I recently read Proverbs 8. Another chapter with a heavy focus on wisdom. Part of me wants to say, "Okay already! I get it...I need to be wise and seek out wisdom!" But do I get it? Am I wise? Do I make wise choices regularly?
I could have my wife put her thoughts here on those questions and I think I know what she would say (thus the reason she isn't posting). I could have my kids put their thoughts on here in response to those questions...and I could threaten them with grounding to get a good response from them.
But the fact of the matter is, I live most of my life lacking wisdom. To be completely honest...I am unwise. I make poor choices frequently and regularly.
So, I may react with an air of confidence to another chapter on wisdom...but reality is much more bleak for me. I need to be honest with myself. I need to crave wisdom with all my heart. I need to surround myself with wise people and friends.
I need to search out wisdom in God's Word often and daily. I need more wisdom in my life.
On a side note, the latter part of Proverbs 8:36 says that all who love death hate God. I was listening to a translated video excerpt of Osama Bin Laden where he was ranting against America. He said that we in America "love life therefore we will never understand the true muslim, for the true muslim loves death." Funny how relevant God's Word is!
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
My Bible Journey (Proverbs 4)
I have been a little behind on sharing what I am learning from the Word. Last week I was on vacation. Sorry about that. But here's where I've been.
I read Proverbs 4 recently. There is a common thread to all four chapters. The acquisition of wisdom and knowledge.
There really are two different perspectives in life. Human or Divine. Horizontal or Vertical.
You could definitely say that the Horizontal perspective is the more popular of the two. But the Vertical perspective is much more fruitful.
As a human we prefer to think, maintain our attitudes, and conduct our lives independently. Human opinions have more weight and influence with us than God's commands and principles. Horizontal solutions seem to give us greater security and pleasure.
When I am under the gun of some deadline, I prefer a tangible way out instead of God telling me to just trust Him to see it through. Rather than waiting on the Lord to solve my dilemma in His own time, I would rather step in and manipulate a fast, painless escape. But that reverses the Divine process.
If I am ever going to grow in my faith. If I am ever going to quit playing games with God then I need to begin to take on the Divine perspective. I need to "know wisdom" as it is described in the book of Proverbs.
My spiritual life is limited by it's narrow perspective. It is mostly one-dimensional with little vision and seemingly less and less passion. That's because I think if I can do it all on my own that somehow I am being spiritual.
But Proverbs is teaching me a broader, deeper, richer perspective. The little sayings in Proverbs have the power to change my whole outlook, if I am willing. I need to long for His viewpoint. I need to desire His wisdom.
I need to keep searching and pursuing knowledge and wisdom. I don't think it is an easy task. But I want a new perspective. I want a freshness to my faith. I want to look up instead of simply looking around.
"Help me Jesus to learn wisdom. True wisdom that only you give. Help me to crave it more than water or food. Help me gain your perspective. Help me to shed all trust in human wisdom. In Jesus' Name."
I read Proverbs 4 recently. There is a common thread to all four chapters. The acquisition of wisdom and knowledge.
There really are two different perspectives in life. Human or Divine. Horizontal or Vertical.
You could definitely say that the Horizontal perspective is the more popular of the two. But the Vertical perspective is much more fruitful.
As a human we prefer to think, maintain our attitudes, and conduct our lives independently. Human opinions have more weight and influence with us than God's commands and principles. Horizontal solutions seem to give us greater security and pleasure.
When I am under the gun of some deadline, I prefer a tangible way out instead of God telling me to just trust Him to see it through. Rather than waiting on the Lord to solve my dilemma in His own time, I would rather step in and manipulate a fast, painless escape. But that reverses the Divine process.
If I am ever going to grow in my faith. If I am ever going to quit playing games with God then I need to begin to take on the Divine perspective. I need to "know wisdom" as it is described in the book of Proverbs.
My spiritual life is limited by it's narrow perspective. It is mostly one-dimensional with little vision and seemingly less and less passion. That's because I think if I can do it all on my own that somehow I am being spiritual.
But Proverbs is teaching me a broader, deeper, richer perspective. The little sayings in Proverbs have the power to change my whole outlook, if I am willing. I need to long for His viewpoint. I need to desire His wisdom.
I need to keep searching and pursuing knowledge and wisdom. I don't think it is an easy task. But I want a new perspective. I want a freshness to my faith. I want to look up instead of simply looking around.
"Help me Jesus to learn wisdom. True wisdom that only you give. Help me to crave it more than water or food. Help me gain your perspective. Help me to shed all trust in human wisdom. In Jesus' Name."
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
My Bible Journey (Proverbs 3)
The passage for today is Proverbs 3. I love this chapter! You learn that gaining favor with God and man comes from being a person of love and faithfulness. You learn that real, lasting health comes from not thinking to highly of yourself and avoiding evil like the plague. You learn that the pathway to wealth is paved with honoring God with the wealth you have already received. You learn that wisdom, true wisdom, is a treasure more valuable than anything else on planet earth.
But most of all, we learn that trusting in Lord with all our heart is the key to life!
It also happens to be the most difficult key to bear. It can unlock so much for us, but there is something about this particular key that most of us struggle with.
I have a bunch of keys on my key ring. At times, I think I could also pass for a High School janitor. There are about four keys that I really know well on my key ring. My house key, my church key, and my two car keys. The rest of my keys I have to guess at.
I never have to guess when I am standing at the door of my house as to which one is my house key. But someone else may.
I remember one time we came home from the grocery store and it was pouring down rain. My son took my keys from my hand and thought he'd beat all of us to the door and open it so we could rush in with our groceries not getting too wet. It was a good plan except for one minor detail.
He didn't know which key opened the door. He stood there fumbling for the longest time. I eventually took the keys from him and opened the door myself. By this time we were drenched rats.
That's what this verse is like. God is telling us that if we trust in him with all our hearts, that is the key to life. It will open the right door for us. It will make our pathway straight.
But we fumble this one. We convince ourselves that some other key will open the door. So we try the achievement key or the "I can do this on my own" key. And they all fail miserably, leaving us out in the rain like drenched rats.
There is only one key to life. God shares with us very plainly which one it is. It is the key of trusting in him with all our hearts. Our job is to remember this key at all times...even when it is storming in our lives. That is the only key that will open the right door for us!
But most of all, we learn that trusting in Lord with all our heart is the key to life!
It also happens to be the most difficult key to bear. It can unlock so much for us, but there is something about this particular key that most of us struggle with.
I have a bunch of keys on my key ring. At times, I think I could also pass for a High School janitor. There are about four keys that I really know well on my key ring. My house key, my church key, and my two car keys. The rest of my keys I have to guess at.
I never have to guess when I am standing at the door of my house as to which one is my house key. But someone else may.
I remember one time we came home from the grocery store and it was pouring down rain. My son took my keys from my hand and thought he'd beat all of us to the door and open it so we could rush in with our groceries not getting too wet. It was a good plan except for one minor detail.
He didn't know which key opened the door. He stood there fumbling for the longest time. I eventually took the keys from him and opened the door myself. By this time we were drenched rats.
That's what this verse is like. God is telling us that if we trust in him with all our hearts, that is the key to life. It will open the right door for us. It will make our pathway straight.
But we fumble this one. We convince ourselves that some other key will open the door. So we try the achievement key or the "I can do this on my own" key. And they all fail miserably, leaving us out in the rain like drenched rats.
There is only one key to life. God shares with us very plainly which one it is. It is the key of trusting in him with all our hearts. Our job is to remember this key at all times...even when it is storming in our lives. That is the only key that will open the right door for us!
Monday, June 9, 2008
My Bible Journey (Proverbs 2)
Today I read Proverbs 2. You see again in this chapter paired thoughts and contrasting ideas.
Here are some of the pairings I notice:
wisdom and knowledge
call out and cry aloud
looking for and searching for
understand and find
The Lord guards and protects
wicked men with perverse words
crooked paths dark ways
Those aren't all of them, but a few that stand out.
The message I see is that wisdom and knowledge are something that God will give to me, but there is work involved on my part. I have to desperately seek after it. I have to diligently pursue it.
My main enemies are wicked men with perverse words and the adultress (lust)...according to this chapter. So guarding against the pull in my life has got to be priority #1.
I can honestly say that wisdom and knowledge are something I desire but haven't always diligently pursued. I have half-heartedly pursued them most of my life. I have hung out with wicked men and the adultress in times past. I have also had a lot of heartache as a result.
If I would get serious about my pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, not wanting anything else...I think it would change my life forever. Up till now I have only wanted enough knowledge or wisdom to get me past a current obstacle in my life. But if I really desire for things to be different in my life that has to change.
I need to get serious about my pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. I need to be like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark...when he was pursuing the Ark, trying to get it back from the Nazi's. He did whatever he could...he was willing to risk it all...even his life, to get it. That needs to be the way wisdom and knowledge get pursued.
"Lord, help me in my pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. Help me earnestly seek after them. Help me to not be so easily distracted from it. Thank you Father. In Jesus' Name."
Here are some of the pairings I notice:
wisdom and knowledge
call out and cry aloud
looking for and searching for
understand and find
The Lord guards and protects
wicked men with perverse words
crooked paths dark ways
Those aren't all of them, but a few that stand out.
The message I see is that wisdom and knowledge are something that God will give to me, but there is work involved on my part. I have to desperately seek after it. I have to diligently pursue it.
My main enemies are wicked men with perverse words and the adultress (lust)...according to this chapter. So guarding against the pull in my life has got to be priority #1.
I can honestly say that wisdom and knowledge are something I desire but haven't always diligently pursued. I have half-heartedly pursued them most of my life. I have hung out with wicked men and the adultress in times past. I have also had a lot of heartache as a result.
If I would get serious about my pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, not wanting anything else...I think it would change my life forever. Up till now I have only wanted enough knowledge or wisdom to get me past a current obstacle in my life. But if I really desire for things to be different in my life that has to change.
I need to get serious about my pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. I need to be like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark...when he was pursuing the Ark, trying to get it back from the Nazi's. He did whatever he could...he was willing to risk it all...even his life, to get it. That needs to be the way wisdom and knowledge get pursued.
"Lord, help me in my pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. Help me earnestly seek after them. Help me to not be so easily distracted from it. Thank you Father. In Jesus' Name."
Monday, June 2, 2008
My Bible Journey
I read Proverbs Chapter 1 today. It seems that you can see two opposing thoughts presented. Those who listen to wisdom and those who don't. Those who can hear wisdom and those who can hear fools.
I desire to listen to wisdom. I do not want to be labeled "simple" or a "fool". Although there have been too many times in my life where I have been both. A simple fool.
I want and desire to know the path that I am supposed to walk. It isn't an easy path to discern. It isn't clearly marked and it is a winding path.
But the path of the simple fool is so open and clearly marked. There are no obstacles in this path. I could easily drive down it.
But wisdom's path is treacherous at times. There are all kinds of obstacles and there is no easy way to travel this path. It is just hard work.
That's the way it is for the wise. It doesn't come easy. The wise person usually bears the marks of the path of wisdom. Thorns and vines that have cut. Sore feet. Aching limbs.
That is the path I choose to walk. Wisdom's hard path.
We have a book we have bought for our sons...Do Hard Things. That's the lesson we are trying to ingrain in them. That is what I need to model for them. I need to let them see me in action...doing hard things. Things that aren't comfortable. Things that are wise and not foolish.
They need to see us making wise choices with our money, with our time, with our speech and morals. They need to clearly see wisdom's mark in our life.
I desire to listen to wisdom. I do not want to be labeled "simple" or a "fool". Although there have been too many times in my life where I have been both. A simple fool.
I want and desire to know the path that I am supposed to walk. It isn't an easy path to discern. It isn't clearly marked and it is a winding path.
But the path of the simple fool is so open and clearly marked. There are no obstacles in this path. I could easily drive down it.
But wisdom's path is treacherous at times. There are all kinds of obstacles and there is no easy way to travel this path. It is just hard work.
That's the way it is for the wise. It doesn't come easy. The wise person usually bears the marks of the path of wisdom. Thorns and vines that have cut. Sore feet. Aching limbs.
That is the path I choose to walk. Wisdom's hard path.
We have a book we have bought for our sons...Do Hard Things. That's the lesson we are trying to ingrain in them. That is what I need to model for them. I need to let them see me in action...doing hard things. Things that aren't comfortable. Things that are wise and not foolish.
They need to see us making wise choices with our money, with our time, with our speech and morals. They need to clearly see wisdom's mark in our life.
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