Bait and Switch

(Pro 19:27 KJV)  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

Think of all the ways in which we ignore this advice.  Sometimes it is blatant.  We go to a movie that we know focuses on prurient interests.  We attend a meeting designed to promote ungodly behavior.  Sometimes it is more subtle.  We might read books that start off on a high level and then degenerate.  I remember a series I started by a popular author.  The first couple of books were aboveboard and I was looking forward to the rest of the series.  Then things started getting polluted.  Questionable lifestyles began to enter the lineup.  Degenerate characters were portrayed in a positive light.  It saddened me but I stopped reading.  I knew where it was going.

A big reason for ignoring this is pride.  We tend to think that we are impervious.  We think we can take a bath in polluted water and come out clean.  Too bad it doesn’t usually work out that way.

So?  Be wise.  Avoid the contamination of evil.  Be willing to walk out.  While you are at it, ask for a refund.  Hit them where it hurts and be a good steward at the same time.  

The Entrance

Proverbs 8:35 (KJV) For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

The thing being found here is wisdom.  You could interpret this to mean that wisdom will allow you to experience the best of life.  It would bring completeness and make you sensitive to the good things.  That is certainly part of it.

I think the inference goes a bit deeper.  The result of wisdom is a love that reflects the “favor” of the Lord.  I am looking at that as the blessing of being born again and attaining the assurance of eternal life.  I think this infers that genuine wisdom will lead us toward the Lord.  False wisdom will help us win game shows.

So?  Go for the gold.  Embrace the foundations that God has laid out for us.  

Quiet Guides

Proverbs 7:5 (KJV) That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

The “they” in this verse refers to the lessons in wisdom that have been offered over the years by the recipient’s father.  I would guess that some things have been repeated so many times that the advice goes in one ear and out the other.  My wife is always trying to tell me the exciting details of the Fake Weather News for the morning.  If I panicked quickly I would never go out of the house.  That does not mean that I don’t need to be reminded that there is weather.

One reason I don’t necessarily need a reminder today is because I have a lifetime of watching the weather.  I have learned that if I hear the sound of raindrops it is probably raining.  If I see the trees dancing through the window it is probably windy.  I have internalized the lessons of forgetting my umbrella.  Thus wisdom can help us to shape our day and our lives.

So?  It makes a difference.  Rejoice in what you have built in over the years and keep looking out the window to see what today’s weather has in store.  

Special Delivery

Proverbs 2:4 (KJV) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

This verse is talking about Wisdom.  It could apply to any lesson that God wants to give you.  Are you seeking God’s will?  Do you want inspiration in a decision you have to make?  Take this passage to heart.  The answer will probably not walk up and bite you on the nose.  You will need to be looking for it.

Wisdom is not like those services that deliver a meal with all the ingredients to your doorstep on a regular basis.  For those all you have to do is sit back and wait.  When you open the door it is all there.  Wisdom is more like going to the fruit market, finding out what is on sale and checking out each apple for bruises and worm holes.

So?  Yes, God will on occasion give you a serendipity.  Usually you learn from applying yourself and listening with care.  Wisdom waits.

Wisdom of the Aged

Proverbs 3:2 (KJV) For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

One of the answers I’ve always come up with on why supposedly wise men die young and why being obedient doesn’t guarantee old age is that you don’t know how long somebody would’ve lived without the wisdom or obedience.  If someone dies at 45 it’s possible that they would have died at 35.  We can’t know that.

Another reason is that we’re wrong about the presence of wisdom.  There are many great thinkers in our history who have died young.  The reasons are buried, but they don’t live very long.  It’s possible that we are confusing intelligence with wisdom.  The two are not the same but from a distance might be hard to discern.

So?  Just because we don’t understand how to apply God’s promises doesn’t mean that they don’t apply.  

Be Careful What You Ask For

Psalm 3:1-2 (KJV) 1 [[A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.]] LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

You’re looking at the situation where we see God stepping in to save David’s life.  When it comes right down to it, that’s not really what David wanted God to do.  Yes, David wanted to be removed from the threat that his son was presenting him.  The problem is that David wanted to be rescued without harming his son.  In fact, when victory seemed to be within reach his instructions were to not harm the poor boy.

God had a different salvation in mind.  Absolom would’ve been the next king if he’d won or if he’d been preserved.  God did not want that to happen.  He planned on preserving David’s life, but He did not plan on doing it at the cost of having this narcissistic, spoiled, power hungry, young man given the throne.

So?  David got what he was wanting in the sense of being preserved, but not in the way in which he wanted it to happen.  Be aware that God has our best interest in mind, but He also has His plans and His priorities.  Be careful what you ask for.  

A Tree of Fear

Proverbs 3:18 (KJV) She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

The “she” being talked about here is wisdom.  This makes me think back to the garden of Eden when there were two trees that got singled out.  One was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the other the tree of life.  God removed Adam and Eve before they could access the tree of life.  My suspicion is that in that case the tree of life had to do with how long you would live rather than how rich your life would be.

Here I think the tree of life is more in line within enriching the time that we have.  Wisdom helps us to grasp at what’s of real value and avoid the traps that Satan keeps throwing in front of us.  Wisdom helps us set priorities.  Wisdom gives us discernment.

I noticed that it tells us to “lay hold of”.  We are the ones who reach out to this tree of life.  We are the ones who have to trust.

So?  Start the day by reminding yourself that God will supply wisdom, but that that wisdom starts with a fear of Him.   

The Attribute of Wisdom

Proverbs 8:22 (KJV) The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

One of the puzzles that keeps coming to my attention is the place of wisdom in creation.  If you read down through this chapter, you find that it seems wisdom is there at the beginning, and is a part of the creation process.  There is a tendency to personify wisdom.  That is a mistake because wisdom is not God.  Wisdom is not the fourth person of the trinity.  What I see happening here is that the attribute of God, wisdom, is involved in the creation process.

When I look at the universe around me, I think of the creativity of God.  I see it from my front porch in the oak trees, the wild flowers, even in the dandelions and weeds.  Creativity is an attribute in my mind.  I think I would add to that creativity takes place in the context of wisdom.  It’s not just a matter of seeing what kind of wild and crazy ideas you can come up with.  It is a matter of assembling all of this, in an attitude of wisdom.

So?  As we go through our day it’s not just a matter of seeing how creative we can be or what kind of bright ideas we can have.  It is a matter of us taking the wisdom of God which He offers to us and applying it to our unique situations.  Of course, we need to apply it to the every day situations that everyone faces, especially to the unique ones. 

Wise Heart

Proverbs 2:10 (KJV) When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

One of the great benefits of the new covenant is the advent of the Holy Spirit coming to fill us and being available to all believers.  This is expressed in many different ways through the scripture and is interpreted from different theological points of view.  Here is just one of those little sides that add another depth to it.

Wisdom is not just something we read in a book, like the Bible.  It’s not just something we listen to from those who are deeper into their spiritual walk than we are.  Wisdom is something which has a living element that actually enters into our hearts.  It becomes a part of us.  If we allow it, it becomes almost automatic in guiding our decisions, our priorities, our thought processes.

So?  At another place you will read the phrase “seek wisdom”.  In the seeking spend time, thinking about it, meditating on it, and praying that God would actually let it enter into your heart.  I’m sure I’ve said it before and others have said it, but it’s like a spiritual GPS.  But of course the GPS only works when you listen to what it tells you. 

Repetition

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

There is a theme in this chapter of Proverbs, which is repeated ad nauseam.  It’s expressed in many different ways.  And it is summarized in the word “keep”.  Some translations use the word “guard”, instead of keep which gets closer to the intent.  This isn’t a matter of sticking something in your pocket, keeping it generally safe and out of the limelight.  This is a matter of setting up a rigorous defense, to keep it from being polluted, diluted or damaged.

Wisdom is precious.  Wisdom is vital.  Wisdom is easily corrupted, and watered down.

So?  Stay alert.  Keep checking to see if the germs are attacking.  If you have a pool, think of how you are constantly checking the chlorine level.  Add chemicals, the word, as needed.  There are no replacements. 

Inferred Subject

Proverbs 2:12 (KJV) To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

This verse gives us the promise that wisdom, which is inferred from the context, will deliver us.  What we tend to forget is that this is not some kind of mysterious elixir or magic ray gun that hits us when we least expect it.  Consider the verses before and after.  Consider all 31 chapters.  Wisdom is available.  We must seek it.

Think of all the verbs that are used in explaining this phenomenon.  Listening and seeking are two.  Then we have meditating and thinking about.  Just about every verb that has to do with seeking knowledge is used in these chapters.

So?  Don’t just sit there and expect wisdom to descend upon your head.  Although the Holy Spirit will help you understand, and is willing to give guidance, there is still that element of growing spiritually, which requires us to direct her mind in our will toward seeking and receiving. 

Expensive

(Pro 4:7 KJV)  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

This month in Proverbs, I am reading from the NIV.  The NIV puts in a phrase here that made me look at how others translated.

Proverbs 4:7 (NIV) The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

The NIV seems to have the idea that everything you have financially, emotionally, socially, should be invested in achieving wisdom and understanding.  As I look at other translations, I see nuances of this idea.

As you look at this, you need to understand a couple of things that are repeated in the book of Proverbs.

(Pro 1:7 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(Pro 9:10 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Noticed that both of these began with the fear of the Lord.  I understand that to mean not the craven fear of phobias, but the fear of respect and awe, and being overwhelmed with grandeur and holiness.

So?  The message of Proverbs , repeated time and again, is that wisdom is something we must have.  It also implies that it is available.  This might be a good day to start your search you have not already. 

Day Two

Proverbs 2:1 (KJV) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

I wonder how many people in the United States have January 2 off this year.  If you were a student or a teacher, then you were still on the Christmas break most likely.  If you work in certain places they might say just take the whole week off.  If you’re self-employed, your wife may have things for you to do.  Anyway you look at it you should have a bit of leisure to stop and think about the coming year.  That is where Solomon comes in.

As you begin the year, get ready to receive the things that God has to say to you.  Keep in mind that often you won’t be able to receive it unless you are looking for it.  I can have a mailbox full of mail down by the street, but if I don’t go down and open the door and look inside, I will never find it.  Of course, with a mailbox, the day comes when it gets so full that the mail starts falling out and piling up on the ground making it easier to see.  I’m not sure of God’s wisdom works that way.

And then we have to take that wisdom and make it our own.  We need to hide it.  We need to take it away.  I was talking to a guy this week and we were commiserating on how we can’t remember names.  One of the reasons that we can’t remember them is because it is not a priority.  The only way I can remember names is if I consciously work at it, and keep repeating it until it sticks.  Sometimes I will look for a clue to remind me, for instance, a guy name Byron reminds me of the poet, Lord Byron.

So?  You can’t make a withdrawal from an account unless you made a deposit.  In one sense God has made the deposit in His written word.  We can withdraw from that account, but we need to apply it into the account of our soul so that it will be available when we need it.  Happy new year.

Listen to the Gambler

Proverbs 20:3 (KJV) It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

I hope you are familiar with that song, which I think is called, “The Gambler”.  It goes to the effect that you got to know when to hold, know when to fold.  In my mind, it’s Kenny Rogers doing the singing, but since I’m not a big consumer of country or western music, that is just a guess.  It brings a great deal of wisdom to life and it’s almost as if the writer of the song had been reading Proverbs 20.

I find that the CSB brings a bit of a different slant and it’s language.

Proverbs 20:3 (CSB) Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

How often have you found yourself in a disagreement, realizing that the other person is getting more and more angry, knowing that the angrier they get the less they listen, and knowing that they didn’t have a great amount of reasoning ability to start with, and you’re going to lose.  Maybe you won’t lose, but you know you won’t win.  It’s at that point that wisdom kicks in and you need to take the high road.

Taking the highroad can be dangerous because too many times it makes you abandon things which are important, to compromise truth, and walk away from what is right.  The honor here is to find a way to back up and restate things in an acceptable way that in important areas is a valid compromise, but does not desert the truth.

So?  I guess real wisdom will keep you from getting in the dispute in the first place.  Know when to back off.  Know what the real issues are.  Know whom you’re arguing with. 

Top Dog

(Pro 4:7 KJV)  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Let me misread this a little bit.  Let me use a different word for “principal” (7225).  Let me substitute the other word that we often misspell, principle.  One, which is used here means primary or top dog.  This is the principal of your school.  The other has to do with the rules you run by.  And this is saying not only is wisdom top dog, but it is also a set of principles that we run by.  That is my interpretation.

Take a look at how this other translation puts it,

Proverbs 4:7 (CSB) “Wisdom is supreme -- so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.

Actually, this is not the place to start.  Keep in mind that wisdom starts with the fear of God.  Then you can go on to collect the principles and apply them.

So?  Follow the pattern that God has given you follow the principal principles. 

Forgotten Priorities

(Pro 4:7 KJV)  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

What kind of things are we told are important today?  Probably the most common advice for young people is to get an education.  Then they want to get a good job.  Rarely do I hear anybody advising young people to get wisdom.  Yet wisdom is the number one priority given to us in the book of Proverbs and the wisdom literature.

One reason why wisdom is not popular is because it is rooted in a fear of Almighty God.  Remember, the serpent in the Garden of Eden, tempting in Eve to disobedience because she could be like the gods.  Man’s ultimate sin is his arrogance and self-centeredness.  Wisdom is rooted in the right priorities.  As a general rule, we don’t like the right priorities.

So?  It’s up to you whether you follow the standards and dictates of the world around you.  When you’re planning for the future, don’t forget eternity.  Get wisdom.

Worldwide

(Pro 8:16 KJV)  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Is there a body of knowledge which we call wisdom that is available through the entire earth, even to those who don’t know the God of the Bible?  This verse would seem to imply that.  This talks about judges of the Earth.  Now, princes and nobles might just refer to Israel, but when you say all the judges of the Earth, you go beyond those borders.

Is wisdom cross-cultural?  Is it something that God has placed in the hearts of all men?

So? There a certain principles that seem to be universal.  That should be something that makes us get along better with those who disagree with us on specifics. 

Biblical Balance

(Pro 8:18 KJV)  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

There is a balance in the Bible that is worth noting.  It is dangerous to cherry pick favorite verses without considering the context and the total message.  If you only considered this verse you would think that the message is “Wisdom will make you rich.”  Not in the way that most people mean that.  The key word here is “enduring” (6276).  You need to read the surrounding comments to get the drift.

It is the insights and the righteous living that comes from those insights that are the “riches” (6239) being promised.  Will that generate what the world thinks of as riches?  There is a good chance of that up to a point.  That point is the balance I am talking about.  There are too extremes.  One is great wealth with little wisdom.  The other is great wisdom and starving to death.  Neither one is the Biblical balance.  

So?  Seek God’s wisdom.  Apply it in your daily life.  Part of that wisdom is working hard and being a good steward.  It will give a combination that brings the really good things of life into your sphere and allows God to bless you. 

Never too Early

(Pro 28:26 KJV)  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Notice the different guides and results represented here.  On one side you have what would have to be defined as your emotions.  How do you feel about that?  We often hear that question.  Unless your feelings are based on more than your emotions you are in deep trouble.

The contrast is wisdom.  What is wisdom?  The entire book of Proverbs was preserved to answer that question.  It is not simple or short.  It is knowable.  It is also something that does not come out of thin air in a moment of crisis.  It demands input and contemplation.

So?  Get started.  They say it is never too late.  A better bit of advice is, “It is never too early.” 

Beyond Pithy

(Pro 8:1 KJV)  Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

This chapter is a continuous personification of “Wisdom” (2451) in an attempt to “understanding” (8394).  I think there is a tendency to identify wisdom as a bunch of pithy sayings that get people to nod and say, “Yes.”  Our culture is full of wise saying that really are not such as, “God helps those who help themselves.”  The wisdom of the Bible brings us to understanding.

What do we understand?  Ourselves.  Our culture.  God’s expectations.  We are given to tools to deal with life.  We are given a foundation to stand on, a compass to point the way, a hope that casts a different light on everything.

So?  Don’t just read the wisdom of Proverbs or Paul.  Memorize and meditate.  Analyze and apply.  Wisdom is given to make our life a glory to God.