Can Anyone Have Wisdom?? – PROVERBS 2:1-7 [1]

December 23, 2014January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

The Lord shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? – Job 34:19

1 My child, listen to what I say,
    and treasure my commands.
2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
    and concentrate on understanding.
3 Cry out for insight,
    and ask for understanding.
4 Search for them as you would for silver;
    seek them like hidden treasures.
5 THEN you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
    and you will gain knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.

Solomon again reminds us of the importance of wisdom in these first verses of Proverbs 2. They remind me of a parent talking to their child saying, “look at me, I have something extremely important to tell you. Are you listening? Do you hear me? These things I’m going to tell you are “life savers”/”joy givers”. Remember/apply what I am telling you!!!

Notice that these verses encourage people to be proactive.
Look at the words in bold print above. They are all action words.

It is through an individual’s desire to have wisdom, that they will find it.
Verse 5 tells us, as does Matthew 7:7 – that if you ask it will be given to you; if you seek you will find; if you knock the door will be opened to you. God wants everyone to have wisdom. He wants everyone to gain understanding of His Ways. He is the giver of wisdom.

But wait, there’s more…

Warning!!! – The Stove is HOT!!!! – PROVERBS – Chapter 1g – 1:29-33 [10 of out 10]

May 6, 2014January 2, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

LORD Almighty, blessed are those who trust in you. – Psalm 84:12

29)) Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord,
30)) and they would have none of my counsel
    and despised all my reproof,
31))  THEREFORE, they shall eat the fruit of their way,
    and have their fill of their own devices.
32)) For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33)) BUT whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

We learned from verse 25, http://wp.me/p5nZpi-5E, that – People turn away from all my advice. They wouldn’t accept my warning. And here again in verse 30 we read, they despised all my counsel.
All people are in search of a road that leads to “happiness”. Yet, in verses 29-33, we read that people often end up making choices that take them on a curvy path. Their path ends up being curvy because the choose their own way vs. the Creator’s counsel and guidance – v.30.

The result of following our own way: They’ll GET their own way, for better or worse. Sadly, as verse 32 says, the simple are killed by turning away, by doing their own thing. Instead of heeding the warnings, like the stove is hot – don’t touch it, they proceed to touch, and… Again, it’s not that the person in this illustration was not warned, he was, yet he chose his own way. In this case, and often in our everyday choices, the result was/can be painful.

The result of following wisdom? v.33 – Whoever listens to me

will dwell secure
will be at ease
(will be) without dread of disaster

Ummm, which path would you take, wisdom’s or the simple’s/fool’s?

Does God Laugh and Make Fun of Me When I Goof Up??? – PROVERBS – Chapter 1f – 1:23-28 [9]

May 2, 2014December 18, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. – Psalm 107:1

23)) Suppose (IF) you had paid attention to (my) warning.
    THEN I would have poured out (my) heart to you.
    (I) would have told you what (I) was thinking.
24)) But you turned away from me when (I) called out to you.
    None of you paid attention when (I) reached out (my) hand.
25)) You turned away from ALL my advice.
    You wouldn’t accept (my) warning.

26)) So I will laugh at you when you are in danger.
    I will make fun of you when hard times come.
27)) I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm.
    I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm.
    I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come.
28)) “THEN you will call to me. But I won’t answer.
    You will look for me. But you won’t find me.

Wow!! I don’t know about you, but when I read these verses, they kinda scare me. Does this mean when I goof up and don’t follow God that He will laugh at me and make fun of me? And when I call Him and ask Him for help, He won’t answer me and I won’t find Him?

It is easy to replace the words in ( ) with God because when you read these verses it seems that it is a person who is talking. However, recalling from verse 20, http://wp.me/p5nZpi-5e, Wisdom is the (my) and the (I). Remember that Solomon uses personification, and that can sometimes confuse the reader.

God has given us, in fact all people, truth through His Word. It is a guide-book to help people navigate their earthly life. It is when the nasty sin of pride infiltrates our mind, our choices, etc., that we have the attitude, “Yeah, right – God stuff, I don’t think so, my way is better…”

In verses 26-27, it is Wisdom, not God that is laughing and making fun, so-to-speak. Basically, these are the consequences of our choices. It seems harsh, but it is as though you can hear Wisdom saying, “I told you so…”

Verse 28, you call, but don’t get an answer. Meaning the consequences of our choices have been exacted (accurate to circumstance), they can not be changed. If someone gets pregnant, out-of-wedlock, they can “call” all they want, but the consequence of their choice will not change.

You may have asked yourself these questions at some point in your life,

How did I get into this mess?
Why does everything seem to go bad for me?
Did I do something wrong?

The answer – You turned away from my advice, You wouldn’t accept my warning. – Proverbs 1:25

If I Follow “Wisdom”, Then What?? – PROVERBS – Chapter 1e – 1:20-22 [8]

May 1, 2014December 16, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

Your word, Lord, is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

In the last section of Proverbs, Chapter 1, Solomon uses personification (giving human-like characteristics to something non-human).
20)) Out in the open Wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
21)) on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
22)) “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?”

The reason for using personification when writing is to make a word come alive for the reader. It is much easier to relate to a person than an inanimate object.

In these verses, Solomon presents a cause/effect relationship. IF people pay attention to the Proverbs, following Wisdom’s direction and guidance, THEN they will become wise (when they apply the knowledge they’ve obtained).

We will also see, throughout the Book of Proverbs, the words simple and fool. These words do not refer to people who are academically challenged, but rather are deficient in their character. The simple/fool are challenged to recognize right from wrong.

In verse 22, Solomon questions, “when are you going to learn that your choices are messing you up?”

It is wisdom (applying knowledge) that helps us recognize that the path we’re on is destructive. And wisdom that confirms the path we’re on is healthy and God-honoring.

Choices, Choices, Choices??? – PROVERBS – Chapter 1d – 1:10-19 (b) [7]

April 30, 2014December 14, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

You can hold on to the hope that I, The Lord, will not change what I have promised.
Hebrews 6:17-18

So what does Solomon want us to take away from the confusing verses of Proverbs 1:10-19? http://wp.me/p5nZpi-2I
First, Solomon wants to remind and warn us, that sin can be very attractive. The danger in following unwise choices, vs. the truth, is that they will then become our compass, what directs us in our everyday interactions.

Secondly, acting on sinful choices will not enable us to reach the goals we hope to achieve. What may look “good” at the onset, may end up trapping us in an unhealthy lifestyle. Solomon warns us not to comprise our values and ignore God’s guidance, following what “man” deems as success.

Often times the enticement of promised friendships, the allure of being “part of the group”, moving up in our job, etc. overtakes our better judgment.

Solomon warns not to get caught up in the temptations around us, DON’T follow them. STAY AWAY, verse 15.
Solomon uses an analogy of a bird in verse 17. A bird, which certainly does not have the intelligence of a person, yet instinctively recognizes a trap and STAYS AWAY. Sadly, when we choose to venture out into the world “on our own”, without God and His principles, we set an ambush for ourselves; – v.18, which will end tragically.

Lastly, THE KEY is to think beyond the here and now. To consider the future consequences of our present choices. Short-term choices vs. Long-term effects. We have free will to make choices, but not the freedom to choose our consequences.

Come Join Us …. Ummm, Should I? – PROVERBS – Chapter 1c – 1:10-19 (a) – [6]

April 30, 2014December 14, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

… “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” – 1 Corinthians 15:32-33

10)) My child, IF sinners entice you, THEN
         turn your back on them!
11)) They may say, “Come and join us.
         Let’s hide and kill someone!
         Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
12)) Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave;
         let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
13)) Think of the great things we’ll get!
         We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
14)) Come, throw in your lot with us;
         we’ll all share the loot.”
15)) My child, DON’T go along with them!
         Stay far away from their paths.
16)) They rush to commit evil deeds.
         They hurry to commit murder.
17)) IF a bird sees a trap being set,
        it knows to stay away.
18)) BUT these people set an ambush for themselves;
         they are trying to get themselves killed.
19)) Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
         it robs them of life.

Verses 10-19 may seem a bit confusing, even scary. Since we learned in the introduction of Proverbs that we are to discern and apply the principles of the proverbs to our lives, what then, does Solomon want us to take away from these perplexing verses?

What’s Our Source of Direction, Guidance, and Instruction? – PROVERBS – Chapter 1b – 1:8-9 – [5]

April 29, 2014December 14, 2014buildafoundation 1 Comment

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. – Psalm 28:7

Proverbs 1:8-9

8)) My child, LISTEN when your father corrects you.
DON’T NEGLECT your mother’s instruction.

9)) WHAT YOU LEARN FROM THEM WILL crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Verses 8-9 are pretty straight forward. They remind us that our main “earthly” source of direction, guidance, and instruction is from our parents. Following their “godly” teaching will develop godly character in us. God’s character will be reflected, and noticed by others around us.

I Can Have Wisdom, Knowledge, and Discernment!! – PROVERBS – Chapter 1a – 1:1-7 – [4]

April 28, 2014December 14, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours… – 1 Chronicles 29:11

From the first verse in the Book of Proverbs, Solomon is very clear with the reader. He states in verse 1 that he is the author, he is King of Israel, and why he wrote the Proverbs.

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.

2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
    to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
    to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
    knowledge and discernment to the young.

5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
BUT fools despise wisdom and discipline.

How Does a Principle Differ From a Fact? – PROVERBS – Introduction 3 – [3]

April 25, 2014January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. – Isaiah 16:3

We may think that Proverbs are quick, clever, one-liners, and some of them are. Designed to help us remember important ideas, they have a cause and effect feel. Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom – Proverbs 11:1 or If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble. – Proverbs 21:23

We will read these short sentences throughout much of the Book of Proverbs, except the first nine chapters which are in paragraph form. You will also notice that the proverbs don’t build to any particular thought. Sometimes you will see from one verse to the next different ideas, and other times you’ll see them relating loosely to the previous or post verse.

The idea behind Proverbs is to understand principles, vs a fact …God is love – 1 John 4:8. A principle is defined by Merriam Webster as, a moral rule or belief that helps you know what is right and wrong and that influences your actions, a law or fact of nature that explains how something works or why something happens.

The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. – Proverbs 18:23
Poor can mean financially poor, or people who are confused, seeking, etc. People in these circumstances are often more likely to humble themselves because they don’t see themselves as self-sufficient. The rich, in wealth, education, freedoms, etc. see themselves as self-sufficient. They don’t “need” from others. Therefore, see no need to humble themselves.

Proverbs are not to be taken as literal translations. For example, Proverbs 14:1, A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. This does not mean that a woman is going to literally use her bare hands to pull the shingles off the roof and pull apart the framing of a house.

We will begin reading through the Book of Proverbs, seeking to understand the principles God has given, to help us effectively navigate through life.

Knowledge or Wisdom? – PROVERBS – Introduction 2 – [2]

April 24, 2014January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7

Humans have something unique that no other creatures possess – the way our minds work. Humans have an ability to reason, to analyze, conceptualize, theorize, discuss and debate. Humans have a built-in desire to learn. This learning and understanding is fostered through schools, universities, and in the home/family. It is in these environments that people learn about themselves and the world around them.

In the paragraph above, we see human’s desire for knowledge.

But knowledge is different from wisdom. Knowledge is having the facts, where wisdom is the ability to apply the facts (knowledge) to our daily life. The word proverb comes from the Hebrew meaning, “to rule or govern”. Proverbs provide advice for directing and ordering our lives.

Solomon has left us with 3 books of wisdom, found in the Bible. Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, and Song of Songs.

In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon’s advice is given in the form of proverbs, hence the name. A proverb is a short, concise sentence that conveys moral truth (principles of right and wrong behavior).

Solomon has put together a collection of proverbs, giving the reader practical examples of how to live their lives according to godly wisdom. Their intention is to improve people’s relationship between each other and God.

As we look through the Book of Proverbs – Remember: Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. – James 1:22