Hybrid

(Pro 8:2 KJV)  She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

I used to own a motorcycle, a Honda 450 CL.  It was supposed to be a cross between a CL and the SB or CB, whichever.  Today we might use the word hybrid.  It was designed for the road but had the raised exhaust of a dirt bike.  It was far too heavy for the dirt but I didn’t know any better.  If you were serious about riding the trails and climbing the mountains you went for one type of vehicle.  If you just wanted to cruise, it was a different composition.  Much of life can be like that.

The point of wisdom is that it will apply for both off road, the “heights” (4791), and the open road, “paths” (5410b).  It isn’t a hybrid though.  It is the pure deal.  It is so versatile that it applies in all situations.  It is kind of like Frank Sinatra as opposed to AC/DC.  Everyone listened to Frank.

So?  Make the investment in the complete package.  It is called wisdom. 

What a Drag

(Pro 7:21 KJV)  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

There are many forces trying to drag us down.  When Jesus asked the demon possessing a man what his name was, the reply was, “Legion”.  That means thousands.  If there could be that many demons in one man then imagine how many there are all around us.  They can be obvious or totally hidden.  They can be up front or disguised.  They are there.

The good news is that God provides a way out of all attacks.  Take guardian angels.  I don’t know if they outnumber the demons or just have so much power that the evil is neutralized.  The point is that the protection is there.  It is expressed many ways.  John said,

(1Jn 4:4 KJV)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

In the Old Testament we get a great picture.

(2Ki 6:17 KJV)  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

So?  Trust and obey.  Stand strong and overcome the attacks of life.

Summer Ready

(Pro 6:8 KJV)  Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

In our modern times we can’t relate much to getting food ready in the summer.  I guess there are still some people who have gardens and do canning but most of us just rely on the grocery store.  I am not making any observations about preppers or survivalists but there is a principle that is of use here if we apply a little imagination.

Have you ever had a winter in your life?  You know the times I am talking about.  Nothing is going right.  You are struggling.  Depression is just around the corner.  How do you make it through those time?  The wise servant of Jesus “prepares” (3559) in the summers of life.  Note that this is not the autumn or fall where the harvest comes in.  This is in the time between planting and gathering.  It is the time where you fix the harnesses and gates.  It is when you work on all those projects that are necessary because you know winter is coming.

So?  Accept that life will not be a perpetual summer or spring.  Winter will come.  Have you been getting ready? 

Payoffs

(Pro 5:11 KJV)  And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

Proverbs has recurring themes.  One of them is that righteous living has a payoff.  The corollary to that is that crooked living also has a payoff.  That is one of the truths being expressed here.  It is a simple point that if you live in rebellion you will die in misery.

So?  Believe it or not, actions have consequences.  You can get away with not changing your oil but eventually it will ruin the engine. 

So Inclined

(Pro 4:20 KJV)  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

I remember a choral response that was used weekly when I was younger.  That was back in the days when we had choirs.  The words, from memory were,

Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Incline Thine ear to us.
And grant us Thy peace.
Amen.

It is interesting that both God and man are urged to “incline” (5186) depending on the situation.  In Proverbs it seems to be usually man leaning toward God.

So?  Recently I was on the back porch with the dryer running and could tell my wife was trying to tell me something from the living room.  It wasn’t working.  The only way I could find out what she was saying was to move toward her.  God is speaking.  We need to move. 

The Other Guy

(Pro 3:17 KJV)  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Have you had a recent experience that does not resound with “peace” (7965)?  As we go through these times we tend to blame the other guy.  We get mad when people honk at us but on reflection we admit we were drifting into their lane.  It seems justified to get angry when our neighbor dumps a bunch of trash in our yard and so we should.  On examination we realize it is our trash that has blown into his yard.  We complain about elections that we didn’t have time to vote in.  

It is often our lack of wisdom that causes the problem.  It isn’t that wisdom failed us but we failed wisdom.

So?  Stay on track and expect improvements. 

The Call to Contrast

(Pro 2:14 KJV)  Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

This verse is one segment of a longer description of the type of people that surround us.  Not only are they opposed to righteousness, but they “delight” (8056) in the “doing” (6213a) of “evil” (7451b).  I know that this is hard for us to accept.  There are so many nice pagans around, or at least they seem nice.  Pay attention to the often hidden news about all the sexual perversion of human trafficking and children being used for perversion.  Note how many pillars of the community end up being exposed.  Accept that they are everywhere.

We are to be different.  These perverts hate that and hate us for it.  When they get enough power they will come out against us.  Count on it.

So?  Followers of Jesus live to a higher standard.  That does not make us popular, but then we are not called to be popular.  We are called to be upright.