Wisdom in Action

 Read Proverbs 4.

This may be the strongest admonition in the Bible to get wisdom, insight and understanding.  Again, it is addressed from one generation to the younger.  Note that this is not a religious call, nor is it optional.  Three times we are told that such wisdom is life itself.

"Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life." (v.13)
"For they are life to those who find them." (v.22)
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (v.23)

What are the action steps that demonstrate a heart that is committed to wisdom?
1. My Words. (v.24)
The charge here to put away all crooked speech and devious talk.  Lying and deception are the elements of a fool's communication.  Sooner or later it will be discovered.  Shame follows a fool as sure as day follows night.  A person committed to God is committed to truth.  Words are carefully spoken by those who keep their heart with all vigilance.

2. My Watch. (v.25)
The choices we make in our viewing habits reveal whether we are foolish or wise.  A wise person is vigilant about what they allow their eyes to see.  This is not referring to the casual glance but the "gaze" on things that displease the LORD.

3. My Walk. (v.26)
A person committed to wisdom is careful about the direction and places they go.  Each step in life is a decision to obey God or behave foolishly. 

Ken Taylor's paraphrase of 4:23 communicates the intent so well.  "Above all else, guard your affections.  For they influence everything else in your life."

 

Listen to your Father

 Read Proverbs 3.

The wisest man who ever lived passed godly wisdom to the next generation and ultimately to us.  Throughout Proverbs the term "my son" is used to give direct fatherly advice.  The principles, though written 3,000 years ago are timeless and needed today as never before.

The overarching message of this chapter is all the benefits of listening to and practicing these principles.  But, as we were first instructed in 1:7, success in life begins with a holy reverence for who God is.  So, if we are to be truly wise, what are those practical action steps that demonstrate our commitment to God?

1. Trust in the LORD. (vv.3-8)
Whom do you trust?  One is the Creator, Controller, and has all power, who designed each life with a plan and purpose.  The other is a human who is guessing.  There is an internal struggle to give into what seems right to us, or feels good at the moment, versus what is right according to God.  The admonition here is to not trust in yourself.  Self-reliance will lead to egoism and selfish decisions.  But wholehearted trust in God, leads to true success in life and will prove helpful to others.

2. Honor the LORD. (vv.9-10)
The black and white, clear and quantitative evidence of one's trust in the LORD is the surrender of one’s money.  Jesus spoke to this issue more than prayer or any other subject.  From the time of Cain and Abel, through the Old Testament sacrificial system to this very day, giving to God according to His Word is not optional.  We are not to "lean on your own understanding."  Giving is an outward sign of submission to God and my trust in Him to take care of my needs.  Notice, leftovers are not acceptable.  Giving is the first thing on the budget list before anything else.  God demands the priority in our lives.  As a result, He will be faithful to us. 

3. Do not despise the LORD's discipline. (vv.11-12)
Because we are human, it is not a matter of if we will receive discipline; we will.  The difference in being wise is learning from our mistakes, or sin.  Some people waste their lives making the same foolish decisions over and over.  When God steps in to correct us, it is a proof of His love for us.  Negligence is worse than hatred.  A parent does not discipline the neighbor kids.  When we are reproved by God, it is evidence that we belong to Him.

 

The secret to guarding and guiding your Life

 Read Proverbs 2.

Some of the best-selling books are those with a so-called new plan for success.  Those books will come and go.  In addition, they usually are strongly based upon modern American culture.  But true life principles are timeless and transcend culture.

The Bible continues to be the world's best seller and for good reason.  The Scriptures provide all the basics of life-coaching.  These lessons only come to those who meet the qualifications.

1. "If you receive..." (vv.1-2)
There is no substitute for investing personal time in the Word of God to know exactly what is said.  False thinking and foolish talk come from those who have never studied the Bible for themselves.  More than merely reading, there must be a receiving of God's wisdom and understanding.  An open and ready heart is required.

2. "If you call out..." (v.3)
Even after eagerly reading, there may still be a lack of understanding and of how to apply what is written.  Praying and asking the Author for guidance is essential.  Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of truth" and "he will guide you into all truth."  Without that dependence, one will be left to their own devices and certainly come to error.  In addition to calling out to the LORD for help, there are mature believers available who can provide wise counsel in implementing God's principles.

3. "If you seek..." (v.4)
This is not a puzzle to be put together over a weekend and declare it done.  As long as life goes on so does the search and discovery.  The journey of digging into and mining out the wealth of the Scriptures is the most rewarding adventure ever.  "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" (Romans 11:33)

There are two key results:
"Then you will understand the fear of the LORD..." (vv.5-8)
The result here is "he is a shield to those who walk in integrity."
Guarding your life. 

"Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity and every good path." (vv.6-15)
Guiding your life.

 

3 things that separate the wise from Fools

 Read Proverbs 1.

Solomon had been divinely gifted by God with unusual wisdom and understanding.  As he laid the foundation for this book, he set forth three lessons that will determine one's success in life.  These literally separate a fool from those who are truly wise.

1. Reverence for the LORD. (v.7)
Holding the God of heaven in high regard is the beginning.  Without a sense of awe for Him and accountability to Him, one will make life choices that ultimately lead to self-destruction.  When a person understands this first lesson, they will hunger to know what God has said and desire to please Him in all they do.

2. Respect for parents. (vv.8-9)
A child is Biblically charged by God to honor and obey parents.  It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children to love God and to know right from wrong. The godly disciplines of the father and the precepts of the mother are never to be cast aside. When grown and on their own, a child is no longer living under the obedience of parents, but the requirement to honor them and their words is lifelong.    

3. Resistance of wrong friends. (vv.10-19)
Perhaps nothing is more influential on a person's life development and world view that than those closest to them.  Peer pressure, at any age, can sway one's thinking and responses.  Spending time with the wrong people will only result in mischief and sin.  Here is the evaluation question in order to choose a true friend.  Have they learned the first two lessons above?  If not, our commission is to be a godly influence on them but not allow them to be an influence on us.  No one can grow in their faith being alone.  We need to be taught.  We need wise models to follow.  We need interaction with wise friends on a regular basis to maintain a life full of wise choices.   

Wisdom for life is immediately available.  It is written down for us in this book.

 

6 ways to praise the LORD

 Read Psalm 150. 

The book of songs hits its crescendo with loud praises to the LORD! 

1. Praise Him in His sanctuary.

A sanctuary is a holy place set apart for the worship of God.  In the 1 Corinthians 6:19 we read that the believer in Jesus "is a temple of the Holy Spirit."  Praise begins in the heart. 

2. Praise Him in the heavens.

Next the praise moves from the most intimate and private place to public praise in the open sky.  In previous Psalms, all the angelic beings and even the planets and stars were called upon to join in praising the LORD. 

3. Praise Him for what He has done.

Counting one's blessings and the faithfulness of God should spark within us spontaneous praise.  God is good to us and worthy of our praise. 

4. Praise Him for who He is.

The sheer magnitude of His person is beyond human comprehension.  Our best efforts fall short.  As Stuart Hamblen wrote in his song "How Big is God?", "He is big enough to rule this mighty universe, yet small enough to live within the heart." 

5. Praise Him with instruments and dance.

This is a full orchestra with horns, strings, percussion, and pipes.  Most churches have a long way to go to catch up to such a full complement of praise described here. 

6. Praise Him with voice.

The final call to worship the LORD is unlimited.  "Everything that has breath" is to join in.  Life is given by a loving God to fulfill His purpose.  There is no greater response than to praise the One who has given us the breath of life. 

Praise the LORD!

How to praise the LORD

 Read Psalm 149.

Our culture and upbringing tend to shape how we are comfortable in praising God.  It is always interesting, refreshing, and sometimes uncomfortable to experience worship with believers who do it differently than we are used to.  Some want the architecture to be to their liking.  Most are inspired by a particular style of music.  Often churches are formal and structured, while others are very informal and casual.  As this book of songs builds to a loud and all-encompassing conclusion, notice the various ways Israel worshiped the LORD.

1. Singing. (v.1)
The context was when they assembled together for worship.  The content was a new song they sang.  When one embraces Jesus, He puts a different song in our hearts, even praise to our God.

2. Dancing. (v3a)
This is not social dancing but spiritual praise.  While the assembly sang the new song some expressed their praise through choreography.  When done well the visual display enhances the message.  It requires planning, work, and excellence to honor the LORD in this way. 

3. Instruments. (v.3b)
Music in the Bible was accompanied, even led, by stringed instruments, various kinds of percussion, and horns.  Many think of the organ as the standard of traditional church music.  But historically the organ is a relatively newer invention.  Some churches even have a highly trained drumline used to praise the LORD.

4. Obeying. (vv.6-9)
Obviously, these verses are specific to Israel at the time.  However, the believer is in a spiritual war all the time.  Praising our faith without practicing our faith is hypocrisy.  We should be armed and ready to face the daily battles in obedience to the Word of God.

Any art form is appreciated according to individual taste.  The focus of worship is not how but Who is being praised.  Praise the LORD!

 

3 perspectives on Praise

 Read Psalm 148.

The praises of God continue in this series of five songs, heading for a crescendo.  The psalmist wrote this exaltation in an orderly fashion.  Looking up; then looking around; and, finally, looking in.

1. The Celestial perspective of praise. (vv.1-6)
Looking up at the sky, a call is issued for all the angelic hosts, the planets and all the stars to give forth their praises to God, the Creator.  How did God create?  "He commanded" (v.5), “He gave a decree” (v.6) "and it was so" (Genesis 1).  The March 18, 2014 edition of USA TODAY reported on page 5A a huge new finding by scientists regarding "gravitational waves."  Their theory is that just after the so-called big bang, "space expanded violently and almost instantaneously."  Anyone who ever read and believed Genesis 1 agrees.  That truth has been in the Bible for thousands of years.  It was not a big bang, but a BIG VOICE that instantly commanded the creation into being.  Any other view robs God of His rightful praise.  "The heavens declare the glory of God." (Psalm 19:1)

2. The Terrestrial perspective on praise. (vv.7-12)
Looking around at all of earth's creation on land, sea and air, who could not help but praise God for the beauty and intricacies of His handiwork.  This includes all human life, regardless of status or age group.  All are called upon to join in the song.

3. The Essential perspective on praise. (vv.13-14)
Looking in, the heart of man may be distracted by many objects, people and philosophies.  But the God of heaven demands exclusive praise for what He has done and who He is.  Praises come from those who are near to God and enjoying His presence.