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.