Wisdom AND... Proverbs 1:1-7

I think many who follow the Lord are familiar with the following verse:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."  
Proverbs 1:7

It's what is connected to it that I haven't seen so clearly until tonight.

"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

"...for attaining wisdom and discipline." v. 2

"...for attaining a disciplined and prudent life" v. 3

and a repeat of the above

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline." v. 7


AND discipline.

I've always read this so focused on the acquiring of wisdom and knowledge, that I've overlooked this simple but important connection with wisdom.   And how does this apply?

In contemporary culture "wisdom" is often pictured as an old, quiet sage giving sound advice in time of need.  While that is good and is a facet of wisdom, the wisdom according to Proverbs (and Solomon) is different.  Wisdom is about DOING the right thing.  Understanding God's ways and acting upon them.  Most of Proverbs is about these choices.

That's how discipline fits in.  Wisdom in the context of doing what is right is

- satisfied with the wife/husband of your youth
- keeping a distance from mockers
- speaking life with your tongue
- honoring God with our money

And so much more.  And these things take discipline.  How easy it is for eyes to wonder or fantasies to grow in the recesses of our minds?  And mockers?  We join them by the TV shows we watch.  Our tongue?  Don't even go there.  And money?  We all think we are doing right and 95% of us think that we aren't "wealthy."  But how do we handle what we have?  These take discipline.  And understanding the ways of God.

Wisdom and discipline are like salt and pepper, apples and oranges, baseball and apple pie.  They just go together.  Because they need each other.

Seeking

Concern about finances has been a struggle for me since my dad first left my mom as a kid.  I worried often for my mother who was working three jobs and how we were going to make it.  Whenever we went to a restaurant I would find the cheapest thing on the menu and order it.  It was not until my late 20's that I was able to purchase the non-cheapest menu item.

Fast forward some years later.  Being in international ministry has meant living a life of trusting the Lord and in income level that is beyond comprehension to any ordinary person.  A meeting with the financial advisor this week was laughable.  I just ended up praying for her instead.

But it is also a concern for me and I wish it weren't.  Lately that concern has reared its ugly head yet again.  A lot of present and future unknowns and I find myself grinding to find ways for income.  I've looked into so many things I've thought of writing a blog just on what hasn't worked well.  Have I made an income?  Nope.  Yet there's burden inside that keeps pushing and driving forward.  But it has significantly reduced my time with the Lord.  Signficantly.

This morning I open my Bible and read this:

"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."

Prov 8:10-11

'Nuff said.

Deeper Translates to Higher

It has often been said that to go high one most go deep.  You can't build a sky-scraper in shallow soil.  But to do so beckons patience.  I can't say I'm naturally patient.  If anything the Lord teaches me that while I don't have patience, I can grow it.  It's painful.

Currently I'm writing a book about Paul and the Galatian churches.  My typical way of doing things is to obsess about it until I get it done.  Let's get the book written in a week or two.  Perhaps it's because I fear if I delay it, I won't get it done.  Maybe it's just because I'm an idea and action person.  Or it could be because I want it out there Right Now!  I don't know.

And then I read three things that cause me to pause.

First was Jim Cymbala's book Fresh Power.  He was meditating on the Scripture in 1 Cor 2:4-5:

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

Jim says this:

"Think of these words today when so many speakers and churches want to produce "wise and persuasive words," cleverness and human charisma, a beautiful church plant and great programs for the family--everything but the "demonstration of the Spirit's power" that the apostle Paul exalted to the glory of God."

The  Scripture provokes a question to me.  How much am I seeking the Lord's power in what I do?  A 5-10 minute prayer time?   I think of great preachers such as Billy Graham.  I've heard better preachers but the anointing on him is powerful.  And I know great books that have changed history that have not always been the most powerful writing such as "In His Steps," but they have been anointed by the Spirit.  Are we cultivating God's power to bring the transformation as we study and pray?  Am I more excited to get a book out than to slow down and seek the anointing and direction of the Lord as I write?

The second cause to pause was studying Paul's timeline of his life this morning, when he came to the Lord he immediately prayed and fast, blindly, for 3 days.   Then shortly thereafter headed to Arabia for 3 whole years, consulting no one but receiving the gospel from the Lord.  After that season his ministry exploded.  Why 3 years?  He had studied the Scriptures fastidiously.  Why not just jump into preaching?  Take a few months, maybe a year but 3 years?  Because Paul did not blast out of the starting gates, his ministry was actually richer, deeper, wider and more powerful.

Then then there was my third cause to pause.  A Scripture I have thought of often in Proverbs.

"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control."  Prov 25:28

Here I read "Self-Discipline."  When I'm not exercising patience, I'm like a city with broken walls.  And if you've ever been to Israel, broken walls were utterly dangerous.  One could not exist long-term without walls, which is why in Ezra and Nehemiah there was such emphasis on the rebuilding of the walls.

Patience and prayer.  Perhaps with this the books I write will be of much richer quality and more anointed through prayer and God's Spirit.  It's not something natural, but it's something I want to grow.

The Believer's Fire

What is the real test of the believer?  Is it hardship?  Difficulties?  Persecutions?  If we survive these coming out better and not better?  No.  There's another test for the believer that is often much more difficult. More slippery.  And has many deceptions.

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives."

Does a man try to deflect it in false self-humility?  Does he receive it and become bloated up?  Or does he receive in genuine humility, giving honor and thanks to God? 

Yada, Yada, Yada--Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and He will direct your paths."

A dark night of the soul brought this Scripture back to my heart.  Trying to negate those whispers of darkness that God's care is for eternity and not for the temporary.

It was then that I was offended.  I turned on my Bible and went to read this Scripture.  I have really, really enjoyed the Holman Christian Standard translation.  But when I read this Scripture, it read

"think about Him in all your ways."

Somehow this felt like an interpretation from the English, and not a translation from the Hebrew.  So I looked it up because maybe I was wrong.  But there it was.  That word translated in NIV as "acknowledge" and HCSB as "think."    The Hebrew is

"Yada"

Yada means 'to know.' 

 "Adam knew [yada] his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain... Cain knew [yada] his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch... Adam knew [yada] his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth... " (Genesis 4:1, 17, 25)

"He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know [yada] me?” says the Lord." (Jeremiah 22:15-16)

To know someone was to be connected to who they were in such a way that life was the result.   For Adam and Eve that knowing produced a baby.  For those who know the Lord that knowing produces justice and mercy.  It's so much deeper than "think."  So let's put it in the text in a literal way:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways know him and He will direct your paths."

When my knowing of Him is not just a head knowledge but one that has been tied into an walking and communing of the soul.   It's this walking and talking that without even realizing, leads me down paths that are good, straight and pleasing.  Because it is Him who is leading the walk as we talk.  And this is the rest of the soul.

When Lovers Meet--Proverbs 2-3

Wisdom is not silent nor does she hide herself. On the contrary, she stands on the street and "calls aloud" searching for the one who will listen to her. "She raises her voice in the public squares. At the head of the noisy streets she cries out." The streets clamor with activity but she does her best to make herself visible and heard above the cacophony of life. Because she knows...

She knows that out there somewhere is the one who is seeking her. And even though she has said hard things, she knows responsiveness will meet glory. She, wisdom, will share all. She, whose secrets unlock the depths, will 'pour out her heart and make her thoughts known to the one who responds.' The very gift of intimacy.

To find wisdom?


"If you 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."

It's the great romance. The seeking, the pursuing, the discovering, the finding. And those who search diligently will find her. For she is not hidden. She stands at the head of the noisy streets and calls aloud.

And when she is found the meeting will be glorious. "She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed."

Life. It is the fruit of intimacy. And her treasures know no end. The life that follows will be full, blessed, peaceful, abundant.

And our part? Only that we continue to pursue.

The Good Life--Prov 3

If I were to tell you that you could prolong your life and be prosperous in it, that you could have favor before God and man, that your paths could be straight,that you could have a good measure of health and that your personal resources could be abundant, you just might think you were listening to a cheap infomercial. Too good to be true. But there it is right there in Prov 3 and when you look at them slowly, they really are promises that are that good.

Look at v. 1-2:

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity."

How many folks to you know and have seen that at 40 years old look like they're 60 and almost 'used up' for lack of a better word. Persons in whom the years have not been kind. Often this is because of a choices--not living wisely. If you treat God, yourself and/or your fellow man cheaply, the price will begin to be apparent by your demeanor, your relationships and the way you look. It isn't pretty. In fact in some folks it's quite shocking. Foolishness steals the vibrancy of life. But for those who live upright and good lives, they often finish beautifully and full of life even as their body is wasting away. I saw this in a significantly crippled and elderly woman the other day. She was joyful and full of light--ministering to me through her spirit without words. Beautiful. Ok, so how about the next verse:

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you..then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

What most of us want is someone to love us and be faithful--loving and faithful friends, loving and faithful family members,loving and faithful neighbors etc... Who wants to be around someone who is selfish and dishonors you? No one. Love and faithfulness bring an abundance to our lives that is beyond our understanding.

"Trust in the Lord...and he will make your paths straight."

Have you ever seen someone who lives in rebellion to the Lord and despises his ways walk in a straight path? Often these are the people who live life looking over their shoulder, wondering if someone will catch them in their ways.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

What we don't realize is that the spiritual, emotional and physical are that while separate they overlap. And in overlapping, they catch each other's diseases. If you are emotionally filled up and overflowing, it affects your health. And if you are depressed, it affects you physiologically. Proverbs often speaks about the life you choose to live and the effects it has on your health. Our Western Greek mindset often doesn't quite get this important fact.

"Honor the lord with your wealth...then your barns will be filled to overflowing."

This isn't as obvious at first. But it is a promise of God. We give him our first-fruits (not our leftovers) and he will provide. It is sometimes monetarily and sometimes in other ways, but there is always enough in his provision. And look at the countries of the world where Christianity has taken root. Look there and you will find some of the wealthiest countries on earth where wealth is spread to the people. The blessing of abundance is found in righteousness.

Truths like these are proven to true. We have centuries of history to prove that to us. But will our generation believe?

Solomon's Finish--Proverbs 1

I just finished watching Expedition Impossible tonight and it's actually been a reality show worth watching--please discard all others. Teams of 3 race through extreme expedition challenges far worse than survivor, Amazing Race, etc... It's ridiculously tough! One team of 3 is particularly inspiring (of course it has a local guy). But the 3 on the team consist of a blind man, a man who broke his foot that can't walk and a third guy who is leading the blind man. The last couple of weeks the team slowed to a crawl because of Ike's broken foot, but somehow they determined to finish and by other teams' mistakes, they are still in the race. But what they are teaching is to finish well. You might not finish first, but finish well.

How I wish Solomon would have learned that lesson. Of all his proverbs, one thing that was not included is something about finishing well. But then again, he only needed to have read the proverbs about fearing the Lord to have finished well. Neglect set in.

Solomon had a penchant for women, especially the kind God told him not to marry. Solomon, in all his wisdom, rebelled against God's command, took foreign wives and worshiped foreign gods, and in his latter years they lead him astray. For this, the kingdom would be violently torn in two. He did not finish well.

I was thinking about this today. Here David, his father had a crack in his character getting Bathsheba pregnant. David repented and lived his repentance but the crack in his father's character would become a flood for Solomon--300 wives and 700 concubines. Now Solomon has an additional crack in character by worshiping idols at the end of his life. But his son, to whom he wrote endless proverbs, would not only worship idols, but he would lead the nation in doing so. Sick.

On a side note, a huge majority of the kingdom was given to Jeroboam and God told him that if he only obeyed the commands of the Lord, he would make him as great as David. AS GREAT AS DAVID!!! He wasn't even family! He was just an employee for Solomon. And yet Jeroboam rebelled.

So where am I going with this? I don't know. I really don't. Here are my reflections:

1) What might be a crack of letting sin in for us may very will be the crack that leads to the dam breaking for the next generation.

2) God is searching the earth for someone who will obey his commands. Jeroboam had potential to be a household name even to this day as is King David. God offers so much and he only asks for our obedience. Will we give it to him? All of our days?

3) It's important to finish and to finish well. What happened Solomon? You were the wisest man in history. You wrote proverbs! If you would have only have held on to the first chapter it would have gone well for you. Fear God, keep his commands for this is the whole of man.

4) Our lives need to be a growing crescendo of faith. In Psalm 92 it says our latter years will be fresh and green. This is the heritage of faith! God, help me finish well! Jude 24

The Abolition of Discouragement--Is 42

To think that Jesus did not get discouraged is something quite difficult to comprehend.  If there was anyone who had a right and the right circumstances to be discouraged, it was Jesus.  He was the target of their spit, the recipient of hurtful words, and a homeless wanderer with no place to call his own. When he preached hard truths the crowds left him in throngs, only a few remained. His family found him plain embarrassing.   If that were not enough, in the hour of his greatest need his closest friends would betray his heart—sleeping in one of his most painful hours, denying him three times when he was in most need of friendship and betraying him for money when he was about to give his entire life.  

His journey on earth can be summed up in the words of John—“though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (Jn 1:10).   Can there be more hurt than this?  Yet Jesus did not give way to discouragement.  We know this as the prophet Isaiah says that the Messiah would not “falter or be discouraged” (Is 42:1-4; KJV or NIV).

How can this be?  How can someone suffer so much heartache, so much pain physically, emotionally and spiritually and so much rejection yet not become discouraged?  Jesus could only keep from discouragement because he never lost sight of the eternal perspective.  “For the joy set before him he endured the cross” says the writer of Hebrews (Heb 12:2).  He knew that the best was yet to come—that there was more to this life than the present circumstances.  And for those who are the people of God this same hope and joy set before Jesus is the same joy and hope set before us as well.  For this reason we too can find encouragement in the most dire of circumstances.  This life isn't all there is.  Suffering, heartache and death do not have the last word--Jesus does.  And the joy he was able to see ahead was so extraordinary that the cross was worth enduring.   This kind of hope fills the soul with a buoyancy that nothing in this life can sink.  And that is very good news.