Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 8

Ephesians 1:17 [I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
There were several different things I could have blogged about.
Proverbs 8:33 is the verse I chose for today.

The political correctness of our society and educational system has made it where it is very common to ignore those who excell and insteads seems to celebrate mediocrity. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and make them feel bad.
Proverbs 8:33 says, "Listen to instruction and be wise; don't ignore it."
That kind of sums up a lot of what Solomon has been saying. You can seek wisdom and you will find it. The opposite would be to sit around and watch TV and not pay attention to your pastors, teachers, parents and others who want to help you find instruction and wisdom. It's each person's choice.

What will you choose?

Sometimes we don't choose instruction and wisdom because it takes some effort and we are basically lazy in our lives and education. Sometimes we don't listen to instruction because we would have to make a change in our lives and it's easier not to. Again, it's each person's choice.

What will you choose?

The verses around this verse say we will be happy and find life if we listen to wisdom. 
That looks like the best choice to me.

3 comments:

Phyllis Hobson said...

17 I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.

The entire chapter highlights that Wisdom calls for us, it's not hidden. We are (I am) the ones who bypass it, look the other way, and try to ignore it so we don't have to answer to it. If we look, if we do search out wisdom, we are promised that we will find it.

Andrew Smith said...

My favorite passage begins in vs. 34:

"Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

I think it is interesting that wisdom is something is something that can be obtained by seeking after it. I often tend to think that wisdom is something you just tend to have or you don't, or that you get it as you age through life experiences. So, the question that comes to me is... How do you seek wisdom? Elsewhere the bible says (that's what I say when I can't remember where it's at) "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all." In addition to asking God, I would assume prayer and meditation on God's word is how we seek wisdom. I think of my father who is the wisest person I know. He spends time in prayer and the word every day. I'm am trying to be more like that.

R Lyndel Littleton said...

Thanks Andrew. It's James 1:5-6. A great promise.