SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/26/2013
8:21 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Perusing
Wisdom PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Various
Verses
Message of the
verses: Let us begin this SD with
two quotes that will help explain the direction that we are now taking as we
continue to study the book of Proverbs.
Playwright George Bernard Shaw said “If the other planets are inhabited,
they’re using the earth for their insane asylum.” Then there is the famous
writer of a comic strip, Charles M. Schulz who had one of his characters, Linus
exclaim, “I love mankind. It’s people I
can’t stand.”
We have been going through the book of Proverbs kind of
in a verse by verse study as we looked at the first nine chapters of it, and
one of the things that we discovered is that the book of Proverbs is about
different kinds of people. The book
shows us what different types of people believe and what they do, and how they
interact with one another. Dr. Wiersbe
writes from his introduction to the fifth chapter in his commentary on Proverbs
in which he entitles that chapter “People, Wise and Otherwise—Part I,” the
following, “Solomon’s aim in writing this book is to help us become skillful in
relating to both people and circumstances so that we can make a success out o
life to the glory of God.
“During our survey of Proverbs 1-9, we casually met five
different kinds of people: the wise, the wicked, the fool, the simple, and the
scorner. Now it’s time to get better
acquainted with these people and learn what it really means to be wise.”
With that said we will begin to look at the wise and by
doing this we can see what wisdom is and how we should be perusing these wise
characteristic. The very first step to
being wise is to be a born again believer in Jesus Christ. Paul writes these words to Timothy “and that
from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2Tim. 3:15).” This is the first and most important step in becoming
wise for when we read about Jesus Christ we see that He is the wisdom of God, “1
¶ For I want you to know how great a
struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all
those who have not personally seen my face, 2
that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love,
and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of
understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:1-3).”
“30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,
and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, ‘LET HIM WHO
BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.’” (1Cor.
1:3-31)
Dr. Wiersbe writes “Educated and trained people who
ignore or reject Christ can succeed in making a good living, but without Him they can never succeed in making a good life—one that glorifies God. The wisest thing a person can do is to trust
Christ and live in obedience to Him.” We
will look at this again, but Solomon wrote “The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom.” The word fear in this verse
does not mean to live in terror but in reverence like one is suppose to have of
their parents.
We will now begin to look at some of the characteristics
of wise people and begin first with “Wise
people listen to wise instruction, especially the Word of God.” Proverbs 1:5 states “A wise man will hear and
increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” At this point I want to quote an end note
from Dr. Wiersbe’s book that speaks about the word “man,” and how it is used in
the book of Proverbs. “Let me remind you
that the book of Proverbs has a definite masculine focus because in the ancient
Jewish society daughters usually weren’t educated for the affairs of life. Most of them were kept secluded and prepared
for marriage and motherhood. For the
most part, when you read man’ in Proverbs, interpret it generically and read
person,’ whether male or female.
Proverbs isn’t a sexist book, but it was written in the context of a
strongly male-oriented society.” I hope
this explanation will help you to understand that the Bible is not a book that
puts women down and just brings up males, but the Bible and its teachings is
the best thing that can happen to all who read it and understand it.
Now we want to go back and talk about how wise people
listen to wise instructions from others, but especially from the Word of
God. “17 ¶ Incline your ear and hear the words of the
wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; 18
For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be
ready on your lips. 19 So that your
trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you. 20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of
counsels and knowledge, 21 To make you
know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who
sent you?” (Proverbs 22:17-21) Jesus warns us in Mark 4:24 to take heed in
what we hear, “And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to.
By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given
you besides.” Jesus also tells us how we
hear from Luke 8:18, “"So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to
him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has
shall be taken away from him.’” Solomon
tells his son, and it can be applied to all believers “Stop listening to
instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs
19:27 NIV) He goes on in Proverbs 23:23
to say, “Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and
understanding.” From these verses we can
learn that it costs to acquire wisdom, but it is worth the time it takes to
learn it and keep it.
How do we acquire this wisdom? We have been over this before, but it is well
worth repeating, and that is that we have to continue in our study of God’s
Word. Dr. Wiersbe writes on this subject
some very important: “It’s one thing to
know about the Bible and quite something else to hear God speaking through His
Word and teach us His wisdom so that we become more like Jesus Christ.” We must remember the words of the Apostle
Paul “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
(1Cor. 8:1 NIV)
We have to also remember the negative side of this and
that is that we have to make sure that we do not listen to foolishness and lies
from things we hear on the radio, or on the TV, or from preachers who do not
follow the Word of God in their preaching.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I suppose that
from human nature it is easier to remember the things in the past that I have
not used wisdom rather than remembering the things that I have been wise about,
and the first thing I need to remember is that 39 years ago this very day I
became a believer in Jesus Christ and had my sins forgiven and now have the
hope of heaven so that I can be with my Lord to serve Him throughout
eternity. What a wonderful day that was
as it changed my life completely and I will be eternally thankful.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to love and serve the Lord, and
continue to read and study His Word.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 121:1-8
1 I
will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven
and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot
to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4
Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your
shade on your right hand. 6 The sun will
not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7
The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. 8 The LORD will guard your going out and your
coming in From this time forth and forever.
Turning Points Wisdom for
the Day: “Press on: Nothing in the world
can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not…Genius will not…Education will not… Persistence and
determination alone are overwhelmingly powerful.” (President Calvin Coolidge) “12
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but
I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by
Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not
regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what
lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.” (Philippians 3:12-13)
1/26/2013 9:33 AM
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