Wisdom or wealth?

Proverbs 8:10-11 “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare with her.” How concerned are we about our income, maintaining our lifestyle or being/ becoming successful in a career or business ?  Is our top priority in life having a close relationship with our Father and gaining wisdom which only He offers?  Each of us faces the answers to these questions.  Our contentedness, which each of us desires, depends on our answer.

The obvious

Proverbs 8:1 “Does not wisdom call out?  Does not understanding raise her voice? Much of humanity is unnecessarily confused.  God, our Almighty God, has had a Book written and has created a world where His truths are displayed and obvious.  One has the will or ability to either ignore His truths or grasp them and enjoy the life God has intended for all.  God’s absolute truths are in full view and are intended to make mankind both knowledgeable and wise.  How are you observing the obvious? Have a great weekend.

A loving introduction

Proverbs 7:1 “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.” God begins the thoughts which follow with the loving words—My son.  All His children He refer to as—My.  God uses a possessive pronoun —My— to establish the most loving relationship known.  Then He follows with instruction.  Some have called the word Bible an acronym for—-Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.  It does all of us well to love our study of this Instruction Manual.

Parent’s responsibility

Proverbs 6:26-27 “My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.” Some of you who read these devotional thoughts are parents while all of us are children. As parents we have a direct responsibility to our Heavenly Father to teach and live so our children thrive.  As children we have a direct responsibility to learn and respect our parents so we can live and thrive.   God again teaches a formula for success. 

To enable or to help?

Proverbs 6:10-11 “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest–and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” This is a difficult passage to apply.  It’s truth is absolute, but when do we enable and when do we help a person who truly needs help?  That determination is subjective and individual.  Every thoughtful, caring person who is concerned about his/her relationship with God (that is a huge statement) will apply this passage to themselves and come to a prayerful decision and that decision could change at different times in life.  You and I must have open hearts and wise minds to determine the answer to the question—-Are we enabling or are we lovingly helping.  

No surprise, but do you realize?

Proverbs 5:21 “For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths.” It is impossible to play hide and seek with God.  Why?  There is no place to hide.  This might be the most valuable thought you hear today!

Wisely listen

Proverbs 5:1 “My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight.” It is impossible to be wise and not study God’s Word.  Reading and working at comprehending are also two very different activities. Read to comprehend and study to become wise is necessary to—search the Scriptures for their life saving wisdom. Have a great weekend.

Your heart, your mouth–today-your eyes

Proverbs 4:25 “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” With your eyes you have the blessed ability to enjoy the freedom of moving wherever you like.  You and I are constantly choosing which direction to take.  Our eyes will lead us to safety or to harm–both physically and mentally.  Where will you and I allow our eyes to lead us?  Into addiction?  Into danger?  Into Scripture?  Into the arms of our Savior?  We have choices to make constantly with our eyes—-choose wisely.

Your mouth

Proverbs 4:24 “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” What comes out of your mouth is an obvious exposure of your heart.  We make noise with our mouth.  Does our noise serve our Savior or does it embarrass our Savior.  Are our 4 letter words great words of faith or just the opposite?  With every sentence you or I speak we not only tell others our thoughts, we are a flashing billboard of our own integrity.

Be very careful

Proverbs 4:25 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Your heart controls your being.  Your heart determines who you are.  Your heart directs your life.  Your heart is central to your thoughts, words and actions.  Your heart beat determines the essence of you.  With a caring heart your entire life is controlled, peaceful and will have a relationship with your Savior which is as good as good gets.   

Learn and live

Proverbs 4:13 “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” At what age does a person stop learning?  At what age does a person start learning?  A person starts learning as soon as life begins (even in the womb) and stops learning on this earth when life ends.  Loving parenting is very important from the moment of conception.  Many miss that loving nurturing and addiction is easily the result.  That is where you and I must tell the story of our Heavenly Father.

The value of wisdom

Proverbs 4: 5a,6a,7,8a “Get wisdom, get understanding…Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you… Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom…Esteem her, and she will exalt you, embrace her…” Wisdom from God makes you wonderfully different.  Your eyes are fixed on your real home eternally.  Your thoughts are always concerned with serving your Heavenly Father.  Wisdom is not natural to our human nature.  Man might be crafty and in an earthly way successful, but lack the vision of being eternally blessed.  Wisdom and understanding are essential parts of every Christian’s being. Pray for wisdom for it will bring you a confident yet humble success found nowhere else.