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Why Should I Seek Wisdom? Proverbs 2

When children reach the teenage years there is a delicate balance that must be achieved between parents and teens. How much control and how much freedom should a parent exercise? Parents have to decide how much control they will have over their child and how much freedom and decision making the youth will be able to exercise.

We see in this passage that a young man is being instructed by his father and he tells him that he will encounter two major temptations; peer pressure and sexual seduction. Instead of clamping down freedom and ratcheting up control – the father tries to teach his son how to make wise decisions himself, and he instructs him on the benefits of making wise decisions. He tells him the truth about life (these are the dangers), and he gives his son the necessary tools to handle it when it comes.

Also, the father begins with the importance of knowing God. Many parents tell their children “don’t do this,” or “don’t do that” and they may even show in the Bible how these things are destructive, but they do not give an alternative to the desire to be popular, or have a girlfriend, or be in a bad relationship. The alternative is knowing God and finding joy in that relationship and way of life. The alternative given to us in Proverbs 2 is the most valuable pursuit there is, the most important thing in life – to know and love God at a deeper level.  

So let’s take a look: 

How One Receives Wisdom (vv. 1-5)

2:1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

We see first in v. 1 there is an “if” and again in v. 4, “if” and in v. 5 we see “then” – these are if/then statements that say if you do this, then these things will happen.[1] If we take in our father’s commandments, then we will understand “the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Fear and knowledge therefore do not just happen, they have to be sought after and desired. They require effort and time.

The way that is described here is of a person seeking wisdom, by calling for it, digging for it, mining for it, so that it can be found or discovered – but all of these things require a person to diligently seek it out – it does not just pop into your mind and heart.

I love my children, but one of my children has a tendency to wander off away from groups – water parks, cub scout camp, church… and there have been several times when we realized that the child (who shall remain anonymous) there is a rush of panic and fear that rushes over you – and your whole focus is finding that child as quickly as you can. I know I treasure this child, because I seek after the child with all I have, my heart desires nothing else but to find this child.

I yell the child’s name “anonymous”, I look under stuff, I look in stuff, I really do want to find the child. This is how we are to seek God – we cry out to the Lord in prayer, we search His Word as though we really want to discover Him, and His commands for our lives – not in some kind of guilt trip, or so we can be self-righteous.

Mark 10:46-52 “And they came to Jericho. And as he [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.”

When we seek after wisdom with all that we have, it is not just wisdom that one is given, but God Himself! We get to know God better, we relate to Him at a deeper level.

How the Lord Protects Us With Wisdom (vv. 6-8)

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

In chapter Proverbs 1 wisdom calls out to us and here we see that we are to call out for wisdom. So, wisdom desires to be listened to, and the Lord is ready to give wisdom to any who seek it. He stores it up for when we seek Him; it can be found in great quantity. Wisdom is directly related to obedience where the believer chooses to obey and wisdom is then given from God and their paths are protected. The seeker of wisdom is described as upright, blameless, just, and faithful.

Wisdom in the life of a believer then becomes a shield that is given by God that protects the believer. When we are diligent and obedient, wisdom is given from God and our decision-making becomes one where wisdom is shown. So if we look at it from the opposite view, and reverse the teaching here – when we are disobedient, wisdom is not given in the life of a person, and then their decision making is one that lacks wisdom because it is not given by God, and the person’s path is not guarded, and they suffer harm.

One of the ways that God “watches over us” is to allow us to choose to follow Him, and then because we choose His ways, and obey His commands, then he gives us the ability to protect ourselves by our ability to make good and wise decisions.

It is like a father who teaches his child to wear a helmet when he rides his bike. Every time the child goes to ride his bike the father tells him, wear your helmet – then one day the son goes out, puts on his helmet and rides his bike without the father having to say anything – he then falls – how did the father protect his son? By giving him instruction and the son then listens and obeys, and the son is protected when he fell.

As our heavenly almighty father, He has the ability to make us walk in His ways, but He has decided to give us the freedom to choose. The Bible teaches us that those who become wise are those who seek the Lord, and obey His commands (holiness) – wisdom “skills in life” are given to them by God.

The best way to prepare our children for the world is to teach them to fall in love with God’s Word. To memorize it, to discuss it, read it, pray through it – and teach them to have a quiet time on their own. We lead by example – we love God and His Word, and they follow. We can have a quiet time with them, teaching of why we do this and how important it is, then have a quiet time at the same time but separately, and then them by themselves.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Wisdom Protects Us From Evil Men (vv. 9-15) 

“9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.”

The seeker of wisdom is described to us as being on a path. While on this path he begins to understand how God sees righteousness, justice, and equity – and understand the “good path.” He will discover that living this is “pleasant to the soul.” He enjoys living a godly life, it brings him joy. He doesn’t have to, he gets to. It’s not a duty, or obligation but a privilege.

Wisdom given from God to the believer, and a love for God and this way of life becomes a guard against men who desire to seduce him into “ways of darkness” We see that not only do these men have perverted speech, are unrighteous, walk in ways of darkness, but that they “rejoice in doing evil.” They love being perverted, walking a crooked life path, and being devious. The danger is not what these evil men will do to the young man, but how they will draw him in to doing what they are doing, even to the point of thinking that it is pleasurable and having fun in this activity. The danger is that he will become what they are.

We all have a sin nature, that when we expose ourselves to certain things, stirs up things within us. These evil men use that sin nature to entice the young man into perverse activity. But when the young man has wisdom – he realizes this and rejoices instead in His God, and God’s ways – thus giving him the ability to not go down the crooked path.

Wisdom gives the young man the skill of saying, “no” and realizing that he does not want to live a life that way. The young man has a desire to serve God, rather than allow his sinful desire to control him, and lure him into wickedness.

Wisdom Protects Us From Evil Women (vv. 16-19)

16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; 19 none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life
.

We see the young man, who is separated from his father, and as he is walking he comes across a woman. Wisdom will protect a young man from this “smooth” talking woman. Her smooth talk is for the purpose of getting the young man to commit adultery with her. She is not keeping the pledge that she gave to God (notice it’s not about her pledge to her husband).

Malachi 2:14 “But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

Another way to think of this is to engage in a relationship where the other person is willing to break a covenantal promise in order to get something she wants. The people that we choose to associate with will have a direct affect on us – wisdom tells us that being around this woman is dangerous.  

Proverbs 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Desire is a theme that runs through this chapter – desire for God, desire to fit in, desire for an adulterous woman, etc.. Desire, when kept in check, and when a young man is righteous, holy, upright etc…is guarded and protected from the consequences of immoral and evil behavior because he does not engage in the activity.

But here the lust for this woman leads to a “sinking down to death,” keeping the desire in check, not engaging in activity or going to a place where this desire is aroused, has to be guided by wisdom. If not, it leads to destruction. The enticement to be with the peer group leads one to become like they are, here the desire and lust for this woman leads to the destruction of one’s life.

Wisdom’s End Result (vv. 20-22)

20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

Here again we see the young man joined with a group – but they are a good and righteous group who are on a good path. And if the young man is able to be guided by wisdom, says “no” to danger, then he will “inhabit the land” and “remain” there. In the Old Testament land often times represents the presence of God, or a relationship with God. When we are obedient we are in a place where we can know God and remain in that place of knowing Him at a deeper level.

But the wicked are “cut off” from knowing God, learning things about Him, and are even at a point where they are “rooted out of it.” Wisdom then, when sought after with all that we have, with our whole heart, and if we remain obedient to God’s commands, we will have the honor and privilege of knowing God.

_________________ 

Imagine you get on a plane and travel to deepest and most remotest part of a land where the people there do not speak your language and use crude instruments and tools, and have no knowledge of any other land than the surrounding country side where they grew up. Now you take that person and fly them to New York, and drop them off from a taxi to Times Square, you close the door, say “good bye” and drive off. How do you think they will do? Will they be successful? Will they even be able to live?

This is what life is like when we don’t seek God with all of our heart. Life makes no sense, it’s maddening, it’s confusing, and it seems to keep changing. There is no sense of direction and we wander from place to place, day to day, not knowing, and not understanding. Everything is foreign and we don’t understand very much at all.

But after a while, we kind-of figure some stuff out. We discover that we can dig through dumpsters to get food, and we can find clothing in the streets sometimes. But what if we were from New York, and spoke the language, and knew how to hail a cab, or had money to pay for it, because we had a job in one of those high sky scrapers. We had a home, and every sign we read told us where to go, how much, or we understood that dangers that lay ahead. Wisdom is like looking at the world as though we were from another land, and putting on glasses that allowed us to see and understand the world correctly.

The road to wisdom begins with understanding who God is, and what He is like. He is holy; we are not. He is all-powerful; we are not. He is all-knowing; we are not. He is all-loving; we are not. We have been cut off from Him, because of our sin. But in His love, he has made a way, for it all to make sense through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.

______________

[1] Paul Koptan, The New Application Commentary (Grand Rapids:Michigan; Zondervan) 97.

Playboy is so Passé; Keeping Your Path Pure in a World of Lies

playboy-kE7F--621x414@LiveMintLast week Playboy magazine announced that it would no longer publish nude pictures of its’ models. Video killed the radio star, and the internet killed the “angel in the centerfold.” With an internet browser search one could pull up literally millions of pornographic websites, with thousands being added daily. The magazine that led the way into this industry has now been surpassed by a deluge of images and video. Scott Flanders, Playboy’s chief executive said, “You’re now one click away from every sex act imaginable for free. And so it’s just passé at this juncture.”[1]

That which was “groundbreaking” is now old fashioned. In by-gone days pornography was limited to seedy book/video stores that required parking one’s car and entering an establishment. Now, porn is just a click away of a phone, tablet, or computer. No accountability, easy access, and complete anonymity. The access is getting faster, more precise, and with better wifi strength.

As a Christian father who is trying to rear faithful Christian children, that which was difficult in a previous generation, has now become extremely difficult. The “rebranding” of Playboy is a marker that, in order for them to continue to be viable in the porn industry, they have to either take the industry further (add even more content, or more profound evil) or change to set itself apart from the industry (an inventing of a new type of evil). They are working hard to see what kind of new evil they can create (which really isn’t new) and to see how they can get it into people’s hands.

But sin and sin taken to its’ extreme is nothing new. Even with all that we see with Planned Parenthood and videos of their depravity[2] – it is nothing compared to parents (God’s own people) throwing their children into a fire to a false god as an act of worship.[3] Sin and its’ continuing morphing and reshaping is always the same. It may change in form and how it operates, but at the root level it looks the same.

Every generation has to figure out how to navigate the evils of its’ day and to face the future with faith. In every generation there are those that rail against the evil of it’s day, and has a belief that it is growing worse. But the Bible has stood the test of time and as God’s Word tells us how to navigate these treacherous waters.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”

_____________________________

In the following passage from Psalm 119:9-16 we see that there are three components to consider when desiring to walk before the Lord in holiness.

Psalm 119:9-16

I.  To Treasure God’s Word

9     How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10  With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11  I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

 How a person keeps his way pure deals directly with the Word of God. It’s power and influence overcomes anything the world and its’ manifestations of generations has to offer. Now matter what orientation or design, and as new it may seem to us, God’s Word is sufficient to give you what you need to maintain purity before the Lord. The outward obedience before the Lord begins with an inward love and seeking after the Lord.[4] The Scriptures sanctifies the believer and enables him to resist the temptations of the world.

“sanctification” is a translation of the Greek word hagiasmos, meaning “holiness” or “a separation.” In the past, God granted us justification, a once-for-all, positional holiness in Christ. Now, God guides us to maturity, a practical, progressive holiness. In the future, God will give us glorification, a permanent, ultimate holiness. These three phases of sanctification separate the believer from the penalty of sin (justification), the power of sin (maturity), and the presence of sin (glorification).[5]

God’s Word is seen as a treasure that is sought after, guarded, and buried in the heart so that the person may not sin against God. When we begin to see God’s Word as being precious, it enables to see the world around us clearer and how the lies of this world are false. If we are to help the next generation, the best thing we can do it is point them to the priceless treasure of God’s Word.

II. To Understand God’s Word

12  Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.

Having established that the young man in order to keep his way pure must treasure the Word of God, he must now properly understand it. God must reveal its’ meaning to the heart of the reader. Again what begins as a treasure of the heart now overflows out of the mouth. What God changes on the inside becomes manifest on the outside.

A false sanctification begins on the outside, but does not touch the heart. This is religion rooted in external behavior and legalism. God teaches the heart that loves Him through His Word, and this overflows into action.

kid_reading_bibleIII. To Keep Your Focus on God’s Word

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Once again the Word of God is seen as a treasure and once found there is delight. But not just in found riches, it is all riches combined. To meditate is not the eastern philosophy of emptying the mind. Instead, the biblical definition of meditation is to fill the mind with God’s Word. The word meditate carries the idea of a cow chewing cud, chew, chew, swallow, and then chew again.

If we see it as having great value, and we fix our mind on it, and meditate on it, it then sanctifies us and it becomes apart of who we are – it changes us (and our outward behavior.) If you have wandered from God’s Word His grace will allow you to start again, refocus on His Word and watch how he changes your heart (once again).

So no matter how crude and vulgar the world may seem around us, we must keep our focus on the Word of God and allow it to guide our steps. Our steps are guarded because the Word of God is apart of who we are. Parents do not fear; just keep focusing your children on the Word of God. Teach them to love it, treasure it, and fear the God who wrote its’ words.

______________________

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/business/media/nudes-are-old-news-at-playboy.html?_r=0

[2] http://thefederalist.com/2015/09/29/a-quick-and-easy-guide-to-the-planned-parenthood-videos/

[3] 2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2-6.

[4] Holman Old Testament Commentary, Psalms 76-150, Max Anders Ed. (Nashville, Tennessee; Holman, 2006) 242.

[5] http://www.gotquestions.org/sanctification.html

Understanding the Value of the Gospel: Matthew 13:44

roadshowIf you have ever seen the PBS television show Antique Roadshow then you may have seen people bringing in various items they have inherited, purchased at a yard sale, or just had in their family for generations, to be evaluated and appraised. The hope of many is that the rusty fork, Snow Baby figurine, or oil painting that hung in Uncle Joe’s bedroom for eighty years is of some value (perhaps great value). In most cases they have no idea the value of what they carry, but they will stand in a line for hours to find out (and to perhaps be on television). They are suspicious that the item has some value, but no idea of how much, and there is lingering hope that their toy, glass vase, or ring will make them rich.

In Matthew 13 Jesus has been presenting a series of parables (ex. “a sower went out into a field,” the mustard seed and leaven) in which he is teaching on the kingdom of heaven. For our purpose, I would like to focus on Matthew 13:44, and how it relates to the discovery of a great treasure and what we should do with it.

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

What is the “kingdom of heaven?” We see this phrase repeated several times in the surrounding text. Jesus is using this phrase in the place of salvation, relationship with God, the gospel, etc. Specifically, it is how Jesus had come to be the way of salvation for mankind. This gospel (good news) that he offers is the only means of salvation and means to restore our broken relationship with God (John 14:6).

The man in the parable is doing something in a field that does not belong to him, and he finds/discovers a treasure. It seems to imply that he is digging, finds the treasure, and then covers it back up. But what is the treasure that he finds? It is something that brings joy because of what it provides, or how it changes one’s life. Whatever was lacking now has been fulfilled. The salvation that Jesus provides gives joy to those that receive it because of it’s great worth.

I. There is recognition of the value of the treasure.

How valuable is the “kingdom of God?” We see that the man sells all that he had in order to obtain the field (where the treasure was re-buried). We can not purchase our own salvation, but we must give up everything in order to be a follower of Jesus (Luke 9:23). It is not an exchange for what we give up has no eternal value. But what we obtain is of eternal value and is priceless. This is faith — giving up of what we hold in our hand to posses something promised in the future (Hebrews 11:1).

II. The treasure is discovered and a decision has to be made.

When the man discovers the treasure he instantly recognizes it value. There is no promise that the treasure will be there tomorrow. What if someone saw him discover it, or hide it? From the text we get a sense of urgency. When we encounter Jesus and His offer of salvation, do we go on with our lives as though it is not there or do we stop and do whatever it takes to obtain this great treasure? It has everything to do with how valuable you determine the treasure to be.

In the Antiques Roadshow program when a woman is told that her great aunt’s desk is worth $200,000 she will jump for joy in excitement. Just yesterday her kid’s were putting stickers on it, and jumping off of it onto the couch. Now all that changes – the desk is worth a lot of money (now). How she treats it changes drastically.   The truth is that it has always been very valuable – it’s just that now the woman understands its’ value. In the parable, the treasure was always in the field, the must just had to discover it.

UnknownIn Matthew, the man in the field understands the treasure’s value, and acts accordingly. Do you know how precious the gospel is to mankind? Whether we understand its’ value does not change it’s true value. The value only changes in our own minds. Isn’t it amazing that for many Christians we see the initial value of the gospel and cry our for salvation, only to become so familiar with grace that its’ value diminishes over time.

So once we discover it, and we understand it’s value, then what?

III. There are steps to take in order to obtain the treasure.

The man in the parable “goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.” One must give up all that he has. There is a purchase of the field but we see from other Scripture that we cannot purchase our salvation. Christ died on the cross in order to pay the sin debt that was owed. We must be willing to walk away from everything to follow Christ (Luke 9:23).

One is not “just saved” as the early Roman Church believed simply because you lived in a particular area, or their family went to a specific church. It is an individual decision everyone must make on their own. Salvation is offered as a gift that one receives or rejects (Romans 9:23). Like the treasure in the field, you have to do something with this treasure.

It is my prayer for you that if you are already a believer that you will ask the Lord to help you have an ever increasing view of salvation. And if you are standing their with the treasure in your hand, that you will do whatever it takes to make sure that it becomes your own (today).

Click here for further information on “what is the gospel?”

 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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