Tag: wisdom

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Acts Devotionals

Being God’s intersection point (3)

Time with God

Whenever I read Acts 6, the words that describe Stephen always strike me.

“Full of the Holy Spirit.”

“Full of wisdom.”

“Full of faith.”

“Full of grace.”

“Full of power.”

And it made me think, if I truly want to be God’s intersection point to those around me, I need all those things.

But it made me ask, “Why was he that way?”

Among other things, I’m guessing that he like the other Christians were “devoted to the Word and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

Those two things were at the core of the 12 apostles’ ministry. (Acts 6:4)

By knowing God’s word well, Stephen grew in wisdom.

By devoting himself to prayer, he formed a strong connection with the Holy Spirit who filled him with grace, power, and faith.

And so I’m thinking, I probably need to spend a little more time in both. Maybe much more time.

Obviously, I have work obligations, family obligations, and other things.

But I think God is saying to me, “Just a little more time. Give me just a little more time. A little less time on the computer. A little less time on Youtube. A little less time on podcasts. And a little more time with me.”

What’s God saying to you?

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Judges Devotionals

The gentleness and humility of wisdom

Judges

Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness (humility, NIV) that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)

I couldn’t help think but think of those words (and all of James 3) as I read this passage.

True wisdom in a teacher or a leader of any sort is shown by that person’s gentleness and humility, both in their actions and their words.

Gideon showed great gentleness and humility with the Ephraimites (Judges 8:1-3).

But as for the rest of the chapter, not so much.

Instead he was wrapped up with desires of revenge for how people had treated him (4-17) and how they had treated his family (18-21).

Gideon also got caught up in his own selfish ambition (22-32).

Even in rejecting the Israelites request that he become their king, he acted like one, asking for the people’s gold, and taking on many wives like the kings of the times.

And despite his pious words of God being king and Israel serving him, he made an ephod (Exodus 28:3-8) for himself, and basically set up his own place of worship with himself as a priest. As a result, he turned many people away the Lord.  (27).

As James said,

Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (James 3:15)

Gideon was a spring from which both fresh and salt water flowed through his actions as well as his words. (James 3:11)

May we not be that way. As leaders in our families, at work, at church, or whatever position of leadership we may hold, let us be marked by the humility and gentleness that comes from wisdom. What does that look like?

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. (James 3:17-18)

Categories
Ecclesiastes Devotionals

If God is not at the center…

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes can be a very depressing book. But the key to it can be found in this one expression: “If God is at the center of our lives…”

If God is at the center of our lives, all our work has meaning, because through it, we give glory to him (Colossians 3:17, 23-24).

If work itself is the center of our lives, we will ultimately look back and ask, “What have I really achieved?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3)

If God is at the center of our lives, we can look at creation and stand in wonder at its design and its Creator (Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 104).

When he’s not, we lose our wonder at what God has created. (Ecclesiastes 1:5-9)

If God is at the center of our lives, each day is a new adventure with Him. His goodness and faithfulness are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

When he’s not, we enter each day with no joy, no expectation of anything good, just trying to make it through another day. (Ecclesiastes 1:8-11)

If God is at the center of our lives, there is always hope. We, in God’s wisdom, see all the things that are broken in this world, and yet we see that what people have broken, God can heal.

Without God, “wisdom” leads to despair. We see our limitations and realize how powerless we are to fix all that is broken in this world. (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

So as you read the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes, always keep in mind the perspective he is expressing when speaking.

At times, he speaks as a man with God at the center of his life. At times, he doesn’t.  

When he doesn’t, and his words seem so pessimistic and discouraging, ask yourself, “How would Solomon’s words be different if he were speaking as a man with God at the center of his life?” 

More importantly, ask yourself, “How would my perspective be different if God were at the center of my life?”

Categories
Proverbs Devotionals

Treasuring God’s wisdom

Often times, when we read this passage, we think about the depiction given concerning the ideal wife.

But it struck me today that in Proverbs 8-9, wisdom is personified as a woman. 

And many of the things that this passage says of the ideal wife, it says of wisdom.

Wisdom is considered more precious than jewels. (Proverbs 3:13-15, 31:10)

Wisdom is characterized by fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 9:10, 31:30)

It is characterized by hard work (Proverbs 6:6-11, 31:13-19), generosity (Proverbs 11:24-25; 31:20), and peace about the future. (Proverbs 24:14; 31:25)

And wisdom expresses itself in the words it speaks. (Proverbs 8:6-9, 14; 10:11-13, 20-21, 31:26)

So as we finish up Proverbs today, may we all, both men and women, strive to be people characterized by God’s wisdom, putting into practice all the things we’ve read in this book.  

Categories
Proverbs Devotionals

Humility

It’s kind of ironic that as we near the end of the book of Proverbs, after hearing all this wisdom, we see someone still saying, 

I am more stupid than any other person,
and I lack a human’s ability to understand. 

I have not gained wisdom,
and I have no knowledge of the Holy One. (Proverbs 30:2-3)

But maybe that’s the kind of humility we need. Because no matter how wise we think we are, our wisdom cannot compare with God’s.

Yet when times get rough, we start to question God.

We wonder why he allows Corona. We wonder why he allows natural disasters. We wonder why he allows all the evil we see in the world. 

Like Job, we can try to demand answers from God. Like Job’s friends, we can pretend to know what all the answers are.  

But in the end, we realize, “I know nothing.” 

Only One truly knows and understand all things, and that isn’t us. (4)

So we have a choice. In our ignorance, we can rail against God. Or we can humble ourselves and say with Job,

I know that you can do anything
and no plan of yours can be thwarted. 

You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?”

Surely I spoke about things I did not understand,
things too wondrous for me to know. (Job 42:2-3)

At the beginning of the Proverbs, we saw these words, 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1:7)

And again,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

We will never understand everything. But if we want to make a beginning, it starts with this: fear the Lord. And trust him. 

What will you choose?

Categories
Proverbs Devotionals

Using proverbs wisely

A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp. (Proverbs 26:7)

A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by the hand of a drunkard. (9)

One mistake people make in reading the Bible is how they use proverbs. But as it says in the above proverbs, if you use them wrongly, they are worthless at best, and can be hurtful at worst. 

Take Job’s friends for example. Their mouths were full of proverbs. Paul even quotes one in the New Testament.

So their words in themselves weren’t wrong. (Job 5:13, 1 Corinthians 3:19)

But they were fools who did not know how to use them and caused great hurt to Job. 

Two important things to remember about Proverbs.

1. They are neither promises or guarantees. They are general truths of how the world God created works. And as with all general truths, there are always exceptions. 

So for example, the general truth that Job’s friends pointed out is that God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked.

But this does not mean that every person who is blessed on earth has God’s favor.

Nor does it mean that every person struggling in life is under God’s curse.

In this broken world, we see righteous people suffer and wicked people prosper. But the general truth holds, and in the end, God will bring justice to this world. 

Or take this general truth: 

Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Is this a promise? I think we all know it is not.

But how many good parents have beaten themselves up over this verse because despite their best efforts, their child went down a wrong path? 

So be careful about accusing others or accusing yourself when reading these proverbs. 

2. Each proverb has a proper time to be used. 

Take a look at these two proverbs from today’s reading. 

Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness
or you’ll be like him yourself. 

Answer a fool according to his foolishness
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes. (4-5)

So which is it? Answer the fool or don’t answer him?

The answer: it depends. There are times when it’s best not to let yourself get dragged into an argument because all it will do is bring about a lot of heat and very little light. 

On the other hand, there are times when you need to say something because otherwise the other person will continue thinking that they are right, when in reality he is bringing harm to himself and others.  

So seek God’s wisdom on your best course of action. Both proverbs are wise…at the proper time. 

Let us always use the proverbs we find in the Bible with wisdom. 

Categories
Proverbs Devotionals

Willing to be corrected

The one who corrects a mocker
will bring abuse on himself;
the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt.

Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;
rebuke the wise, and he will love you.

Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still;
teach the righteous, and he will learn more. (Proverbs 9:7-9)

It’s easy, I suppose, to look at these verses and merely think about other people’s stubbornness. But what about us?

Are we mockers who hate those who rebuke us?

Or are we people who are wise, loving those who rebuke us? Are we people who, when instructed, become wiser still, always learning more?

To be honest, I can be a very stubborn person. I can think of many times when someone said something to admonish me, and I ignored it, or thought, “That word doesn’t apply to me.”

It usually takes God speaking to me, saying, “Pay attention! That word was for you,” to break through my stubbornness.

Which brings up another point.

As important it is to be open to the correction of others, it’s even more important to be open to correction from God.

And so Solomon says,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (10)

Lord, let me always be open to your correction. Whether it comes through others you send to me, or through your Word, or through your Holy Spirit living in me, give me a heart that is soft and willing to change. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Proverbs Devotionals

Speak to me

O Lord, speak to me.

To fear you is the foundation of all knowledge. So let me never despise your wisdom and your discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)

Instead, when you discipline me, give me a humble spirit to receive that discipline. Give me a heart that responds to your warnings.

And as I turn my face to you, pour your spirit on me and teach me your words. (23)

Give me understanding of the things I read in your Word so that I can understand what you’re saying to me.

There’s so much I still don’t know. I desperately need your wisdom and guidance to live this life. (2-6)

So speak to me, Lord. Speak to me.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Acts Devotionals

God’s man (or woman) in the storm

Acts

We are living in a time right now filled with much anger and fear.

What kind of people are we in this time? Are we ourselves controlled by anger and fear?

Paul himself was in such a situation. People saw the storm and were in a panic, thinking they were going to die.

Some people were probably angry at those in charge for not foreseeing the storm. As a result, there was probably utter chaos all over the boat.

And in the midst of it all stood Paul.

He brought wisdom to the situation. He brought peace. He brought encouragement.

Most importantly, he brought God’s presence.

Are we doing the same in this storm of Covid 19? Are we doing the same in the midst of political turmoil, police brutality, and riots?

What are we bringing into the storm?

Categories
Acts Devotionals

Filled

Acts

As I was reading this passage and thinking about Stephen and the other people chosen by the apostles, these words struck me: They were “full of the Spirit and of wisdom,” and “full of grace and power.”

As I read this, I thought “Does this describe me?” It’s certainly what I want.

Does it describe you? That’s what God wants for you.

He doesn’t just want it for our pastors or other church leaders. He wants it for you. Because as this passage makes clear, the leaders can’t do all the ministry. All of us need to do it together. All of us should be touching the people around us.

But in order to do that, we all need to be “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom,” and “full of grace and power.”

So let’s pray for that. Pray that for yourself. Pray that for the people you know at church. And of course, pray that for your church leaders.

But today, God also put it on my heart to pray for other churches that I know as well. Their pastors, their leaders, and their members need to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom,” and “full of grace and power” too.

So let us pray for ourselves, certainly. But let us also pray for our brothers and sisters that we know who go to other churches.

After all, when all is said and done, we are all one church. We are all Christ’s church. And we all need Him.

Categories
2 Corinthians Devotionals

A word to think on

2 Corinthians

This verse struck me as I read this, and it’s one I’m trying to memorize. Let’s try to do this without looking.

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we have behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by worldly wisdom, but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. (2 Corinthians 1:12, ESV)

Not bad. One added word (have) and an extra comma, but other than that good. 🙂

Why memorize this verse?

I wonder if I can say this about myself? That in my interactions with the people in the world and especially within the church, I live with simplicity and godly sincerity?

Do I live according to worldly wisdom (see I Corinthians 3:1-4 and James 3:13-18).

Or do I live by God’s?

And most importantly, do I live by the grace of God? Does God’s grace fill me to the point where I overflow with it and it touches everyone around me?

I wish I could say yes.

These are words I need to meditate on more.

How about you?

Categories
James

If you would be a teacher

Spring of water

As I look back on my life, I kind of marvel at how I have gotten to this point in my ministry. I just ask myself, “How did I get here?”

It all started simply enough, I suppose. My brother started working with an organization called Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) as a summer missionary when he was in high school and college.

Then a friend of mine also decided join CEF, and one day said words that changed my life. “Are you going to join CEF this summer too?”

He seemed greatly disappointed when I said no. But that started the wheels in motion in my heart, and the next summer I started ministering to children teaching them God’s word. And from there it snowballed.

I went from teaching children to teaching my peers. Then I moved to Japan, and started teaching the Bible to my students.

And then out of the blue, my pastor asked if I would speak at a home church. From there, that opened up opportunities to speak in larger church services. And here I am.

I almost want to say, “I didn’t ask for this.” But perhaps it would be more accurate to say, “I didn’t expect all this.”

But here I am, in the position I’m in, and I face this passage. And it’s a heavy one for me and all who would be teachers in the church.

James said,

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

Why? Two reasons.

First, if we are not careful in our teaching, we can lead people astray from the truth that is in Christ.

Second, when we stand in front of people preaching God’s word, they then pay particular attention to whether we live those words or not.

We are to be examples to God’s flock. And when we fail, we can cause great damage to that flock.

It is the second that I think James is more concerned about here. We’ll talk more about the tongue as it concerns Christians in general tomorrow, but I think it would be good to focus on it from the standpoint of those who preach God’s word first.

James talks about the damage that we can cause to people with our tongues. He calls it a fire that can consume and destroy. (6) He calls it a restless evil filled with deadly poison. (8)

And for teachers that is the ultimate irony. With our speech we can exhort, rebuke, and edify. But with our speech, we can also destroy. And James asks,

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (11)

Quite frankly, it shouldn’t. As teachers, our mouths should be instruments of God, but when we tear people down, using biting sarcasm and cutting words, they instead become instruments of Satan. And this shouldn’t be.

James then gets to the root of all this: our hearts.

He asks,

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (13)

In other words, a truly wise and understanding teacher proves himself not by his words preached on the pulpit, but by his life off of it.

And a truly wise teacher walks in humility, concerned with nothing but loving God and the people God has given him.

But some teachers are not this way. They are always comparing themselves with others. They compare themselves with other teachers with more successful ministries.

Or they compare themselves with their flock, always looking down on them. And James warns,

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

Such “wisdom” does not come from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (14-16)

What is the wisdom that should characterize the teacher? James tells us.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (17-18)

Teachers, what kind of harvest are you raising in your church? One of chaos and evil? Or one of peace and righteousness?

If you see a lot of the former, before you judge anyone else, look at your own life. Which characterizes your life more? Verses 14-16? Or verses 17-18?

What standard are you living up to?

Categories
Colossians

A prayer for all believers

Praying the Bible

If you ever want to pray a prayer for a fellow Christian but are not sure how to do it, and you want to go beyond a simple, “bless so-and-so,” you don’t have to look any further than the prayers of Paul.

Time and again in his letters, he gives us wonderful models of how to pray for others according to God’s will.

We see one of those models here in Colossians chapter 1. Paul had apparently never met these Colossians, but had only heard of them and their faith in Christ through a man named Epaphras.

But when Paul heard about the fruit that was born in their hearts through the gospel, he rejoiced. More, he prayed for them a very specific prayer. What did he pray for?

First, he prayed that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will with all wisdom and understanding. That is something that we all need as Christians. Why?

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)

If we want to please God and bear fruit for him, then we need to know his will in our lives.

As he fills us with his wisdom and understanding, we start to understand who he himself is. We understand how he thinks. We understand what is important to him.

In short, we come to truly know him, not just about him, particularly as he imparts his power into our lives. That’s why Paul prays that they would be,

strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (11-12)

God doesn’t want us to live this Christians life based on our own strength.

Many people go through trials with endurance and patience, but no joy. Why? Because they are resting on their own strength, not God’s.

But Paul’s prayer is not that the Colossians would patiently endure their trials in their own strength. Rather, he prays that God’s power would fill them so that they could not only endure, but do so with joy.

That each day, they would focus not on themselves, but on God. To remember that all they have as Christians is not based on their own efforts, but on what God has done. For he is the one who qualified us to share in his inheritance, not us.

Not only that,

he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (13-14)

Again, all the work is of him. He rescued us from out of darkness. He brought us into the kingdom of his Son. And it is in Christ, not ourselves, that we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.

Yet many Christians forget that. And because we do so, we start trying to live on our own wisdom and strength, and in the process, lose our joy.

But when we are filled with his wisdom, knowledge, and power, when we remember all that Christ has done for us and that all we have comes from him and not ourselves, then we find joy.

So as you pray for your Christian family members, friends, and other brothers and sisters in Christ, don’t just pray a general, “God bless them.” Pray as Paul did for the Colossians.

And pray that God would do these things in you as well.

How are you praying?

Categories
Romans

A God who is beyond us

Romans

One of the things that amazes me is the people who think that if they were to argue with God, they could win.

More than a few atheists, when posed with the question, “If God exists, what would you say when you stood before him in heaven,” respond by saying they could argue why they didn’t believe in God while they were on earth.

And they seem to think they could reasonably argue their position before God.

But in this passage, Paul shows the utter foolishness and futility of that way of thinking.

In chapters 10 and 11, he talks about how God used the disobedience of the Jews to bring the Gentiles to salvation, and how the result of the Gentiles coming to Christ will be the salvation of the Jews.

In short,

Just as you (Gentiles) who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their (the Jews’) disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. (Romans 11:30-32)

It’s here that you see a glimpse of how God’s foreknowledge works with predestination.

He knew how the Jews would react to Jesus, and he thus made plans to bring Gentiles into his kingdom.

But he also knew that if he did that, the Jews would then feel a longing for God, and thus turn to Jesus and be saved as well.

In short, God knows what his endgame is on the chessboard of the universe, and he knows how to achieve it.

God knows exactly what choices we will make, and he knows exactly how he will respond to each of our choices so that his will will ultimately be done.

People thus retain their free will and he maintains his.

As he contemplated this, Paul was simply overwhelmed, singing,

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:33-34)

In other words, no one can match the wisdom and knowledge of God.

It’s hard to match all wisdom and all knowledge, after all.

And because he knows all things and we don’t, it’s impossible for us to understand all his decisions unless he reveals it to us.

And even if he does reveal it, we’re still limited as to how much we can truly understand.

So when people argue, for example, about how a good God could allow evil in the world, they do so from ignorance.

They don’t have all the information that God has, and so all their arguments against him essentially amount to nothing.

Yet people argue as if they do know everything. As if their arguments are unanswerable. And so they boast that they could debate against God and win.

But when they stand before him, he will lay out on the table all the motivations of their heart and all that they knew or should have known had they taken the time to find out.

He will lay out all the facts as they are, not as we perceived them in our pride.

And ultimately, every mouth will be silenced and every person held accountable. (Romans 3:19).

There is nothing that we can bring to the table that will stun God and make him say, “I never knew that.”

Nor will there be anything that we can point to in our lives to say, “Look at what I did. I deserve heaven.”

For as Paul concludes,

“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. (Romans 11:35-36a)

Everything we have is from him. All things came through him. And all things will return to him. That includes us.

So we have two choices. We can give glory to him, as Paul did, saying,

To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36b)

Or we can continue to rebel against him until the day come when we are silent before him.

How about you? What will you choose?

Categories
Proverbs

Learning from the small and weak

It’s very easy for us to look down on people or things that appear small or weak.

But Agur was not one who would make that mistake.  He looked at four small creatures, and from them found wisdom.

From the ant, he learned the wisdom to plan ahead.  To work hard storing up food in the summer, to make sure they would have enough for the lean times in the winter.

So often, people don’t have the wisdom to do this.  They spend all that they have on the pleasures of the here and now, and when trouble strikes, whether it’s a bad economy, a sudden layoff, or whatever it may be, they find themselves in deep trouble.

From the coney, he learned the need to find a place of safety because he realized his own weaknesses.

A coney can do little to protect itself from its enemies, and so it hides out in the crags where its enemies can’t get it.

In the same way, we too are weak.  On our own, we can’t fight the enemy of our souls.

And so we hide ourselves in the “rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:2),” and make God our refuge and strength.

In His strength, not only can we survive the attacks of the enemy, we can overcome.

From the locust, he learned the importance of organization and unity.  By operating this way, they are capable of doing great damage.

In the same way, the body of Christ can do great damage to the kingdom of hell if we will just organize and walk together in unity.

Unlike the locust, however, we do have a King, and it is under his orders that we march.

From the lizard, he learned cautiousness and elusiveness.  Though it is small enough to be captured by a hand, it is cautious and elusive enough to avoid being caught.

In the same way, we should be careful to avoid the hand of the devil in all his schemes against us.

Peter put it this way,

Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  (1 Peter 5:8)

The thing to remember is Satan doesn’t play fair.  And it’s especially in your times of weakness that he’ll attack.  But we also need to be aware in our times of “strength.”

For it’s in our time of strength that we can become complacent, and unwary.  (Just think about David in 2 Samuel 11).

So let us pray as Jesus commanded us,

Deliver us from the evil one.  (Matthew 6:13)

How about you?  Are you as wise as these creatures?

Categories
Proverbs

A good name

How do others see you?  It’s an issue that Proverbs brings up more than once.  We saw this in chapter 10, and we see it again here.  Solomon writes,

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.  (Proverbs 22:1)

And in this chapter, we see more ways to maintain a good name.

Solomon writes,

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.  (3)

It always amazes me that in Hawaii, there are always people who, when they hear a tsunami may be coming, rush to the beach to see it. (I actually have a friend that sheepishly admitted to doing this.) 

Up to this point, fortunately, the tsunami always fizzles out before actually arriving, but the time may come when people will pay for their stupidity with their lives.

But so many people fail to see other dangers in their lives.  Solomon notes that,

In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.  (Proverbs 22:5)

How many people fail to see how their sin is leading them to the destruction of their marriage, or their health, or to their relationships? 

As a result, they keep living the way they are, and not only suffer pain for it, but suffer a blow to their reputation as well. 

But a wise person sees potential danger to all these things and takes measures to avoid it.

Solomon also adds,

Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. (4)

When we fear the Lord, it does bring us a good name.  This doesn’t mean, however, that everyone will like us.  And as I mentioned in my last blog, it doesn’t mean that we will avoid persecution. 

Jesus was the perfect Son of God.  Yet, while he lived on this earth, there were still people who hated him and eventually put him to death. 

But in general, if we fear God, we will prosper in this life and earn a good name.

Another thing to remember is that if we fail to raise our children right, they can become a stain to our reputation as well.  Solomon wrote,

A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him. (Proverbs 17:25)

and

A foolish son is his father’s ruin… (Proverbs 19:13)

So Solomon admonishes us,

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.  (Proverbs 22:6)

And again,

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.  (Proverbs 22:15)

Solomon then points out the importance of being generous (Proverbs 22:9), of having a pure heart, and speech that is gracious  (11). 

Of avoiding laziness (13)  and adultery (14). 

Of being careful about who we hang out with (24-25). 

Of being careful with our finances (26-27). 

Of being honest (28). 

And of being skilled at what you do (29).

All these things lead to a person becoming favored in the eyes of God and men.  A person like Jesus (Luke 2:52).

How about you?  What kind of name are you building?

Categories
Proverbs

Think!

“Think!”

I’m sure many of us have heard that sentence punctuate the end of a scolding when we were kids. 

We do something stupid, and after railing at us for what we did, our parents tell us, “Think next time!”

I can’t remember any specific incidences, but I do have a vague impression my dad did this to me.

That’s what Solomon tells us in this chapter.  He says,

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.  (Proverbs 14:8)

And again,

A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.  (15)

How often do we get into trouble because we don’t think carefully before acting.  Instead we act rashly or impulsively and find ourselves in deep trouble because of it.

Solomon noted,

A fool is hotheaded and reckless.  A quick-tempered man does foolish things.  (16-17)

Other times, we may not be acting rashly or impulsively, but we still rely on our own wisdom instead of God’s.  And then we learn the truth of what Solomon taught when he said,

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.  (12)

What then should we do?  Well, Solomon gives us a couple of “don’ts” first.  He warns,

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 

Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.  (6-7)

In other words, don’t be a person that mocks the wisdom that comes from God.  Who looks at the Bible and says, “That was for then, but this is now.  Maybe those morals were fine for that time, but this is the 21st century.”

When we say that, we belittle God and his Word, which he says never changes. 

As a result, we seek for wisdom relevant to our times, and find none because once we depart from God’s wisdom, there is nothing left.

The second “don’t” is to avoid seeking wisdom from fools. 

Some people are simply stupid and arrogant in their ways.  They won’t even consider God’s ways, and they never take correction. 

Because of this, they will often give you “wisdom” that is at cross purposes with God’s.  And if you follow it, it can get you into real trouble.

So how are we to live?  As we give thought to our ways, how do we measure what is best?  Solomon tells us several times.

A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil.  (16)

And again,

He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. 

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.  (26-27)

Solomon tells us that as we consider our paths, we are to fear the Lord.  We are to ask him, “Which is the best path?  How should I proceed?”

And when we do, God delights in sharing his wisdom with us.

As James once said,

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  (James 1:5)

Categories
Proverbs

Wisdom: A willingness to change

Some people mistake God’s love and acceptance of us with a license to sin.  They think, “God accepts me anyway, so why change?  Why not live the way I want?”

But in this passage, we see that a wise person is willing to change.

This chapter starts and ends with two calls.  One is a call from Wisdom, who prepares her house for us, and invites us in, saying,

Let all who are simple come in here…

Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.  (Proverbs 9:4-5)

So many people are living ignorant of the consequences of their actions.  They naively think that everything will work out all right just living the way that they are.

But all the while, the path they’re taking is leading them to pain and ultimately, death.

Wisdom cries out, “Don’t just stay the way you are!  Leave your naive ways.  I’ve got something better for you, that will give you life.”

The woman Folly, however, says,

Let all who are simple come in here…Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”  (16-17)

In other words, “Continue living the way you are.  Sin is sweet.  It’s tasty and brings delight.”

What kind of person are you?  Are you willing to change?

God does indeed love you as you are.  But he loves you far too much to just leave you in the mud pile that you have been living in.

Solomon writes,

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.  (7-9)

Jesus put it this way,

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.  (Matthew 7:6)

Jesus says don’t give the mocker (“dogs” or “pigs”), the pearls of wisdom you have, because they won’t appreciate it.  Rather, they’ll just tear into you.

If on the other hand, you give your pearls to the wise, Solomon says that they’ll become wiser still.

The question we need to ask ourselves, however, is, “Are we wise?  Or are we mere dogs and pigs?”

When people rebuke you, how do you take it?  Do you take some time to reflect on what they say?  Or do you just throw it back in their faces?

Are you humble enough to accept correction from others?  More than that, are you humble enough to accept correction from God?

Only in humbling ourselves before him, and accepting his correction will we find true wisdom and true life.

As Solomon wrote,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.  (Proverbs 9:10-12)

Categories
Proverbs

Interpreting God’s word correctly

Sometimes people get into trouble as they interpret the Bible simply because they really don’t know how to interpret it correctly. 

One of the big mistakes people make is when they bring two passages together that have no connection to each other except perhaps a few words that on the surface seem to have some connection. 

Proverbs 8, and I Corinthians 1:24 are an example of this.

Some people, among them the Jehovah’s Witness, see Jesus in Proverbs 8.  Why?

Because “Wisdom” is talking, and in verses 22-31, it talks about how “Wisdom” was with God from the beginning of creation.  How “Wisdom” was the craftsman at God’s side when he made all things.

They then say two things. 

First, in I Corinthians 1:24, they point out that Jesus is called, “The wisdom of God.” 

They then say, “See, Jesus is speaking here in Proverbs 8, and he says he was given birth before the earth was created and that he was the first of all of God’s work.  So he can’t be God himself, he was a created being.”

Of course, the whole argument falls apart when you take a closer look at Proverbs 8.  In fact, you can see it right in the first verse.

Does not wisdom call out?  Does not understanding raise her voice?  (Proverbs 8:1)

I think the problem is quite evident.  Wisdom, throughout this chapter, and throughout the book of Proverbs for that matter, is personified as a woman.  

Since when was the Son of God ever a woman?

But by taking two passages that have no relationship whatsoever, and putting them together with Colossians 1 which talks about how Christ was there with the Father when he created all things, the Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to prove that Jesus was a created being, not God himself.

As one person pointed out, you can prove anything by using that method.

[Judas] went out and hung himself.  (Matthew 27:5)

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.  (Luke 10:37)

As we read the Bible, we need to really pay attention to context as we read, or we can get into real trouble, as do the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

What is Solomon doing in Proverbs 8?  He is personifying an abstract concept.  He’s using a literally tool.  

And he’s saying, “Wisdom is calling out for you.  While the adulterous woman is calling out to seduce you and lead you to your own destruction, Wisdom is calling out to you in order that you might have life.

“She was there when God created the world.  God in his wisdom created the world, and he has made her known to all his creation that they might know how to live.  

“She gives wisdom, counsel, and insight to kings, and by her power kings reign.

“Now, she’s calling out to you who are simple that you might gain prudence as you walk through this life.  That you can know what is right and find the blessing that comes from her.  

“And when you find her, you find something that’s better than all the riches in the world.”

As Solomon puts it,

Nothing you desire can compare with her.  (11)

I have to admit, there’s an old song I like called “More precious than silver”  that is based on this passage as well as on Proverbs 3:15.  

I don’t know for certain the lyricist’s true intent behind these words.   However, it does seem to be based on this faulty interpretation of these two passages, that Jesus is this “Wisdom” personified in Proverbs.

That the Lord is indeed more precious than silver, and more costly than gold, and that nothing we desire can compare with him, I have no doubt.  

But Wisdom in these two passages are personified as “she” not “he.”

Let us seek the Lord.  Let us seek his wisdom.  But let us also be sure to interpret his Word correctly so that we can truly discern what he is saying to us.

Categories
Proverbs

Love and faithfulness

Love and faithfulness.  Two things that are sorely lacking in this world.  It’s the reason why relationships, and particularly marriages fall apart in this world.

Solomon writes in verses 3-4,

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. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

What does love and faithfulness towards God mean?  A lot of it has to do with trusting him enough to obey him.  To be so sure of God’s love for you, that you trust him implicitly, and show it by the way that you live.

Solomon expounds on this in verses 5-7,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

When we love God, we put our complete trust in him.  In all that we do, wherever we are, we acknowledge that he is the center of our lives, not ourselves.  And we lean on his wisdom and not our own understanding.

That’s hard sometimes.  Let’s be honest.  It’s hard a lot of times.

One area that is especially hard is in the area of finances.  Solomon writes,

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.  (9-10)

Whether you believe in tithing or not, one thing is crystal clear.  Your money is NOT your own. 

Jesus Christ bought you with a price.  And if we are to honor God with our body (I Corinthians 6:19-20), how much more should we honor God with our wealth?

Often times, people that object to the practice of tithing are people that object because deep down, they’re saying, “It’s my money.  I have a right to do with it what I want.”

I would agree that 10% of your money doesn’t belong to God.  Actually 100% of your money belongs to God.  You are merely a manager of the money that God has given you.

So whether you tithe or not, you should be asking, “God, how do YOU want me to use this money?  It’s yours.  How should I use it?”

We are also to submit ourselves to God’s discipline.  Solomon writes,

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.  (11-12)

Sometimes as we read his Word, or as we listen to the Sunday message, we hear things that are hard.  The Holy Spirit rebukes us for something in our lives. 

The way we treat our wives or children.  The way we use our finances.  The way we act at work. 

And it’s painful.  We want to close our ears to it.  But if we truly love God, we will submit ourselves to him, leaning not on our own understanding and following our own ways, but following his.

And God says when we do, we’ll find life and peace (16-18).  And if we cling to his wisdom, fearing him, then we’ll have no need to fear anything else (21-26).

But not only are we to show love and faithfulness to God, but to each other. 

Solomon says that we are not to withhold good from others when we have the power to act.  In other words, whenever you have opportunity to do good, whether at home or work or wherever you are, do it.  Don’t wait.

Solomon also says not to act treacherously against your neighbor either, for God is watching, and he is against such people.

Solomon concludes the chapter by saying,

He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.  The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.  (34-35)

When we mock God’s wisdom, and hold to our own ways, he will let us reap what we sow.  What do we reap?  Sorrow, shame, and ultimately death. 

But God gives grace, honor, life, and peace to those who humble themselves, submit themselves to his discipline, and follow him in all his ways.

What will you do? 

Categories
Proverbs

When we reject wisdom

In this passage, we see the dangers of rejecting God’s wisdom and clinging to our own ways.

As I look at this passage, it makes me think of Noah.  For 120 years before the flood came, he preached to the people, warning them of the disaster to come.

As “Wisdom” does in this passage, he probably cried out in the public squares and the streets, “How long will you cling to your simple ways.  You lack a moral compass, and as a result, you are so gullible to whatever the devil says, and it’s leading you into all kinds of evil.”

(This, by the way, is essentially what the word “simple” means in the book of Proverbs.)

Noah likely rebuked the people further saying, “How long will you mock what God has said?  How long will you hate the knowledge that he longs to pass on to you?”

And God through Noah, probably cried out to the people, “If you would just listen to my rebuke, I would pour out my heart to you.  I would reveal to you my thoughts.

“But instead you reject me and give me no heed though I reach out to you.  You ignore my counsel, and you reject my rebuke.”

Then the flood came.  And when it did, the people finally called out to God, but he would not answer.  Though they looked for him, they could not find him.  Why?

Because they hated knowledge, and refused to fear the Lord.  And so they ate the fruit of their deeds.  Their simple ways killed them, and their complacency destroyed them.

But for Noah and his family, they found safety, and were without fear from harm.

How about you?

When you lack a moral compass, when you consider all values relative, and you live complacently in your sin, it will ultimately destroy you.  It wrecks your life here on earth, and it will ultimately banish you to hell.

And once you’re there, it’s too late.  God will not hear you, and you will eat the fruit of all you did here on this earth.

But while you’re still here on earth, there is still hope.

So repent.  Accept God’s  rebuke in your life.  Open your ears to him; soften your heart to him, and he will open his heart to you.  He will show you the way to life.

Not just the way to heaven, but to a full life here on earth as well.  A life filled with his joy and peace.

Let us be like Noah, constantly listening to and following after God.  And when the storm hits, we will find a place of safety and ease, with no fear of harm.

Categories
Proverbs

Where wisdom begins

Proverbs

As we start through Proverbs, I must admit to a little uncertainty in how to present this book.  There are a broad variety of themes within Proverbs, even within the chapters themselves. 

I briefly considered organizing this book by themes, but ultimately, I decided to go chapter by chapter as I have with the other books. 

That said, in chapters where there are multiple themes, I’ll probably list “nuggets of wisdom” within the chapter, and very brief thoughts on them within the one blog, rather than a full blog on just one or two verses at a time.

Anyway, the first few verses are the introduction to the book of Proverbs, and in them, Solomon writes the reason for writing this compilation, namely,

To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity…to give prudence…knowledge and discretion…and wise counsel, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.  (Proverbs 1:2-6)

Who was it meant for?  This part is interesting.  It was meant for the naive and the youth first (4).  Namely, to teach them prudence.  In other words, to teach them good judgment as they deal with the “real world.” 

Not only that, but to give them knowledge they don’t have, and discretion in all their affairs whether it’s finances, relationships, or whatever it  may be.

Now this makes sense.  But Solomon also says it’s for those who have already attained a measure of wisdom, that they may hear and increase in their learning.  Not only that, but that they would get the wise counsel that they need.

It’s so easy for us as we get older to think we know it all.  To think we already know all we need to. 

But Solomon says here that it’s important to continue increasing in wisdom and learning.  Because even those who are “wise” can forget and make mistakes that destroy their lives. 

Solomon himself is a great example of this.  He was the wisest man who ever lived, and yet, he wrecked his own life by his own bad decisions.

What is the key to wisdom?  Solomon give the answer in verse 7,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Solomon also wrote in Proverbs 9:10,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

People who are wise will fear the Lord.  It is only when we begin to fear him that wisdom truly begins. 

Why? 

Because he’s our creator.  He’s the one who knows how life is meant to work.  When you want to know how something is meant to work, go to its designer.

But when you try to do things your own way, it inevitably leads to trouble.  And God says if you do so, you are a fool.

We often think of fools as stupid people.  And certainly doing things your own way leads to doing stupid things.  But the word fool in the Bible has the idea of a person who is morally deficient and corrupt.

Not only does despising God and his wisdom lead to stupid decisions, it mars us and makes us less than the complete people God created us to be. 

When people look at us, they are meant to see the image of God in us.  But how often do you look at yourself in the mirror and see something less than that because of what you’ve done to your own self?

God wants us to be whole.  He wants us to be complete.  He wants us to reflect his image. 

But for that to happen, we need to embrace him and the wisdom he freely gives to those who ask him.

Don’t be a fool.  Don’t think you know it all. 

As you read the proverbs in this book, open your hearts to them.  Drink them in.  And ask God to speak to you and change you into his image.

Categories
Psalms

Where we turn

Psalms

Where do we turn when things are against us?  When people are against us?  It’s a question that David had to ask himself numerous times.

He could have, as so many people do, turned to himself.  To his wisdom, to his strength to get him out of the situation.

But instead he turned to God.  From the very beginning of Psalm 143, he prays,

O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;

in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.  (Psalm 143:1)

And in the midst of his darkness, in the midst of his despair, he cried out,

Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me
on level ground.  (8-10)

How often do we take things into our own hands, instead of hiding ourselves in God.  How often do we trust in our own wisdom instead of listening to him and what he says we should do?

David didn’t do this.  Instead, he always looked to God for wisdom on what to do.  And he trusted in God’s Spirit to lead him.

So as the apostle James put it,

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  (James 1:5)

Categories
Psalms

The way to understanding

Psalms

All of us would like to grow in wisdom and understanding.  And in this passage, we see how we can do so.

The psalmist writes,

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.

I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.  (Psalm 119:98-100)

How did he become wise?  By not only knowing God’s word.  By not only meditating on God’s word.  But by obeying God’s word.

So many people know God’s word and yet show no understanding.  They know what God has said, but they insist on living their own way, and because of that, they end up getting in trouble.

But the psalmist wasn’t that way.  He treasured God’s word in his heart and let it change him.  He started to love the things that God loves and hate the things God hates.  (103-104, 127-128)

More than that, he made God’s word the standard for his life.  It was the lamp to his feet and the light for his path (105).

In contrast, he stayed away from the advice of those who were evil, and tried to avoid them altogether (113, 115)

And as I’ve mentioned before, he kept a humble attitude before God, both striving to learn from him (125, 133, 135, 144) and leaning on his strength that he might obey what God had commanded (133-134).

Why did he do all this?  Because of what he found.  What did he find?

Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them…

Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. (140, 142).

In other words, when the psalmist put God’s word into practice, when he tested the promises and commands of God, he found God and his word to be true.

How about you?  Are you a person of understanding?  Have you put into practice the things God has commanded?  Have you found God to be true in your life?

Only when we do so will we find true wisdom.

Categories
Psalms

The evil of mankind

Psalms

As I write this, a major story in the American sports world is the arrest of an NFL star named Aaron Hernandez.  Hernandez is charged with murder.

It seems quite unreal to me.  I am by no means a New England Patriots fan (actually, I can’t stand them).

But it’s unbelievable to me that someone could have such a blatant disregard for life, that he would plot and carry out the murder of another person.

Hernandez, is of course innocent until proven guilty, but things don’t look good for him right now.  All the evidence that we know of points to he and two others murdering another man.

I couldn’t help but think of that as I read Psalm 36.  David wrote,

An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:  There is no fear of God before his eyes.

For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.

The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.

Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.  (Psalm 36:1-4)

Do all these things relate to Hernandez’s case?  That is yet to be seen.  But it shows the heart of so many who do evil.

Evil starts with a lack of fear in our hearts for God.  When we refuse to acknowledge God in our lives, then just about anything goes.  We are free to do almost anything.

The only thing that would restrain us would be a fear of punishment or our conscience.  And apart from God, our consciences inevitably become warped.

Some people’s consciences are warped to a lesser degree than others, but they are warped nonetheless.  And they become blinded to what is truly good and right.  As David wrote,

For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.  (2)

How do we flatter ourselves?  We think of ourselves as better than we really are.  Or we think we are perfectly justified in all our actions.

The result?  We can’t even detect, no less hate the sin in our lives.  And in our sin, we cease to be wise and to do what is good.

If the prosecutors are right, Hernandez was so angry with the victim, that he murdered him.

Part of the reason it seems so unreal to me is that if this is true, not only did he destroy another man’s life, he destroyed his own.

He was rich and had everything he needed from a material standpoint.  He worked with a good organization.  He seemed set for life.

Yet he couldn’t forgive the grievance he had against the victim and that grievance became more important to him than anything else.

That includes his fiancée and his 7-month old daughter who will now be without a husband and father if he is found guilty.

But when we commit ourselves to a course of evil, that’s what happens.  When we fail to reject what we know is wrong, we destroy ourselves and end up hurting the ones we love.

How about you?  You probably haven’t murdered anyone.  But how about in your heart?

Do you hold anger and unforgiveness in your heart?  Jesus said that if you do, you have murdered that person in your heart.  (Matthew 5:21-22).

Aside from that, are you giving yourself to other destructive tendencies in your life?

Do you fail to fear God, saying, “Oh, he’ll forgive me.  It’s okay?”

Have you been justifying yourself for actions you know are wrong?  Are you committing yourself to a path you know is wrong?

Let us be wise.  Let us fear God and do what is right, not giving in to the evil that infects our world.

Categories
Psalms

The key to victory

Psalms

It seems that David wrote Psalm 20 on the eve of a battle.  And here, the people pray for God’s blessing on him as he and his army go out.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.  (Psalm 20:1-5)

It’s a beautiful prayer, but after it, David reminds them of what the key to victory is.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.  (7-8)

So many times we make our plans without God’s counsel, and just say, “Okay God, bless our plans.  Make them successful.”

Then when our plans fall apart, we wonder why God didn’t answer our prayers.

But here, David reminds them that the key to success is in putting their trust not in their own power and strength (nor in their own wisdom for that matter), but in putting their faith in God.

And that while those who trust in themselves will fall, those who put their faith in God will rise up and stand firm.

How about you?  Are you putting your faith in your own wisdom and strength, and simply asking God to bless you?  Or are you putting all your faith in God?

Are you seeking his face, not only in the battles you face, but in the planning as well?

Let us make God and his Word the foundation for all we do, not our own strength and wisdom.

Categories
Psalms

When we reject God

Psalms

Psalms 14 and 53 are nearly identical with a few changes here and there, so I’m grouping them together here.

In these psalms, we see the results of people rejecting God in their lives.  Who say in their hearts, “There is no God.”

The Bible calls such people “fools.”  And the idea is not one of intellectual deficiency, but of moral deficiency.

Because when people reject the idea of God in their lives, it inevitably leads to moral corruption.  David writes,

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.  (Psalm 14:1)

“Now wait a minute,” you might say.  “I know some perfectly ethical people who don’t believe in God.  And some non-Christians I know are better than some Christians I know.”

That may be true.  But comparing people to each other is one thing.  Comparing our “goodness” to the holiness of God is a different thing entirely. And compared to God, our stains of sin become glaringly obvious. 

The unforgiveness we hold in our hearts towards those who hurt us. 

The lack of consideration we can show for our spouses. 

The fits of temper that we let loose from time to time. 

The selfishness that permeates our actions in the workplace and at home. 

Need I go further?

“But these things are only natural.  Everyone does these things.  Nobody’s perfect,” you might say.

But that way of thinking, that these things are only “natural,” is the result of a corrupted nature.  They were not natural in the beginning when God created us. But when we rejected God, they became, “natural.” 

That’s moral corruption: when what is sinful becomes thought of as natural.

We can make up all kinds of excuses for our actions.  But the truth remains, we are corrupt and our actions vile in the sight of God.

And as long as we keep God out of our lives, our sense of right and wrong will remain a corrupted version of what is truly right and wrong.

We cannot separate ourselves from the source of goodness and claim that we know goodness.  People have tried, and they have always failed miserably.

What is the result of all this?  Death.  And ultimately, judgment.  Because God will come again and judge this earth.

Those who belong to Him will rejoice on that day.  But for those who rejected him, they will only have fear and dread.

Because on that day, they will see just how corrupt they are compared to a holy God, and all of the justifications that they use to explain their actions will be shown for the empty excuses that they are.

So let us not be fools.  Let us acknowledge not only God’s existence, but his rightful place as king in our lives.  As Solomon put it,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  (Proverbs 9:10)

Categories
Job

Pride in what you think you know

Job

After more of Job’s moanings in chapter 14, Eliphaz speaks up again, and once again proclaims that only the wicked suffer.

But what I find even more interesting is how he begins the chapter.  He says,

Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind?

Would they argue with useless words,
with speeches that have no value?  (Job 15:2-3)

And again,

Are you the first man ever born?
Were you brought forth before the hills?

Do you listen in on God’s council?
Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?  (7-8)

Eliphaz says this to criticize Job, but everything he said could have been applied to himself.  He was the one acting as if he had been the first one ever born.  He was the one acting as if he had listened in on God’s council, and had a monopoly on God’s wisdom.

And yet, he would find out later that he had been dead wrong about Job.  That it was he himself who had been filled with empty notions and hot air.  That it was he who had spewed out useless words and speeches with no value.

What about us?  Do we walk around thinking we know better than everyone else?  Are we quick to say our platitudes of wisdom, when all the while it is we who are walking around blindly to all that is really going on?

For many of us, like Job told his friends, wisdom would be to keep our mouths shut.

Am I saying that we should never share the wisdom we have with others?  Of course not.  But part of wisdom is knowing when and how to say something.

And wisdom knows much better than to speak when it really doesn’t know what it’s talking about.  Wisdom waits until it has all the relevant information before speaking.

How about you?  Are the words you speak really full of wisdom?  Or are you just full of hot air?

Categories
Nehemiah

Lies, discernment, and strength

Nehemiah and wall

With the walls near completion, the enemies of the Jews made one last attempt to stop the work.

First, they tried to lure Nehemiah out of the city where they could ambush and kill him.

Four times they tried to get him to come out, and when Nehemiah refused, they threatened to report him to King Artaxerxes, that he was planning to become king  of Jerusalem.

Perhaps they looked at the prophesies of Zechariah (Zechariah 9) and pointed to them as proof that Nehemiah was seeking to become king.

But Nehemiah rebuffed the accusation, secure in the knowledge that one, he had no such plans, and two, that King Artaxerxes trusted him.  So he called their bluff, and indeed, that’s exactly what it was.

Next they bribed one of the priests of God to tell him to hide within the temple for sanctuary against his enemies.  But Nehemiah refused for two reasons.

First, as the leader, he couldn’t be seen as hiding from his enemies as it would have hurt the confidence the people had in him.

Second, it was against God’s law that he enter the Holy Place, and by doing so, he would’ve sinned against God, again discrediting him among the people.

They then tried in turn to weasel their way into his confidence by sending their spies to speak well of them to Nehemiah, and when that didn’t work, to intimidate him.

But Nehemiah prayed to God, saying,

Now strengthen my hands.  (Nehemiah 6:9)

And God did.  Despite all the efforts of their enemies, the wall was completed.  And everyone, even these enemies, acknowledged that it was through God’s help that the wall was rebuilt.

What can we learn from this?

Satan will often try to keep us from God’s work.  He’ll try to throw lies at us to tempt us to sin or to cause us harm.

How do we combat that?

We need discernment and wisdom from God.  And the way we do that is through his Word and through constantly being connected to him through prayer.

As we read his word and pray, not only can we discern the truth from lies, but we can discern what the will of God is in our lives.

And when Satan attacks us and tries to intimidate us, we need to come before God as Nehemiah did, and ask for his strength.

So each day, as we go out into this world to do God’s will, let us seek his discernment and wisdom, and look to him for our strength.

If we do, there is no way Satan can stop us.