Are We Satisfied?

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God. If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes upon them? Ecclesiastes 5:1-11 NIV (read the entire chapter)

I'm going to leave this right here.

Better Wisdom Than Riches

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. 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. “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion." Proverbs 8:6-12 NIV

Whenever we think we are wise--about anything--we need only to go back to the book of Wisdom in Proverbs and read with renewed interest and zeal the words of the Wise One--through Solomon. Once again, I encourage all who read my blogs to read entire passages referenced for there is so much more revelation knowledge to be obtained.

The first thing we have to do is--listen--to what wisdom is saying. We cannot do that if we are not open to hearing from those who are wiser than we are. And the only way we can know we lack wisdom is through the humility of understanding, none of us--know everything. For The Believer in Jesus Christ--our wisdom should only come from above from the only Wise God--not people who think they know. How do we know when we are hearing from God? We find confirmation in His Word--already spoken through those who were willing to hear Him.

Additionally, we need discernment--ability to separate truth from lies, wisdom from foolishness, true believers from those simply using Christianity as a banner. How do we gain discernment to separate fact from fiction? We listen to Holy Spirit who will not tell us anything other than what God has already spoken and what He says, is readily available for confirmation in His Word.

Then we need to determine our priorities--establishing the importance of everything we encounter in our lives. If living according to God's Word is not a priority, we end up grasping for anything to hold onto as we free-fall through life's many challenges. Unfortunately, many grasp onto whatever sounds good rather than what is good. We are deceived through desires to obtain riches rather than wisdom and our pursuit of wealth makes us do foolish things because we have not wisdom. Seeking wisdom is better than seeking riches or wealth for with the wisdom, we discover avenues to wealth that will last a life time rather than for a moment.

When knowledge accompanies wisdom, we walk the path of righteousness, we understand foolishness and we avoid the pitfalls and snares the enemy has planned for us. We know when to speak and when to be quiet. We know how to measure the impact of our words by thinking before we speak. We know how to serve others rather than waiting for others to serve us. We know who belongs to God and can separate them from those who don't, simply because of the love that flows from those who know God. We operate with knowledge and prudence--remembering that God sees and knows all--and He is never deceived by any our attempts to fool others.

If we really take the time to think about all God has to say to us through His Word, we would begin to realize that pursuing riches and wealth--cannot begin to compare to the value of wisdom and knowledge.

Mockers and Fools vs Wisdom and Knowledge!

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1 NIV
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. Proverbs 14:3 NIV
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Proverbs 14:6 NIV
Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. Proverbs 14:7 NIV

Looking at The Word through Solomon's insights, there really is no competition between the foolish and the wise. Wisdom trumps foolishness every time.

Wise people build--their houses with solid foundations that will endure the test of time and storms. Any foundation that is week and has not been properly shored up, will buckle and eventually cave in causing destruction to the whole house. And whenever there is a problem with the foundation, steps should be taken to make sure it stabilizes before it crumbles and falls.

The building principle is true of every aspect of our lives--we build relationships on solid foundations. We build careers on solid foundations and we build up our faith in God, on the solid foundation of The Word.

Pride speaks without thinking--not considering its ways or how what is said will affect the hearer. Pride doesn't care and since pride doesn't care--they are often revealed as fools. While the wise are careful to research and think before speaking, mindful that words carry impact and impact affects those who hear their words.

The mocker--those who mock others for whatever reason--seeks wisdom in all the wrong places and from the wrong people and therefore never obtain what he/she is seeking. But those who have knowledge and wisdom, easily discern what the fools never understand.

Solomon reveals the valuable lessons he's learned throughout the Proverbs and carried over into Ecclesiastes--the wisdom he gained from God who gives liberally and from making mistakes in his disobedience. He learned that wisdom never leads anyone astray, but a fool--will also find himself lost, without direction, never knowing right from left or up from down--when to stay and when to quit--when to speak and when to be quiet.

With all that Solomon has to say about fools--and there is quite a bit--we, who read The Word with understanding, are without excuse in recognizing a fool when we see or hear one. And if we are wise, we know to stay away from fools for there is no knowledge or wisdom in them and all they do--is mock others--because they have no foundational substance in the make up of their character.

Now, we need to think--before making a decision about what we've read--and determine where we are in the greater scheme of things. Are we in the camp of the wise or the foolish?

Is Everything Meaningless?

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.  What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:2-9 NIV 

Unless a person understands the stage of life Solomon was in, one could think that Solomon was decreeing that life was not worth living. But that is far from the case and since his proclamation came before Christ arrived, we know that every moment of life is precious in His sight and when we accept His gift of salvation--everything has meaning.

Having received the gift of wisdom--beyond measure of any other mortal--Solomon lived according to God's Word until he connected with many women who did not know God and in fact worshiped other gods. Gradually, he began practicing some of the forbidden rituals (the danger of being unequally yoked in faith and beliefs) and by the time he realized he fallen far from where God desired him to be, he realized he had wasted the gift given to him. Wisdom without knowledge produces disasters. Knowledge without wisdom is just as catastrophic. This is why we're told, "Wisdom is the principle thing, and in all our getting, get understanding."

Giving a teenager a car when they don't know how to drive usually has negative consequences. They know what the car is, but they do not know the details of how the car functions and without instruction, the car may never move and doesn't benefit them. However, with instruction and knowledge of not just how the car functions, but also the laws pertaining to legally driving, and understanding consideration on the roads, the car benefits them.

We have been given a great gift--salvation--and until we know what it means and begin to practice the instructions in The Word--we may never benefit from the gift. If we never understand the benefit of salvation, life really is meaningless.

With the abundance of grace we've also been given, we learn from our mistakes and commit to doing better and as we continue in life, we'll see just how great our God is and how wonderful life can be--even when we miss the mark--as long as we get back on the path.

There are valuable lessons living provides for us, so let's live to the glory of God and learn how we please Him and be a blessing to others. Living for Him, gives life meaning that is sometimes difficult to understand and express, but so worthwhile.

How We Get Rest and Peace With Him!

“Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” I Kings 8:56-61 NIV

Solomon's prayer for the Children of Israel is just as relevant today as it was then. We need peace in the land so all can rest from the uncertainty that stems from all the hate and upheaval. "Oh that man would cease from strife over trivialities that mean nothing."

People are concerned about things that they have the power to conquer if they would just learn from the wisdom of those who have walked the earth before us. There is no savior in the person of any political candidate, modern-day hero, or any other such person. We have a Savior and His name is Jesus!

Did He not tell us to cast all our cares upon Him? Did He not tell us that He would give us rest? Did He not tell us we shall peace with Him? If we believe what He said, then why can't we just do what Solomon did?

Let's praise Him all day long, being thankful for all He has done, is doing and will do for those who love Him. If we have unrepented sin in our lives, let's repent, rejoice, and move on--to the victory promised to us in Him.

There's not much I can add to Solomon's prayer and so I wont' attempt to alter it. In fact, all I can say is, "Amen."

Thank You for rest and the peace in Jesus, Lord!

Love's Seal!

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy  unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned. Song of Solomon 8:6,7 NIV

No matter how many love songs are produced and poems written and stories told, there is none like the love demonstrated in the Song of Solomon--explanation of love.

How many of us can say we wear love like a seal over our hearts and arms?

How strong is our love for others?

Does love only burn in our hearts in lust or does it burn with desire to serve all?

When love is sealed within our spirits--no escape hatch--water cannot stop it, rivers cannot carry it away from the object of our affections.

And though we love as we are told,
There are many mysteries of love to unfold,
Showering all we meet and greet sincerely,
With no holds barred, sealing love completely.
This love we have received from others,
Freely we give to all sisters and brothers,
In Christ and out--loving unconditionally
Remembering His Love for us, sentimentally.
Love has shown us, with great sacrifice made,
Obedient to Love, With His Life He paid,
The price to seal us with Love, so we can love!

Remember that "love" is not just about two people who connect with chemical appeal, but it's about the love He gives us and how we respond to others whether they know Him or not, we are commanded to love (not lust after) all.

Today--a day that many set aside for special celebrations with the object of their affection, without remembering the ma--Valentine-- who dared to defy a law established by Claudius to not marry young men (since marriage interfered with ability to soldier) and married young couples in secret and lost his life for doing so. That's what real love--for mankind--does. Love sacrifices and seals its purpose within its actions.

Is your heart sealed with love? Show someone you don't even know, a little love today!

Why Listening Matters!

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:1-5, 10, 11 NIV

There is so much more to be said about this passage, but space limitations in order to engage others must be considered. I encourage all to read and re-read, and re-read Proverbs--at any time, at all times because wisdom for all situations resides within these pages.

However, if we choose not to be wise then our fate is determined by our actions and choices. A person would have to be a complete fool to misunderstand what Solomon is saying--void of any desire to succeed according to the knowledge of God.

Not that most of us have not been foolish at one time or another. Like the time we didn't listen to parents because we thought they were simply being mean--not understanding that their rules were established to protect us. Or the time we ignored the teachers who were trying to guide us in accessing information that would help us later in life. Or the true friends who tried to warn us about an affiliation with those who were headed in the wrong direction and like lint clinging to wool--we clung to our rebellion and landed in the pits of despair. And don't forget the preacher--who may not have been living right, but preached The Word--and because we could see through them by looking at their lives--we chose not to listen.

Throughout Proverbs Solomon pleads for us to listen, hear and obey God's Word. If we dare to listen and obey--we'll see the kind of success that God has designed for us and stay away from those who only want to see us fail.

We have to learn to tune-out the naysayers and doubters and the frustrated and rebellious. They are bitter because they would not listen to Wisdom when they heard it and don't want us to listen either. It's time we cleaned out our ears--both physically and spiritually--and listen (not just hear) to what The Lord has to say to us. Are we listening yet?

Throughout Proverbs we are warned about wickedness, rebellion, adulterous behavior and laziness and encouraged to reap the benefits of listening to Wisdom and accepting the knowledge of God, understanding how He wants us to live. Will we heed the warnings and reap all the Good or will we ignore Wisdom and sink to the depths of wicked? The choice is ours and we must make it now for tomorrow is not promised and we may never get another chance to re-do anything!

Blessed Quietness!

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiastes 9:17,18 NIV

We are told in other places in scripture that it is the fool or the foolish who think for their much speaking someone will be deceived into thinking they are wise. Actually, what we hear in the quietness is more precious than the noise of one who simply loves the hear the sound of their voice.

In the quiet, we can hear Holy Spirit speak and when He speaks to us, we know it is wisdom from on high. This does not mean that we cannot hear Him in the midst of a storm of foolishness, but within our spirits, we can obtain the quietness of His assurance and what a blessing that is!

Often in the midst of debating or disagreement with others, we have to allow our spirits to quiet down and hear what Holy Spirit is saying so we won't dishonor God with our actions or words. I am so glad He loves me enough to cause me to listen and hear and then obey.

For it is not enough to just hear--we hear noise all the time, some we recognize and others we may not. But if we listen--focusing on the voice who is speaking to us from within, we hear and once we hear, we should obey. The blessing that comes with obedience is priceless, but the consequence of ignoring Him, is paid with a price that many cannot pay.  There is an adage that many are familiar with in certain circles and it goes like this: "Don't let your mouth write a check your behind can't cash." In other words, we should exercise caution in speaking about things we cannot back up or handle if they fall apart.

Unfortunately, there are many people--Believers and non-believers--who tend to think that if they talk louder and are more abrasive than those to whom they are speaking, they are making an impression of their greatness. They are making an impression--but it's not of greatness, but foolishness. Any time a person feels the need to raise the decibel level of their voice above normal speaking tones in talking to either one person or a small group of people, they are making a fool of themselves. Getting loud and obnoxious is not a virtue, it is an attribute of insecurity and the more agitated they get, they louder they get and everyone can see them for who they really are.

There is another passage of scripture that says, "even a fool--when he is quiet--is esteemed wise." Abraham Lincoln put that same intent--more bluntly. "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." The blessing of quietness!

We have probably all known at least one person (maybe many) who has to be the center of attention--no matter what the discussion is--because they love the sound of their voice. And in their deluded minds, they feel they are wiser than any other and will not concede when they are wrong, but will continue to make a fool of themselves with their much talking. 

Jesus warns us about those when praying--who think because of their much talking--the long-winded prayers, they will be heard. Those who pray in this manner have never read--with understanding--that it is not how long we pray or how loud we pray that gets results, but it is --our faith to receive--what we ask for that moves God.

So a word to the wise and to the foolish--there is nothing in the noise but chaos and confusion, but in the quiet--there is a great blessing--the opportunity to hear Holy Spirit and obey.

Wisdom Continues To Speak!

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. Ecclesiastes 7:11,12 NIV

If any lacks wisdom, let them ask of God who gives it liberally and will not find fault with those who ask. (James 1:5 paraphrased). If God will give us wisdom when we ask for it, why don't we ask Him, instead of trying to impress others with wisdom, we don't have.

Wisdom thinks before acting.

Wisdom is calm and rational.

Wisdom seeks increase in understanding.

Wisdom pays no attention to rumors and will not encourage negative responses to anything.

Wisdom contemplates every matter before making a decision.

Wisdom rises above the fray of adversity in the hands of the foolish.

Wisdom obeys authority and as a result is an authority of all who seek her.

Wisdom speaks truth at all times, even when truth hurts.

Wisdom admires wisdom in others who know God, stays far from the foolish who think they know more than God.

Wisdom resolves problems and does not cause them.

If wisdom is an inheritance, then we must resolve to gain more wisdom and the only true wisdom comes from God. For if we leave an inheritance of wisdom in our children, they will the capability of making wise decisions, after gathering all the information they need in order to make the decision. If we leave wisdom as an inheritance for our children, they will be empowered to keep wisdom flowing from generation to generation.

But if we have not wisdom to exercise in all things, what are leaving as an inheritance for those we leave behind? Money, by itself is not the answer for we know fools and their money are soon parted--they spend it as fast as they get it. Money can be taken or lost and the Word tells us that "the love" of money--the desire to obtain it by any means--is the root of all evil.

But wisdom--once obtained--belongs to the one who has obtained it and it can never be taken or lost. For true wisdom is the ability to seek knowledge and understanding of what the knowledge is.

I am a consummate researcher. Anything I desire to know, I research and then I research more to gain a better understanding of what it is I have researched. This is a constant cycle for we--none of us--will ever know all there is to know. We just keep learning (as wisdom dictates) and I look forward to learning something new--every day.

If we scorn wisdom and getting understanding of knowledge, we defeat ourselves and the enemy wins. "Wisdom is the principle thing and with all of our getting, we must get understanding."

If we are willing to hear and obey, wisdom will continue to speak to our hearts.

Identifying A Fool!

We often discount what fools (the foolish) say and do because we recognize they are void of understanding. But do we know how to recognize a fool and save ourselves some time when we encounter them? There is much to be said about the attitude and behavior of a fool. We would be wise to know who it is we're dealing with--before we become like them.

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them. Proverbs 14:3 NKJV

Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. Proverbs 14:7 NIV

The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure. Proverbs 14:16 NIV

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. Proverbs 15:5 NIV

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. Proverbs 15:15 NIV

A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. Proverbs 17:10 NIV

It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. Proverbs 20:3 NIV

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Proverbs 26:4 NIV

It is not the person who speaks loud or long that is wise, but the one who offers hope, exercising wisdom in all they say.

Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. Proverbs 26:12 NIV

Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. Proverbs 29:20

What do we do when we know we're having an encounter with a fool?

Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. Proverbs 14:7 NKJV

What we do with knowledge determines how wise we are. Wise people always seek those who are wiser than they are for knowledge and instruction.

One who does not know how to lead others will get nowhere and those who follow leaders who don't know where they're going, will never reach a destination.

When We Fail, Who Do We Blame?

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction." (Proverbs 16:18, 20,21 NIV)

The Word provides us with much insight about wisdom and pride. Not only through the proverbs, but through James who says, "If any lack wisdom, ask of God who gives liberally and won't upbraid (find fault with) us for asking" (James 1:5 paraphrased) It would appear from this simple statement that James understood all that was said about wisdom through the insight given to Solomon and other sages.

Wisdom is referenced as a  female in several places, but the female reference is also used to warn against adultery and other folly.

A wise person receives correction and instruction from wise counsel. Only a fool rebels against correction and instruction.

But who is wiser than God? No, not one human being is wiser than God. God gave Solomon wisdom and Solomon shared what God had given him, but he never assumed he was wiser than God.

Proverbs 4:5-9 NIV
vs. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
vs. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
vs. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: "Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
vs. 8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
vs. 9 She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown."

When we ask God for wisdom--insight to solving problems and addressing issues, we must not only hear what He says, but know how to apply what He says. For instance, we can obtain information and not know what to do with it and if we don't know what to do with the information we have, what good is it?

If we establish guidelines and protocols to ensure order in all that we do, yet we do not follow the protocol and chaos erupts, what was the point of establishing the guidelines in the beginning?

Many motivational speakers, successful corporations--large and small--understand that without a sound plan and adherence to the plan--success is not possible.

Jesus tells us in another passage of scripture that,"a wise person considers the cost of building anything before they start to build."(Luke 14:28 paraphrased).

On the flip side of exercising wisdom is the conduct of a fool who allows his pride to rule. And there is much said about fools in Proverbs,

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7 NIV),
"The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly." (Proverbs 15:2 NIV)
"The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright." (Proverbs 15:7 NIV)
"A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel." (Proverbs 15:18 NIV)

What I'm taking from all that is said about wisdom, knowledge and fools, is that if we don't know God or know how to seek Him when making decisions, we set ourselves for failure because we allow our pride to keep us from seeking Him.

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22 NIV)

Herein is the heart of the matter. When we think that our plans can succeed without wise counsel or consideration of all involved in the planning, our plans are doomed to failure. Though they may appear to succeed for a moment; the final outcome tells the whole story.

The difference between success and failure of any entity or individual lies in the ability one has to set aside pride (the "I" mentality) and to seek wisdom from wise counsel. If we do not think we need to heed wise counsel and instruction, then our failure is our own and we must look within to determine how we change the course of events.

Are we wise enough to seek God today for every decision we make or will we allow our pride to cause us to fail? We are the only ones who can make that decision for God does not make anyone do anything.

I pray God's wisdom will overflow into your hearts today and pride will never be the reason for failure in any area of your lives.

Wisdom and Insight!

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!" (Proverbs 16:16 NIV)

We are witnessing the effects of greed in people who are only concerned with amassing riches. What they have forgotten is that none of the riches can be taken with us into eternity, it will all be left for others to fight over or enjoy or rot as time passes.

But wisdom--especially wisdom from on high--creates paths for us not only to get wealth, but distribute it in a manner that will benefit many. With the wisdom that God gives, we can have overflow, abundant wealth that cannot be measured by man's standards, but will be so much greater than most can imagine. How is that possible?

We know from paying attention to the lives of those who have won money in lotteries. Many spent money without exercising wisdom and even though they had millions, they were soon reduced to poverty. Some became arrogant and boastful and were killed by those who wanted what they had. Now, here's an amazing insight! People will kill for money and end up in jail, but few ever seek wisdom from anyone and certainly not God.

I'd rather have wisdom and insight for the rest of my life than the gold and silver for a moment. Exercising wisdom in all things will keep our needs met and we'll have more than enough to share with others. We don't need to be richer than King Tut--we need the wisdom that God gave Solomon so we will always have what we need.

During times of prayer, meditation, or quietness today--seek wisdom and insight in how to move forward and thank God for all He's doing and watch Him bring it all to pass. He loves us so much that He died for us and when remember His love, daily, we are able to love others in spite of themselves, because He loves us, in spite of us.

Wisdom Lord, give us wisdom above anything we could ever imagine, shield our minds from anything the enemy would whisper to us, and help us to stay focused on all You would have us to do.

Purpose of Proverbs!

"Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance" (Proverbs 1:5 NLT).

A "proverb" by definition is a popular saying (some say of unknown origin) that expresses a common place truth or useful thought (online dictionary). King Solomon is credited with most of the proverbs included in the Bible and we can say (those who Believe The Word) that Solomon was a very wise man. Of course, the wisdom he gained, he received from God and through experience. Experience--is a very wise teacher for those who are able to discern such.

When we look at this one--that supports listening to proverbs--we see that if "we think" we are wise, we can become ever wiser when we pay attention. For those who understand the importance of listening to those who learned by experience so they won't have to "repeat" the stumbling to learn, the proverbs are designed to guide us.

I've often said--of my mother who died at age 58--that I wish she had lived longer to prepare me for the challenges of aging. My grandmother died before she turned 68 and had no real insight to offer us since she had her own challenges to handle. At this point in my life, I plan to live until I'm 95 and I have no problem telling anyone who listens about the challenges I've faced so far. Listen and learn if you plan to live as long as God determines.

1) Don't squander your money when you're young. You'll live to regret it.

2) Don't think youthful, foolish behavior is acceptable past the age of 20. It is not. Learn from living if you want others to respect you as an adult.

3) Seek The Lord in all things by getting acquainted with His Word and developing a relationship with Him early in life. The earlier you hear Him speak, the sooner you benefit from His goodness.

4) Retirement should be uppermost in your mind when you start working. Don't take that job for granted and save as much as you can to provide for yourself as you age.

5) When you have parents who know God and have experienced His goodness--listen to them. It will save you a lot of headaches later in life.

6) Take care of your body--you only have one and you need all of your body parts to live a productive life--keep your lungs healthy, your heart pumping and your blood flowing--unrestrained by toxins and fat. Keep brain cells functioning with clarity and not fogged by smoking (anything), drugs and misuse of alcohol. You'll have healthier children.

7) Don't ignore the warnings of those who have gone before you--most of them know what they're talking about because of their own experience.

Of course, this is just a handful of things I've learned in my life, but when I have any questions and need direction, I seek God for the answers because life is too short to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. I'd like to think that I'm wise enough to listen and receive direction--from Wisdom.

Find Wisdom--Find Happiness!

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her." Proverbs 3:13-15 NKJV)

Many people are seeking a superficial happiness through--the things they amass--rather than in knowing that those things offer only a temporary appeasement, lasting only as long as they last or through people--who are so fickle they are always changing their minds. True happiness--that lasts--is in seeking and finding wisdom from God.

Wisdom, once obtained, can never be taken and God lets us know that when we gain understanding--knowing what to do with the wisdom He gives, we will discover that nothing compares to the wisdom He gives.

Solomon--the wisest man who ever lived--did not ask God for things--for riches, or gold, or silver, or lands--He asked God for wisdom and with the wisdom he obtained, he gained understanding in how to manage the riches that were given because he did not ask for them. God knows what we need!

Finding a job or a better paying job won't bring us true happiness, which is why people are always complaining about the jobs they have. No matter how much they make, it is never enough--there is always a plea for more.

Here's a plan--instead of asking or seeking God for more--tangible things--let's seek wisdom and knowledge in how to manage what we have and gain understanding from exercising wisdom so that we never have to ask for things.

I am convinced that some of us will never have all that God desires for us to have because we have not mastered being a good steward over that we already have. Help us, Lord! We want--to squander--which is why we don't have what we want. It is never too late to learn the lesson of sound financial management, planning, and saving. I'm a late bloomer--in understanding financial wisdom, but I'm willing to backtrack and learn to the extent that I can. Giving of our resources is a good thing, but saving is equally important. Even though my grandson is only 13 years-old, I'm teaching him now to save half of everything he gets from monetary gifts, chores, etc. It is never too early to learn and never too late--unless we are dead or have nothing to manage.

What we have to remember is that God can take a little--bless it--and multiply it beyond our expectations--when we exercise the wisdom, He freely gives. I'd rather have His wisdom poured out upon me than all the riches in the land because I can use the wisdom to obtain the riches!

When Wisdom Speaks, We Should Listen!

"Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” (Proverbs 1:20,33)

From verse 21-thru verse 32--we see the results of what happens when we will not listen to Wisdom. Solomon--who is considered the wisest man who ever lived, by God--chooses to reference Wisdom with the pronoun--she--indicating a female gender. Perhaps, it is because of the all the females he had in his life--700 wives and 300 concubines--that he has finally seen the light and the lessons he learns from his associations with these women (out of disobedience).

We all learn lessons when we disobey--any of the rules, policies, laws established.  When we ignore posted speed limits and get a ticket--we should learn to pay attention adhere to the speed limit. When we disregard policies established on jobs and get fire--we should pay attention at the next job. When we text while driving and cause accidents--if we're not killed--we should learn a lesson and if we are, those around us should learn a lesson and not attempt to text and drive. There are always consequences for our actions and we are the only ones who can determine what consequence we'll face--whether positive or negative--by what we do.

When are we going to heed Wisdom's sound advice? When are we going to pay attention to God's Word and His messengers--who speak loudly and boldly from public venues, on social mediums, and everywhere we find a forum? The consequence for not listening is found in the verses --not listed--but important. We can move into a place where our blatant disregard of God's Word and His messengers puts us in position to "not be heard when we cry unto The Lord" to save us from our calamities. We will seek Him and won't find Him. We will call out to Him in pain and anguish because of all the horrible things happening around us and He will not respond. Are we there yet?

We cannot continue to scorn God's Word or His messengers who try to remind us that we must obey Him rather than man; we must seek Him for wisdom and wise counsel, rather than man. We must determine within ourselves that we will do all He has required us do--in order for mankind to be saved. Are we ready yet?

When Wisdom speaks--those who speak God's Word and it aligns with His Word, we should listen so He will listen to us and respond to our cries--of repentance and save us, now!

Richly Blessed!

"The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22 NLT).

Contemplate, if you will, the difference between His blessing and the blessings that we often discuss.

In this proverb, the blessing of the Lord is singular, not plural, which can lead one to think there is only one blessing. The blessing--is God's love towards us--it--the love makes a person rich and He adds nothing to that which will make us sad. The blessings--plural--are those promises we receive from obedience to His Word. They are richly described in Deuteronomy 28:2-14.

What can anyone do when they know they are loved? Just about anything. Love (not lust) moves a person forward, seeking to please others and more specifically God. Love teaches instead of criticizes; love encourages instead of discourages. Love lets go of past hurts and makes room for present joy. Love energizes, not drains. Love motivates, not denigrates. How rich is a person who is loved? Being loved and knowing it is better than having all the riches of the land because many of those with the material wealth--do not understand or have love. This love--is the love that we receive from God and pour onto others--just because Love blesses!

If we are having problems in our lives and cannot seem to have peace in our spirits--maybe we should check our love levels and if the love is depleted, we can always go back to the never-ending fountain of Love for more.

Instead of chasing material riches, we should diligently pursue obtaining and sharing love.

Instead of being concerned with  what others think about us, we should earnestly consider what God thinks about us.

Instead of trying to become something that God never intended for us to be, we should seek His wisdom and guidance in all things and become what He wants us to be.

There is no poverty--or poverty-mindedness in those who have received the BLESSING of the Lord for they are rich beyond measure and seek to do always those things that please God.

For Long Life!

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee" (Proverbs 3:1,2).

There is a reason why we should keep God's commandments--long life, peace and prosperity (NIV).

Even though some will usually think of the "ten commandments" as given to Moses, Jesus summarized the ten into two. The first five address our relationship with God and authority and the other five address our relationships with each other. Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind; love our neighbors as ourselves (paraphrased).

What really brings this passage of scripture to life is remembering to "honor mother and father so our days will be long upon the earth" and looking at our society; we see what happens when parents/authority are not honored and respected--where there is no love, there is no respect.

Many people can enumerate the problems that plague our society with the attitudes of young people, but in our observations we are hesitant to place blame where it rightfully belongs--on the shoulders of parents who have not been responsible parents. Responsible parents teach children right from wrong and model that behavior in front of their children. If parents are not doing what they say, they are saying without power and certainly the children won't obey. This is not to say that all the ills of society are the responsibility of parents because some children--when they reach a certain age--ignore all their training and do what they want to do, "when they reach that certain age."

For any child (regardless of age) living under a roof with parents and their parents are their primary source of support, the rule of parents should reign (especially for Godly households). No child living with parents should ever be allowed to just do whatever they want whenever they want. When they do--we see the results of their lives on the news--"teenagers killed in the midst of a home invasion," "drug wars claim the lives of teens over territory dispute," "bodies of parents found in the home where teens lived and were angry at parents who wouldn't let them use their credit cards," and the list of insanity could go on and on.

The bottom line is this--when we love and respect authority and others--we are assured of long life, peace, and the opportunity to prosper while we live. Parents need to be parents, not friends and children need to respect and obey. Are we not children of the Most High? Then we should obey Our Father in all things and live long lives in peace and prosperity.

Seeking Hidden Treasure!

"indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:3-5 NIV).

More wisdom from Solomon!

If we sought insight and understanding with the same fervor and diligence that some seek silver and hidden treasures, we would understand what it means the fear of the Lord and find His knowledge.

Some seek means of obtaining wealth without regard to the means or how it affects others, but never seek knowledge of God.

Some seek hidden treasure beneath the seas, expending every resource they have and often the investment of others, never giving up, but the same people seldom seek God for direction.

Some seek immediate gratification and wealth in gambling--playing the lottery, in the casinos with such tenacity that it would be admirable if they sought God with the same tenacity.

There is a hidden treasure within each and every one of us that most miss because they overlook the map that God has prepared for us in His Word. We are His treasure, and when we seek Him, He gives us insight to things to come and brings back to our remembrance those things He has taught us and a world of wealth (not just money) is opened to us. We have a wealth of compassion and love, forgiveness and peace within, and an attitude of gratitude for all we have. We communicate with Him on a consistent basis because we know without Him, we are lost and we need Him to keep us on the path He has established for us.

The treasure we seek, when we seek Him for direction does not remain hidden for long because when we operate with His wisdom and knowledge, the results are available for all to see. We have been given gifts--both naturally and spiritually--that most have never discovered--their treasure. Seek Him now to reveal the gifts He has given and learn to use them to His glory! We are His treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7 and Exodus 19:5)!

If we are amazed with all that God has created considered the "natural wonders of the world" then operating in the gifts He has given, would truly be a source of amazement. We are His gifts to the world when we do what He has asked us to do so through us, the world might come to know Him and His love and peace would prevail in all the land.

The Lord Gives!

"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6 NIV).

No matter how smart or intelligent some people may think they are, without the wisdom the Lord gives, a person really has nothing. As Solomon points out in this verse of scripture, when the Lord gives wisdom--a person obtains knowledge and understanding.

If a person is given a Mercedes Benz--handed the keys to the car--but they do not know how to drive, what purpose does the gift serve? In order for the gift to benefit the receiver, the person receiving the gift must have understanding about what to do with it.

When students read--all of their assignments--and yet are unable to comprehend what they have read, what do they have? Most students can identify words, but are incapable of understanding what the words mean within various contexts used.

Having knowledge--of words in simple contexts--is what has hindered many from truly understanding what God's Word means--not just what it says, but what He means. Most of the problems have risen due to the fact that many attempt to attach a literal meaning to every word; not realizing that a great deal of what is say, is analogous, or at the very least--figuratively used.

For instance (not seeking argument, just introspection of words), many would argue that Cain was a firstborn child and that he and Able were the first children produced by man. What people have failed to understand is that "they were the first children after the fall," before the fall, Adam and Eve were obedient in "multiplying" as God had commanded. If people understood the context and had inference skills, they would know that when Cain left the presence of God after killing Abel and took a wife in another town, there would have to be people in another place for it to be called a "town." We would also know that there is no specific timeline involved with the events in the garden and one can only surmise that Adam and Eve were in the garden for many years before they were disobedient.

This is just one of many concepts in "Genesis" (the record of firsts or beginnings) that have misled a number of people and hindered their understanding of the bible. If when we read The Word, seek God for understanding, then He would provide it and we would have the wisdom of God operating in our lives. What He gives--His wisdom--cannot be measured with the head knowledge that some espouse, but has to be measured with the heart and the relationship one has with Him.

Father, in the name of Jesus, pour out Your wisdom upon all who are willing to receive so we might truly operate in the wisdom You give. Your wisdom--You give freely to all who ask--provides insight into all problems and lead to solutions which bring peace. Help us to walk in Your wisdom.

When Knowledge Is Hated!

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD" (Proverbs 1:28,29 NIV).

How many people look back at their lives and reflect upon what happened to them when they were in school--elementary, middle school, high school, or college?

During my five-year tenure in jail ministry, most of the inmates admitted they wish they had paid attention to their teachers. They finally realized that not having sufficient knowledge on an academic level hindered their progress in society as adults, but they also realized that not listening to authority could only end in disaster. A number of the inmates witnessed their friends being shot or killed during the commission of a crime. They attended far too many funerals of those they had grown up with during their early years. Since my assignment for the jail ministry was the psychiatric ward, many had difficulties sorting out reality and understanding rational thinking. When faced with the inevitability of their actions, they were finally able to conclude that most of their problems stemmed from  the "hating knowledge" that either teachers had tried to impart or from others in authority.

When children rebel against parents because they don't know think their parents know anything, discovery is soon made about the consequences of rebellion and it is usually not a pretty sight.

When those whom God loves choose to ignore Him and rebel against Him, the consequences  can be severe enough to sever a right relationship with Him, forever.

Hating knowledge and ignoring the wisdom of those in authority can only lead to paths of destruction, and some people never find the path back to right relationship.

The admonition Solomon gave to his son is still relevant today--if we continue to hate knowledge, wisdom will show us how God responds--when He's not responding to us, or hearing us. Even when we look for Him, we will not find Him. A severed relationship with God can only lead to disaster which is why we must revere The Word of God and honor Him in all that we do.

Parents and other adults in authority should heed The Word of God in all their teachings to their children. Children should pay attention to the voices of authority in their lives and learn from the wisdom exhibited from God. Everyone should embrace wisdom and knowledge as God's inherent love for us and His desire for us to succeed in life.

Remember, the reverential fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom and we should heed wisdom's call in all things, learning as we go, accepting the fact that all knowledge from God is good.