Christmas Break

A Daily Passage will return after the Christmas break.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

A Blessed Fountain

"Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe" (Proverbs 5:15-18).

The rewards for marital fidelity are wonderful. The rewards are as refreshing as pure spring water that is not polluted by adultery. The picture of infidelity we are given here is spilt water. Water that has spilt out on to the street is seen as lost and polluted. This is why discipline and restraint are so vital to the marriage relationship.

Cisterns, wells, springs, and streams all have boundaries. Those boundaries are what keep the water pure and readily accessible. Without restraint, the water is spilled out on to the streets and thus wasted. This is why the Lord calls on us to keep our sexual desires in check. There is absolutely nothing wrong with sexual desires. There is never a call for us to repress our sexual desires; we are simply called to control them.

River banks do a wonderful job of protecting neighborhoods from flood waters. Once those banks are breached, real damage is done. So it is with our sexuality. One of God's amazing gifts to His children is sex. His desire is for us to enjoy it in the safety of discipline and restraint. We are to be intoxicated by the joy of sex. To control our sexual desires inside the covenant of marriage leads to blessing. If not controlled, real damage is done. Within the protective river banks of marriage there is tremendous rejoicing when sexual freedom is exercised and enjoyed.

Never forget, you do not have to repress your sexual desires. You simply have to direct them. If you do, you will know the pleasure of God in the intimacy of your marriage. If you do not, you will only know the heartache of sexual floodwaters that have spilled over their protective banks.

It Will Cost You

"And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, 'How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation'" (Proverbs 5:7-14).

Because the cost of adultery is so high, Solomon urges his sons to listen and hold fast to what he tells them. He warns them that moral failure is costly. Hence, the boys are not to even go close to the adulteress' house. The temptation could be so great, even being near her could prove deadly.

The consequences of adultery are threefold, according to Solomon. To fall prey to adultery will first cost a person their honor. Sin takes a toll on a person by zapping their spiritual strength due to the guilt that is produced. Their is no honor in sin... and we know that.

To fall prey to sexual sin will also cost a person their emotional strength. This could mean that their emotional health is compromised because they lose their self-respect. There is nothing respectable about sin because it is an offense to God and it ruins human relationship.

To fall prey to adultery will cost a person their money. To have "your labors go to the house of a foreigner" means that you literally pay for your transgression. Whether it is paying money to keep the transgression secret, paying the adulteress so she sticks around, or paying child support once a baby is born, the monetary cost of sin can be very real.

The cost of sin can also be found in being remorseful at the end of your life for not listening to sound counsel in this area. The ruin and the disgrace in the eyes of others brings intense remorse. The bottom line is simple: it will cost you greatly if you fall prey to sexual sin.

Consider your steps today. Are you walking anywhere close to the house of ruin? Are you flirting with disaster. If so, take the counsel of Scripture and stay far away from the adulteress' house. You cannot afford the actual cost associated with the experience she offers.

Smoke And Mirrors

"My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it" (Proverbs 5:1-6).

Proverbs now takes up the subject of adultery. We are introduced to the "forbidden woman" who promises a good time with her smooth and sweet words. The end result of the son's involvement with such a woman, however, would be utter disaster. This is why the admonition to pay attention to wisdom's warning is repeated once again.

Illusionists sometimes use smoke and mirrors to make people think they can do amazing things like disappear and such. Our eyes tend to believe what they see and so we are amazed. Adulterous people are the same way, but instead of using smoke and mirrors, they use flattering words, seductive invitations, and empty promises. The flattery builds confidence, the seductive invitation builds anticipation of pleasure, and the promises build hope of fulfillment.

And so with confidence, anticipation of pleasure, and the promise of fulfillment, young men and women walk straight into the trap. The trap is one of death that has a bitter taste and a wounding cut. The bitter taste of wormwood and the wounds of the two-edged sword are all that adultery can and ever will deliver.

Never forget that things are not always as they appear. Consider this as you hear the seductive words of the "forbidden woman" because the dripping honey quickly turns to blood. And the blood is ours.

The Straight And Narrow

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left: turn your foot away from evil" (Proverbs 4:25-27).

Starting with the debacle of the Garden of Eden, we humans have always wanted what we can't have. Craig Barnes once said that he believed the Lord placed one forbidden tree in the garden simply to prove that we were never meant to have it all.

Yet we strive for just that.

The discipline of keeping our eyes on that which is good for us is imperative if we want to really enjoy life. It is important to ponder the path we walk in order to experience life to its richest potential. Wisdom tells us that avoiding all swerves to the right and left takes us to the ultimate destination. And so wisdom's call is to avoid crashing into ditches that ruin the journey.

We must keep in mind that sin is not only attractive to us, it is deadly. The admonition from God to walk the straight and narrow path is not punishment. It is provision. The day we learn that what we are looking for is not on the side of the road but rather over the horizon, is the day we truly start to live. Life is truly lived well when we live it on the path and not in the ditch.

And so we are told to keep our eyes on the horizon. We are told to not swerve off the road into the ditch. We are told to ponder the path set before us. This is God's provision for us, not His punishment. The straight and narrow road is a daring and dangerous road because it takes faith that what is over the horizon is much better than what is in the ditch.

Liar Liar

"Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you" (Proverbs 4:24).

I have sometimes wondered what would happen if our noses really did grow longer each time we told a lie. Not just big lies, even when we tell little white ones. What if we were caught every single time our speech was anything but straight forward?

I bet then we would more closely watch what comes out of our mouths.

Guarding our hearts has a huge impact on what comes out of our mouths. The difference between being honest and deceptive is the difference between a pure heart and a polluted one. Jesus once said, "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45).

The only way we would be able to put away crooked and devious speech would be to walk the righteous path on which only a righteous heart treads. The path our heart takes is the path our tongues will naturally take as well. This is why it is so important to guard our hearts.

If our goal is to honor God in all we say and do, we will fail miserably if we are people who are known as deceitful, tricky, scheming, wily, underhanded, cunning, sneaky, crafty, or sly when it comes to our words. In other words, we cannot honor God if we are liars. Even if our noses don't grow longer each time we lie, we will be found out. For that which is in our hearts always works its way to the surface.

Springs Of Life

"My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:20-23).

We again are told that wisdom's value is found in the health it produces. To pay attention with our "ears" and "eyes" is to focus on life giving truth. To take truth into our "hearts" is not just about mental and emotional capacity. It is about a person's values.

Inner values lead to external actions. The phrase, "springs of life," denotes one's actions. What comes out of a person's heart, by way of actions, indicates the quality of one's inner values. If there is garbage in a person's heart then only garbage will spring forth. If there is godliness in a person's heart then only godliness with spring forth. It's as simple as that.

How is the quality of that which flows from your heart? Does purity and refreshing life flow out of your heart? It is either that or garbage. Purity and refreshment is that which leads to healing. Again we are told that wisdom leads to life while foolishness leads to death.

The key to life, therefore, is found in paying close attention to the truth of God's Word. What we allow our ears and eyes to focus on matters because the object of our focus will make its way into our hearts. And from our hearts flow springs of life. Hopefully those springs (actions) are not polluted.

Protecting Shins and Toes

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:18-19).

I have hiked the mountains of Colorado both in the light of day and the dark of night. For obvious reasons, it is easier and safer in the light of day. Or maybe not so obvious? I only ask because so many of us choose to step foot on the path that is like "deep darkness" expecting not to stumble.

The truth is, we will always stumble along the path that is drenched in darkness. I have learned this lesson well. I have banged my shins and stubbed my toes on living room furniture too many times, as I have tried to make my way to the kitchen in the dead of night. And it always hurts!

To walk the path of the righteous is the complete opposite. It is like the bright light of a dawning morning that only gets brighter as the day progresses. This speaks to the joy that comes from knowing where you are going while seeing the obstacles that stand in the way.

Jesus has been introduced to us as true Light. His Word is the lamp unto our feet. His glory shines an illuminating light for us so that we can take life's journey while being fully aware of the pitfalls and potholes that lie in devilish wait.

Chose to walk in "the light" of wisdom today. Enjoy the bright light of dawn as you trek through the day. There is great joy in doing this knowing that our shins and toes will appreciate our effort.

Warning Signs

"Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence" (Proverbs 4:14-17).

It is so imperative that we not walk the path of the wicked that six critical commands are issued. The sense of urgency is obvious. Do not enter, walk, or go on that path! Do avoid, turn away from, and pass by the path of the wicked! To enter the way of the wicked, one would have to deliberately walk past six warning signs. They would have to climb over six barbed wire fences. To travel the path of those who hate God, someone would have to ignore six blaring sirens.

The warning sings, fences, and sirens are exposing the fact that those who do evil things are not just doing them, they are feasting on them. They are people who can't sleep because the hunger to do wrong gnaws at their soul. Their depraved guts crave violence. Their "bread and wine" are to do evil things. They can't sleep at night until they cause harm to someone.

How many warning signs have you ignored in your lifetime? How many sirens have gone unheeded? How many fences have you jumped in order to be in a place you don't belong? For me, there are too many to count. That is why my commitment is to walk a totally different path. I like to sleep at night and I have found that the best way to enjoy a good night's sleep is to live a life that honors God.

If you or I find ourselves on the path of the wicked, walking the way of the depraved; it is only because we have chosen to ignore the warning signs. It is because we have chosen to jump the fence. Let's be sure that when we feast, we feast on only the good things of God and not the "bread and wine" of the sleepless wicked.

A Run Without Stumbles

"Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life" (Proverbs 4:10-13).

These four verses describe the way of the wise while the next four verse describe the way of the wicked. (Tune in tomorrow for that important lesson.)

For today's lesson, we must focus on the joys of a "straight path." The jubilation experienced on the straight path wisdom provides is in stark contrast to the desolation found on the path of the wicked. A straight path is a path with little or no restriction. To walk or run an unrestricted path is to move along a much easier path. It is a path which leads to life.

Life is found on the path where our steps are not hampered. It is a path that is not narrowed or cramped. Life is found in the wide open spaces of God's perfect will. If we do just a little bit of reflection, we would probably admit that the path we used to walk, the crooked and devious path of sin, was fraught with problems and hardships. The trips and falls we experienced outside of God's will were truly painful. Right?

Does it not sound good to you to walk and run the path that leads to joy and life? Doesn't it sound amazing to be able to really enjoy the path that is not cramped and crooked? To walk a path with very little restriction? If it does, then you and I need to seriously consider wisdom's instruction. We are told to not let go of her. We are instructed to guard her. For she is our life. She keeps us from a hampered walk while providing us a run without stumbles.

Wisdom's Crown

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown" (Proverbs 4:7-9).

To prize wisdom is to win the prize of life. Consider the word picture used to explain the benefits of getting wisdom and insight. It is that of a runner winning the race. That winning runner is exalted above the others as he or she stands on the top tier. The runner is honored for the win and is given the prize in front of a cheering crowd of witnesses.

The winner of the race receives a graceful garland and beautiful crown. Wisdom's prize is pictured as grey hair. It is the person who not only lives life well, but lives life with a deep understanding of the big picture. This can only come with the passage of time.

The person who, over a long period of time, gets wisdom and understanding is the person who is rewarded for a life well lived because of their wisdom.

Find a follower of Christ with grey hair today and ask them to share the wisdom they have attained over the years. Ask them to pass on a gem or two. What did they learn along the way that would help you in your running of the race?

Life's race is not a sprint as much as it is a marathon. It can only be won if we keep running. It takes wisdom and insight to run a good long race. But remember that the prize is a graceful garland and beautiful crown... pictured as grey hair. Keep in mind that grey hair is wisdom's crown.

Generations

"When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, 'Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.'" (Proverbs 4:3-6).

There are four fathers involved in today's passage. Solomon is passing on to his son that which his father, David, had passed on to him. David, of course, passed on to Solomon what he received from his Heavenly Father. When Solomon was the only child of David and Bathsheba, before his three brothers came along, his tender heart was being formed by his parents' teaching. He was now working to form his young son's tender heart.

Deuteronomy 6:2 mentions "you and your son and your son's son" because generations matter. What we learn from our fathers has an impact on our children just as what our fathers learned from their fathers has an impact on us. We are either in a positive cycle of truth and wisdom or a negative cycle of lies and foolishness. If it is the latter, the cycle must be broken.

It could very well be that Solomon asked God for wisdom because of the consistent teaching he received from David. It seems David repeated the call for Solomon to seek wisdom, hold fast truth, keep commandments, get wisdom, and get insight. The call for a life marked by wisdom and truth was a call handed down through many generations of his family.

What message has been handed down to you? What were you told by your father? What was told to him? If the message is a call to "get" wisdom and insight so that you may live, you are very fortunate. If the message is a call to "get" life on your own terms and in your own way, you need to break that generational cycle... now! Before it is too late to really live.

Tune In

"Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching" (Proverbs 4:1-2).

The world is a noisy place. Music, traffic, conversations, billboards, commercials, lectures, questions, iPods, stereos, radios, televisions, cell phones, airplanes, and much more make the world a very noisy place. The voice of a father to his sons has lots of competition. Hence the call to listen.

My own experience in life tells me that I can "hear" what a person is telling me but that does not necessarily mean I am listening. Today's passage is a call to listen! The call is for each of us to pay attention to the precepts of authority.

While previous Proverbs have a father exhorting his son, today's passage exhorts a plurality of "sons." The father commands his sons to listen. He knows what other wise fathers have known throughout the years; you can't learn if you don't listen. It is imperative that we tune in to truth. Because the noisy world competes for our attention, we must tune our ears to the precepts of God's Word.

What does it take to tune in to truth? It takes a disciplined and attentive ear that has purposed to tune out the noisy world long enough to truly listen. It takes a willingness to not just "hear" what is said, but to listen to what is said. My 27 years of marriage have taught me to listen with my face, not just my ears. Tuning in to the Lord is an active discipline of "eye contact." It is a discipline of being with Him in prayer and study, in an intimate "face to face" encounter.

As the noisy world continues to get noisier, it is so important that followers of Christ purposefully break away from the noise in order to listen to the precepts of God. Acquiring the needed wisdom we need for everyday life will not happen unless we tune in to what the Lord is saying.

Reasons To Not Envy

"Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace" (Proverbs 3:31-35).

People sometimes envy the person who has a lot of money and whose pleasure in life seems endless. It is especially important not to envy the man who has attained these things through violence. Though God never condemns wealth attained in admirable ways, He never blesses the life of the crook. Here are four reasons why:

1. God is disgusted by the person who is devious. There is no fellowship between that person and the Lord. With no fellowship there can be no blessing. (3:32)

2. Instead of blessing the house of the wicked, the Lord curses it. This means He brings a judicious punishment on those who hate Him and His ways. In contrast to this, the Lord blesses those who love Him and follow him. (3:33)

3. Scorners of God will only receive God's scorn while those who are humble before God receive His grace. This means that the life one lives has a boomerang affect. What goes around comes around. We reap what we sow. If we lie down with dogs we get flees. (3:34)

4. Nothing but disgrace comes from the disgraceful life. Those who live wisely, however, are honored. (3:35)

If we find ourselves envious of the violent man, especially as we see the riches he acquires through his devious ways, let's be sure we consider the destination to which his path takes him. It is a path that leads to disgust, punishment, scorn, and disgrace. Who in their right mind could ever be envious of that? Have we not yet learned that the grass is not greener on the wicked man's side of the fence?

The Trust Factor

"Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm" (Proverbs 3:29-30).

There is a very important factor involved in all relationships. Whether we are in a relationship at home, work, or in our neighborhoods, the trust factor is essential.

The people in our lives must know they can trust us. They have to be able to confidently live their lives knowing that we are not planning evil against them while we smilingly call them friend. Jesus had a "friend" like that. His name was Judas. Judas planned evil against Jesus as well as contended with Him for no reason. Jesus had only done good things for Judas... He had done him no harm.

Building trust is one thing but keeping trust is another. Sustaining trust the only way a deep and strong friendship can grow deeper and stronger. While we are making plans today, let's be sure we plan good things for our friends and families. If there is to be contention in our day, let it be against the forces of evil that try to destroy and discourage our relationships built on trust.

Let's pay close attention to the trust factor as we avoid, at all cost, being anything like Judas!

Don't Hold Back

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it'– when you have it with you" Proverbs 3:27-28).

The contrast between the person who holds back good from those around him and the generosity of lady wisdom (3:16) is unmistakable. Just as lady wisdom is a two fisted giver of long life and riches, we are to be generous givers to friends and neighbors.

The right thing to do when people are in need, and we have the resources to help them, is to generously help. Wisdom leads us to healthy relationships with others. A healthy relationship with those around us includes the attitude and action of giving. We have resources and they have needs. Wisdom brings the two together.

Verse 27 has direct implications for employers who owe their workers their wages. They are to not withhold good from its owners... they are to pay the wages due. Verse 28 has direct implications for friends and neighbors that are dealing with real time needs. Why put off helping someone in immediate need? Putting off help does not communicate compassion, kindness, or love.

Is there an area of our lives in which we feel we are holding backing? Are we putting off assistance for any reason at all? If so, we need to make immediate adjustments. We need to be givers to those who are due that which is theirs and we need to be immediate givers to those who are in need. Any other response is simply holding back.

A Good Night's Sleep

“My son, do not lose sight of these­–– keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life to your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:21-24).

The Hebrew word for “sound judgment” is also translated “victory.” It seems that sound judgment and discretion are two valuable qualities that lead to a truly victorious life. To hang these two values around our neck is to never lose sight of them. There is great benefit to the life of those who heed this plea.

A secure walk while awake and sweet sleep at night are the benefits of sound wisdom and discretion. Think of it, as we journey through life every day there is a hedge of protection provided by the wisdom and discretion we employee. We see pitfalls of poor decisions as well as the perks of good decisions. We don’t easily get tripped up by sin or duped by sinners when we keep sound wisdom and discretion around our necks.

After a good long day of victorious living, we are told we sleep like a baby. There will be no fear of the darkness that hides the enemy, real or imagined. Victorious living during the day destroys fear at night.

I don’t know about you, but I find one of the greatest pleasures in life is a good night’s sleep. I have found that victorious living lifts the burdens that tend to wake me in the night. Good choices during the day do not rob me of slumber at night. It’s actually just the opposite. Good choices during the day afford me the peace of mind that allows me to drift off to restful slumber at night.

That and no caffeine after 5:00 p.m.!

Tools For Building

“The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew” (Proverbs 3:19-20).

When God founded the earth, established the heavens, and broke open the deep, His tools were wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. When God set out to do a great work, He first opened His tool box and pulled out the right tools. If God needed to do that, surely you and I need to as well.

Though we do not create (found) anything as big and wonderful as the earth, we are often tasked to create something. Some have created families while others have created businesses. It takes wisdom to do both.

Though we are not establishing anything as wonderful as the heavens, we are busy establishing something. Some establish ministries while others establish disciplines. It takes understanding to establish both.

Though we are not breaking open the great oceans of the world, we are responsible for breaking open roadblocks at work and obstacles in relationships. It takes knowledge to accomplish both.

If God used tools such as wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to create, establish, and break open great things, we must use them as well. These are tools that every believer is given by God Himself. These tools are in our toolboxes. We must pick up these tools daily in order to accomplish great things in life.

Without wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, we will fail at all attempts to create, establish, and break open. If you are ready to build a great family, business, or relationship, use the tools God has given you. If you are ready to break open roadblocks and obstacles, do so with the tools God has offered you.

Wisdom's Generosity

"Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed" (Proverbs 3:16-18).

In the Proverbs, wisdom is often personified as a woman. This time, wisdom is seen as a very generous woman who gives with both hands. She holds nothing back. With her right hand she gives longevity in life and with her left hand she gives that which money can buy, as well as honor.

The book of Proverbs never condemns riches gained in honorable ways. Scripture simply teaches that the gain we receive from wisdom is better than riches. God is often pleased to bless His children with material wealth. The ongoing warning of Scripture, however, is that we never pursue the presents of God more than the presence of God.

Generally understood, the kind of life a foolish person lives produces the opposite of longevity, riches, and honor. Life is often cut short for the foolish. The foolish have very little financial gain to show for their efforts. Their lives are all too often marked by dishonor rather than honor.

Those who find wisdom enjoy a fruitful life as illustrated by the fruitful tree. They are the ones who receive the generosity of the two fisted giver known as wisdom. The paths they walk are pleasant and peaceful as well as fruitful and blessed.

Wisdom stands out in the open with wonderful gifts in both hands. The question remains for each of us. Will we receive what she is offering or will we foolishly decline the gifts? Those who take hold of her are the ones who are truly blessed.

A Wise Investment

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:13-15).

This proverb uses terminology common to traders and investors. To speak of gain and profit, the writer takes us into the financial world of gains and losses. Allow me to be a bit cheesy here by saying that this proverb takes us to the trading floor of God’s spiritual stock market.

If we want to make a wise investment in life, we will put all we have into wisdom. Wisdom is where the real pay off is. The gain or profit we receive from wisdom far exceeds that of silver, gold, and precious jewels. As a matter of fact, there is no comparison. Remember that wisdom brings blessing, translated “happiness.” Surely we remember our mother’s telling us that money can’t buy us happiness.

The good news is, wisdom can! Therefore, living wisely is the best investment we will ever make.

A Father's Love

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him who he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11-12).

The previous verses (3:9-10) mention the blessings of the Lord. I would be surprised if anyone would ever despise those divine blessings or even grown weary of benefiting from the "full barns" and "bursting vats" given by the gracious hand of God. We naturally attribute such blessings to our Heavenly Father's love. But what about His discipline and reproof? How are we to respond to the tougher aspects of our Father/child relationship with God?

The exact same way!

If we are not careful, we could misunderstand His corrective discipline in our lives. Just as God's love is demonstrated by His work to remove obstacles in our lives (3:5-6) and provide for our material needs (3:9-10), it is demonstrated by His discipline. This is why we are to not reject or grow weary of the Lord's discipline. It is how He shows His love for us.

To think that God finds pleasure in correcting His children, whether physically or verbally, could cause us to miss the benefits of such discipline. Receiving God's correction leads to our growth of character and depth of maturity. Allowing God to bring us back in line is one of the greatest things we can experience because the end result is simply amazing.

Consider the character of those you know who had no parental discipline while growing up. They tend to be wild, rude, insensitive, selfish, and constantly in trouble with those in authority. Let that never be said of the children of God. For those who understand that the Father's love is proved in both the giving of blessing as well as discipline, life is truly wonderful.

Honoring God

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine" (Proverbs 3:9-10).

One of the best ways to show our gratitude to the Lord for His provision is to honor Him with the wealth with which He blesses us. Those who lived in Israel at the time this proverb was penned knew that the right thing to do at harvest time was to give a portion of the crops to the Lord... first thing. Giving leftovers to God was not very honoring to Him. Giving "firstfruits" to the Lord displayed a measure of faith and appreciation. Grabbing and hoarding displayed fear and selfishness.

The general principle revealed in today's passage is that the Lord is faithful to provide for His children. You and I can't out give God. As we give to the Lord, out of appreciation, He blesses us with abundance. This generalization does not lock God into a formula. He sovereignly chooses to give or withhold His blessing. The point of this proverb is to show that we are to honor God by giving faithfully and generously out of deep appreciation for His provision.

The more God blesses our giving, the more opportunity we will have to give. Barns full of grain and vats full of wine affords us a greater ability to bless others. This cycle of giving and blessing honors God in a way few of us truly understand.

Does your giving come from a heart full of gratitude to the Lord or do you feel yourself grabbing and hoarding? Only one of those is truly honoring to God.

Humility And Health

“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8).


Today’s passage contains a three part admonition which links our spiritual humility to our physical health. A physical health which is provided by God. We must all be careful to not take credit for the wisdom God has given us. To be wise in our own eyes is to be overly confident and dependent on ourselves.

When we are wise in our own eyes, we tend to believe we don’t need God. We believe we don’t need God because we have life all figured out. We tend to think we can live life on our own, independent of God. Thinking we know our way around in life is a sure sign of arrogance.

Life is complicated and difficult. We all need the wisdom and direction of the Lord. We are designed to follow His lead, but if we do not fear God, in the sense of respect and submission, we will suffer.

There is a very practical reason we are to turn from evil. Evil always leads to suffering. Suffering comes in both the physical and spiritual realm. By mentioning our flesh and bones, today's proverb brings up the topic of our physical health, or the lack thereof. There are physical consequences involved in not living wisely. There are sexually transmitted diseases that come from infected partners, liver damage due to alcohol abuse, heart disease due to eating unhealthy food, and lung disease from smoking… just to name a few dramatic examples.

To live a life of wise moderation and morality leads to physical health and refreshment. The proper heart attitude is one of humility before God. Admitting we don’t have life figured out is the beginning of a God centered and directed life. A life that leads to both physical and spiritual health.

Blog Break

Dear Friend,

I am on vacation the week of October 19-25... While away, I am taking a Blog Break... check back on Monday, October 26, as we continue our Daily Passage Through Proverbs.

John

Wholehearted Trust

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Many of the Proverbs we study mention the "heart" of man. The "heart" refers to many aspects of life. The "heart" is the combination of our emotions, intellect, understanding, discernment, and will. Our heart is who we are.

Today’s passage calls on us to have wholehearted trust in God. We are told to acknowledge Him (look to Him) in every aspect of life. We are to seek to know God’s desire for us. We are to know and choose His will over ours.

The reason for this, I feel, is quite obvious. Our understanding of life is very limited. If we rely on (lean on) our own limited understanding, we will miss out on the good life God has designed us for. Our life’s journey is in a broken and dangerous world. We need help!

Help comes to us in the form of a straight path. God makes straight paths for us by removing obstacles. He makes our path smooth which makes life much more fulfilling and enjoyable. Another way of understanding the promise is that God gets us to the finish line by making life a little easier.

There are lots of Proverbs that teach that those who live wisely have less difficulty in life. Life is much less problematic for them. Case in point, Proverbs 3:10 speaks of full barns and bursting vats.

Again, there is no formula in this, it is simply a matter of depending on God to get us to the place of joy and meaning. Lean on Him, and we are there. Lean on ourselves, we miss the mark. Our paths are made straight when we exercise wholehearted trust in God.

A Good Reputation

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4).

What’s your reputation with those you hang around? How about your reputation with God? Do you have a favorable reputation with God and with people? Are you known for someone who loves deeply and is deeply committed?

Our reputation has to do with what we are known for. Today’s passage tells us that our reputation with God and man can be favorable if we wear steadfast love and faithfulness like a necklace. Meaning, those qualities are as visible as a shiny gold necklace or chain. Our reputation will be favorable if we write them on our hearts. Meaning, we make them a part of our inner life.

It is important that we have a reputation of being loyal to our commitments. That’s what it means to be faithful. Steadfast love and faithfulness go together. They are qualities of affection for and commitment to God and others. If we have a reputation for that, we have a good name.

The pleasure of God rests on those whose lives are marked by love and commitment. The Lord works in and through such people to bring them a level of success in life. Success in life simply means that life is lived to the full. It’s a life that runs on all spiritual cylinders. No sputtering or backfires.

Are you known for your solid love and your unyielding commitments? Are you sensing the favor of the Lord on your life? The favor of God and of men rests upon the person who loves steadily and wavers not in his commitments. Those are the folks, we are told, who have a good reputation with God and others.

Live Long And Prosper

“My Son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you” (Proverbs 3:1-2).

If you are a Star Trek fan, then you probably recognize today’s title as being the Vulcan salute spoken first by Mr. Spock in 1967 on the Star Trek second season opening episode, “Amok Time.” No, I’m not a Trekkie, but I do know how to use an internet search engine.

Today’s passage assures us that if we do not forget the teaching of God’s Word, we will live long and prosper. The assurance is given that we can enjoy a long and prosperous life if we make God’s Word a part of our inner lives. This means we don’t let it go in one ear and out the other. We are to let it affect our hearts. We are to allow it to have its life changing effect on our lives.

The Hebrew word for “peace” is also translated, “prosper.” Peace and prosperity are very similar notions in the Old Testament. Prosperity does not necessarily mean financial success. You can be very poor financially and still enjoy God’s peace and prosperity in life.

The concept being taught in today’s passage is rather broad. It denotes wholeness, health, and harmony. It is all about life in the proverbial “zone”. Life is long and life is good when it is lived out of intimacy with and obedience to God. When that is being done, I believe life is lived to the full and in harmony with God and others.

If life is good, we want it to last a long time, don’t we? The more wholeness we experience in life, the longer we want it to last. Doctors have been telling us for years that the healthier we are, the longer we live. When life is harmonious, our heart’s desire is for life to continue. This is the promise of Scripture.

What are you willing to do today to make sure God’s Word works its way into your inner life? What about tomorrow and the day after that? A person who refuses to forget God’s teaching while allowing His Word to sink deep into his heart, will live long and prosper.

And that, my friend, is a promise that was made way before Mr. Spock’s Vulcan salute hit the 1967 airwaves.

Walking With A Good Friend

"So you will walk in the way of the good and keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land and those with integrity will remain in it,..." (Proverbs 2:20-21).

Proverbs 2:11-19 describe the value of discretion and understanding by telling us that they protect us from the twisted words of evil men and the seductive words of evil women. We are reminded that the path of the wicked leads to death.

Today's passage describes the need of walking through life with the help of good friends. We were never meant to live life out on our own, you know. We have been created as relational people who need both our Creator and the friends He provides.

Good friends encourage good living. The path of righteousness is not an easy path. There are distractions, temptations, and confusing twists and turns. The Lord provides us with traveling companions that help us navigate the dangerous terrain of life.

Life is about much more than just what we don't do... it is not enough to just avoid evil. Life is truly lived well when we flourish in our pursuit of what is good. This can only happen if we walk the good path with good friends.

Consider your own journey today. Are you trying to walk the straight and narrow all alone? You and I will fail if that is the case. Ask the Lord to give you a good traveling companion. Someone who will encourage you in your journey.

While the path of the wicked leads to death, the path of the righteous leads to life. Be sure that you not only walk the good path, but that you walk that path with good people. Together, with good friends, is the only way to safely navigate the dangerous terrain of life.

Cause And Effect

"Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;" (Proverbs 2:9-10).

The Proverbs reveal many life situations impacted by the principle of "cause and effect." This is very different than living by a formula. Cause and effect is a natural course of life while "formula living" looks to manipulate God for a blessing. There is a difference between doing what is right so that God will make everything work out the way I want them to, and enjoying the fruits of righteousness simply because I walked the "good path."

As we live wisely, certain things are realized in our lives naturally. Wisdom naturally leads to a genuine experience of righteousness, justice, equity, and a life lived on the good path. This experience, in turn, leads to joy. As we live foolishly, the exact opposite is experienced. Much of life is truly "cause and effect."

Living out of the wisdom of God impacts a person's heart because it is God's wisdom that enters that heart and thus gives direction on "every good path." Cause and effect says that good things happen on the good path and bad things result from the journey on the bad path. This does not mean that bad things never happen to the person who walks the good path. It simply means that we can only experience the good things of life if we walk in wisdom.

Good things such as righteous actions, justice, and equity are welcomed results. Why? Because knowledge live out (wisdom) is pleasant to the soul. That means life is full of joy. As we walk through today, let's consider the cause and effect aspect of walking in wisdom. Wisdom leads us down the good path and that, in turn, leads to joy.

Wisdom Has Its Benefits

“he [God] stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the ways of his saints” (Proverbs 2:7-8).

There are some great benefits to living wisely. Some very positive and healthy things develop in the life of those who walk in the wisdom offered freely by God.

Living wisely leads to a life of pure morals. To deliberately walk that path not only keeps us from evil, it builds holiness into our lives. In case anyone has forgotten, holy is something we are commanded to be.

Fools, those who live their lives apart from God, suffer greatly because of their foolishness. But not those who are morally pure. Those who walk in integrity enjoy the protection and provision of the Lord. Saints of God do suffer, but their suffering comes because they do good, not bad. If we suffer, we are to suffer for walking in integrity rather than living foolishly in sin.

Those who walk in integrity have a divine shield about them. God’s shield surrounds those whose moral conduct reflects His goodness. This means that wisdom is not just about what we know, it is a matter of the heart and of moral conduct.

These days, those with good morals are mocked more than ever. They are ridiculed for being “good.” They are excluded from the crowd when they refuse to follow the path of immorality.

God’s children need not worry about the reaction of the crowd. God is a God of justice. All things will be reconciled to Him when it is all said and done. Those who walk in integrity will be better off, not just then, but now. We are assured of this by the simple fact that God guards the paths of justice. This means those who ridicule others for being good, need to be very careful.

Skillful Living

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

If you want to understand the meaning of “wisdom,” think of it as skillful living. As you think about it, you may realize that it really does take skill to thrive in life. Not just survive, but to thrive.

Wisdom is a gift from God. If we want to live life with great skill, we must do so through a right relationship with God. Wisdom comes our way if we receive His word, treasure His commandments, listen intently to His direction, call out for insight, and ask for understanding (see Proverbs 2:1-4).

Wisdom is given to those who apply knowledge and understanding. Knowledge and understanding can be understood as, “I get it.” It is about knowing the facts. Wisdom can be understood as, “I live it.” It is about applying, with skill, the facts we acquire from the Word of God.

We would do well to open our hands to receive the gift of wisdom. We would also do well to open our ears to hear the Word of God straight from His mouth. When we do that, we start to live skillfully. We start to understand how to answer tough questions about life. We start to realize the right way to respond to adversity. We begin to see that there is always hope, no matter how difficult life gets.

We must not just “get it,” we must “live it.” We must live it (life) with skill. That is what wisdom is all about.

A Treasure Hunt

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

I know that if someone handed you or me an authentic treasure map, you know, the kind with a dotted line zig zagging across the page in and around landmarks and stopping at a big black X... I know we would get busy. We would be diligent in our hunt for the buried treasure. I know that we would set all else aside and begin the hunt.

I believe today's passage is just such a map. A map that gives instructions on how to discover hidden treasure... treasure described as fear and knowledge of the Lord. Today's passage gives instruction on what efforts are needed to gain wisdom.

It starts by us receiving and treasuring God's instructions... His words and commandments. In short, we begin our treasure hunt by following the directions laid out for us by our Heavenly Father. It continues by listening to wisdom and applying it within our hearts. The quest continues as we call out for insight and cry for understanding. This means we need to request it... petition the Lord for it... verbalize our need.

By following this map, we gain wisdom and understanding in regards to our Father's words and commands. We gain valuable insight and understanding... we find treasure more valuable than silver or gold.

If you can't tell, it takes effort to become wise. Wisdom doesn't just happen. If we want to become wise children of God, we must be open to His instruction (receiving), we must retain what we learn (treasure), we must hear with a spiritual ear, and apply the truth with a spiritual heart.

To find wisdom for life, we must see it as a treasure hunt that involves a diligent search for that which is more precious than gold and silver. This, if nothing else, reveals to us the value of wisdom. This, I really do hope, motivates us to start our own personal treasure hunt for the wisdom God offers us for the life He calls us to.

Come One Come All

"Wisdom cries aloud in the streets, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:" (Proverbs 1:20-21).

Wisdom's invitation is very much a "come one come all" situation. If anyone lacks the wisdom needed to live a great life, it is only because they refuse the invitation to such a life.

How could wisdom (personified here as a pursuing woman) be more accessible? Calling in the streets, raising her voice in the markets, crying out in the crowded streets is God's very public invitation to a wonderful life.

Yet He is oftentimes ignored.

The remaining verses of Proverbs 1 describe the people who won't listen. They describe a person who loves being simple (lacking sense), delights in scoffing, and hates knowledge (see 1:22). The bottom line is that that person will suffer when life turns ugly. It seems that when that person needs wisdom after terror strikes, calamity comes, and anguish follows distress... they will struggle to find it.

To be ready for the tough times of life, we are to heed wisdom's call way before the tough times hit. It is nearly impossible to find God when life turns ugly because bitterness is part and parcel to the lifestyle of the fool.

Wisdom is calling for us to follow her through the busy and crowded streets of life. It is a very public invitation that needs an individual response. The invitation is "come one come all." What say you?

It's A Trap

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent" (Proverbs 1:10).

Let's face it, sin can be enticing. At a very basic, fleshly level... sin looks really good. I have a feeling it's like that because sin is ultimately all about us. And, quite frankly, we really like it when it's all about us. When it is all about us, life feels good. But beware... it's a trap!

Believing it's a trap, we must choose to stay far away. Acknowledging that sin does feel good at first, what if we choose to forgo our feelings for a moment? What if we choose to live out of what we know rather than what we feel. I know, it's a crazy thought!

Remember that the good life comes from knowledge of God's goodness and that starts with a healthy fear of Him. Here's what we know for sure– God is the biggest giver of life there is while sin is the biggest taker... simply put, sin is a trap. That's why sinners have to entice us into it. They have to use some kind of bait in order to get us to bite.

If we live out of the facts and not out of our feelings, the enticement to sin fails. Sin's trap never sprung is a beautiful thing in the life of a follower of Christ. Having said that, be careful what you give your consent to today.