We become the best we can be, a disciple of God to be shared and broken for Him to others. Until we have God’s vision, our principles will not hold us strong to God’s process. We will tell ourselves we can get to a “good” point in our growth without going through the painful course of growth and without giving control of our lives to God. If we are to nourish others and be a profit for them and for God’s use, though, we must allow ourselves to be this kernel of corn in God’s hands.  

We must decide if we are going to live by our principles or by the vision God has for our lives. We must decide who will be our master, God or ourselves. If we do not choose God, our principles will begin to become excuses for us not to do things we know God wants us do. Our prayer life will begin to falter. Our focus on God will begin to blur. We will become reckless with our lives and the lives of others. We will stop having God’s vision for our lives even in the small things. Finally, we will turn our backs completely on God. We will have lost the vision. Now is the time we must decide to act upon the vision God has put within us. Action is the requirement; we must act with God and allow Him to give us His vision and purpose and allow Him to make us the bread He needs to feed others the truth of the Gospel. “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The ruler with whom we must seek an audience for justice is God (see Proverbs 29:26).