Finding gems in God's Word
Proverbs 31 A wise woman
This verse jumped out at me today: A woman who fears the Lord—she makes herself praiseworthy.
A woman may have many attributes but this one alone is what pleases the Lord God Almighty. Praying today for women today: may we fear the Lord and Him only.
Proverbs 30: Humility is a gift from the Lord and Agur seems demonstrate it. Listen carefully to what he says: I have not learned wisdom. Does that mean he has not been taught or is he saying my wisdom is lacking in depth? We could say the same as we read, study and meditate on God’s word. One thing he knows is that there is a God whose character is seen in his demonstrable attributes.
He also knows that God is like that which protects as we take refuge under His everlasting arms. Agur reminds those who are listening just as the Apostle John did: do not add to the word of God lest he reprove you and prove you and you are found to be a liar!
The rest of this chapter is Agur’s prayer which proves his humility. He asks for two, not more answers to how he faces life along with the reasons why he only asks for two not more answers.
The lesson from Agur is remain humble so that God can bless you.
Proverbs 23 What price?
Probably one of our weakest areas in this life is this tool of discernment. You may be born with it, but truly it is a skill that you must be taught and honed. To discern is to stop and think what is true in contrast to what is false. The Proverbs chapters speak of this over and over, so it must be a skill that is needed to succeed and one that will protect us from falling for the ways of the world and our arch enemy Satan.
Discernment is what you can use in nearly every engagement be it, purchasing a garment or even as this Proverb says to paid dinners with high ranking people. Not always, but many times, the dinner is really a cover up for what they want you to do after the dinner. For example, you are invited to a swanky hotel and a posh dinner but behind that dinner, usually after listening to a speech, you are asked to donate an amount whether it be for a starving child or a man/woman who wants our vote.
The Proverbs author tells us “do not crave that ruler’s delicacies,for that food is deceptive.” In other words, that meal you are enjoying comes with a price. Warning signal: “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you;” In fact the Proverbs author goes so far as to say: “will have wasted your pleasant words.”
Word to the wise, stop and consider what the payment will be if you attend these functions.
Proverbs 22 Wise Sayings
How many times have we experienced a situation only to realize later that had we paid attention, we would not have had to face these end results. One of the wisdom proofs is when God provides that nugget of truth we should learn from it rather than from facing the consequences of not paying attention. For example: “Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse,but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.” [ Prov 22:5] Keeping oneself from those who dishonor God is the best path to follow. I can hear you saying that we need to press on and present the gospel message to the perverse;those whose perspective is warped and twisted. Yet, truth is that these are the unbelievers that even when the truth is presented, will deny it and choose to reject it.
This chapter is filled with admonitions to stand strong and be faithful to God so pay attention to these words of wisdom. Wisdom says learn the easy way, otherwise you will have to repeat the lesson again until you learn from it.
1 Cor 12 The Spirit Gifts
When one believes and accepts Christ as Savior, it is the Holy Spirit that reveals to our hearts that Jesus is Lord. Is He Lord of your life? If so, then the Spirit is yours as well and with that He gives the gifts that are needed to develop the person and the church. “To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.” [1 Cor 12:7] As you ponder this thought, consider what gift the Spirit has given to you and not for you alone, but for the many believers out there.
Paul then takes time to teach the Corinthians and us in turn the many gifts that the Spirit shares out of His abundance of wealth. Has He given you wisdom? Know this, that wisdom comes from the throne of God to edify the church’s believers. Has He given you knowledge? If so, what are you doing with it? Paul then lists many more gifts too numerous here to note. Believer, God has saved you and blessed you with a gift perfectly suited for you and the church so that many would come to salvation.
What are you doing with your gift today?
Hebrews 13 The author of Hebrews writes to his audience that all things they consider doing should be done practically. Each piece of advice is given to encourage and bolster their walk with Christ. The first piece of advice is to live with the brethren in love. That is one reason Christ came, to teach us how to love one another and here the Hebrews author closes his epistle reminding them to love one another. Secondly, to them he said: do not neglect hospitality for you may not realize it but you may inadvertently share out of your meagerness with an angelic figure without realizing it.
Again the Hebrews author reminds us: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.
The author reminds them to pray for them. Pray in the morning, pray at noon and pray again in the evening. Prayer will be the sustaining factor to succeed in their work.
This chapter would be a good one to read every day for the advice is wise to help us live scripturally to honor Christ.
Prov11 Righteousness vs Unrighteousness
Solomon was a wise king in many areas and he was observant to the world conditions around him. He noted the truth that he wrote in these two verses: When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. [Prov 11:10-11]
It would behoove our leaders to listen to these wise words for God to bless our nation, especially vs 11!
1 Kings 12 to14: Listen up! Wisdom is found in the aged who have been tested and proven true, just as we test a garment or a tool. The recent destruction of the submersible seems like our story today in 1 Kings 12. A wise king raises a fool; others pay the price for our pride and arrogance.
Solomon’s son Rehoboam sought wise counsel about how to lead the nation after his father’s passing but rejected the wisdom of the elders and listened to his young advisors. Job remarks: “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” [Job 12:12] Rehoboam, much like King Saul, did not follow Job’s advice and rejected older, more mature, and wiser people. How often do we think we know better when our older mature gray heads tell us nay or yea?
Rehoboam failed because God had prophesied to Solomon of the nation’s division because he had not wholly followed the Lord. The result was a divided kingdom, wars, and rumors of wars. All because of men’s pride and arrogance.
Paul wisely offers us this counsel: Everything was written in former times for our instruction. [Rom 15:4] May we learn from Rehoboam what “not to do and what to do?”
Prov 10 & Isaiah 28:10 “Precept Upon Precept”
Do you find Proverbs a challenge? If I were the author, I would want to include all the verses around wisdom together and the consequences of stupidity in another. But thankfully, I am not the author, and the Holy Spirit did not arrange this chapter or any of the following chapters that way. Instead, perhaps Isaiah’s verse gives us the answer: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.” [Is 28:10 KJV] Thus, we learn best when we take in a bit, meditate upon it, and then find that same tidbit further on, which brings that same truth to light but given differently. For example:
Prov 10:1 says a wise child makes a father rejoice, and Prov 23:15 my child, If your heart is wise, then my heart as well be glad. Same principle but worded in a different way.
Paul reminded Timothy of this wisdom: “all scripture is profitable for gaining wisdom in teaching (doctrine–biblical principles), reproof (rebuke), correction (challenging us to walk uprightly) and training in righteousness (that is the way of God) so that we may be capable and equipped for every good work.” [2Tim 3:16]
Prov 4-7 Parenting needs wisdom from God. Even King Solomon began his teaching by reminding his children to listen and pay attention so that they would gain discernment. He had learned from his father, David, and now injects knowledge, reasons, and consequences. They say more is caught than taught, yet Scripture teaches that both are vital to a child’s upbringing.
Dear parent, pray for wisdom to know how your child learns so that they will progress through the stages of growth to maturity by discerning both good and evil. [Heb 5:14] Pray for a hedge of protection around yourself and your child remembering greater is He within you than he that is in the world. [1Jn 4:4] Parents, remember children, listen, observe, and will follow in your footsteps.
Be wise, dear parent, today. Follow the example of Deut chapter 6 about disseminating biblical truth. Add this verse to your prayer arsenal: Num. 6:24-26 “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace” Change that to reflect your own voice: Lord bless me and protect me and my child. Lord smile on me and be gracious to me and give me your peace as I parent.