Wisdom, Not Promises - Day 185 Month 7-4 Week 27-3
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Proverbs 1:1-19, Jeremiah 52, Acts 17:22-34
Wisdom, Not Promises
I had the opportunity to preach in a church service about 20 years ago. It is the only true sermon I have ever prepared and preached, and I nailed it! In fact, it was positive and encouraging, focusing on the promises of God. I had come through a very dark season in my life, and this was my chance to share all of my great wisdom and understanding with those who were listening. I felt like Solomon! You'll recognize that I say that a little tongue in cheek, but at the time I was quite pleased with how it went.
Unfortunately, some of the things I presented as promises from Scripture were not actually promises at all. They were proverbs. A proverb is a short saying that teaches practical wisdom, moral living, and a God-honouring way of life. One well-known example is: "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it"(Proverbs 22:6). Many parents will tell you that this is not always how life happens. Sometimes sons and daughters walk away from what they were taught. The proverb expresses a general truth, but it is not a guarantee.
Today we begin reading the book of Proverbs. As you read through these sayings, most of which were written by King Solomon, remember that they are meant to provide wisdom for everyday life. I think you'll find many of them both practical and helpful.
One verse especially stood out to me today:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7).
Over the years, I have often explained a task to someone I was managing, only to hear, "I already know." They would go on to do the job their own way, not realizing that I had done it many times before and had learned simpler and more efficient ways to accomplish it.
Life can be like that. We often try to do things our own way instead of seeking God's wisdom first. Sometimes things work out, but often we make mistakes that could have been avoided.
I asked Google for a definition of "the fear of God." It described it as "a deep, transformative reverence, awe, and respect for the Creator's supreme majesty, holiness, and power." I think that's a helpful description. When we live with that kind of reverence for God, we begin to see life from His perspective instead of only our own. We won't always avoid hardship, but we can trust that He is guiding us and shaping us through it.
That sounds like wisdom worth living by.
Have a great day!
Steve
You can subscribe to this blog and receive an email each day or week. Just visit the following link. https://follow.it/my-faith-view-from-here-daily-readings-and-thoughts?leanpub
Comments
Post a Comment