Apr. 4 | Wisdom Will Save You

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 1

Scripture | Proverbs 2:12, “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse…”

Lesson 4 | Wisdom Will Save You

Have you ever thought about how wisdom saves you from harm in your every day life?  When you apply wisdom to stop at a red light in your car- your life is spared from getting hit by oncoming traffic.  When you use wisdom to eat eatable foods and avoid eating and drinking poisonous things like bleach and washing detergent your life is spared from food poison.  Also, when you don’t touch the burning stove, gulp down hot coffee, or run with scissors- your life is saved from danger and injury.

Now have you ever thought about how God’s wisdom saves you from the ways of wicked men who pervert and change the ways of God?  For example, when you follow Jesus’ wisdom and are born again you are saved from the ways of such atheists like Richard Dawkins and eternal damnation.  When you use wisdom and give tithes and offerings, you are spared from God’s curse on the greedy like was upon the wicked Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5. 

Therefore, when you use God’s wisdom found in His Scriptures, your life is saved from the ways of wicked men whose words and ways are perverse.  Another way of saying it is, “Everyone is following somebody, who are you following?”  Some people base their life and values after what great businessmen teach.  Others base their lives off of what religious leaders teach.  Some people even live their lives based on what Oprah says!

In the end, it doesn’t matter what person you’re following because if they’re not teaching the wisdom found in God’s Word it is a perverted way.  Jesus taught the path to destruction was wide and many are on it, however, the path of life is narrow and few travel on it- you must walk on the narrow path, Matthew 7:13-14.

Make a decision today to follow God’s wisdom- for it will save you from destruction and needless suffering.  God’s ways are always the best ways!  Wisdom is better than folly.     

Reflection | Do you want to follow the ways of God or man?   

Action | (1) Commit daily to reading your Bible and receiving God’s wisdom. (2) Reject any advice or “so-called” wisdom that is against God’s Word. (3) Lastly, thank God for His saving wisdom! 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26, Luke 10:38-11:13, Psalm 76:1-12, & Proverbs 12:15-17. Click here to read online.

Apr. 3 | Don’t Follow Sinners

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 1

Scripture | Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.”

Lesson 3 | Don’t Follow Sinners

The first time I ever saw pornography was because my friend brought it to my house, the first time I smoked a cigarette was because my friend offered it to me, to the first time I stole from a store was because my friend dared me to do it, the first time I got drunk was because my friends all were telling me to keep drinking until I was hammered, the first time I really beat someone up was because my friends were cheering me on to do it, and the first time I ever did drugs was because my best friend said it was so much fun.  Do you see a pattern?

Now take a moment to look back into your past, how many of the sins you first committed involved the temptation of a person?  Also, not just for the first time, but how many of your current sins involve other sinners asking you to join with them?  Dirty jokes, pornography internet ads, gossiping, parting, bullying, perversion, dishonesty on the job, etc…

Solomon is giving powerful wisdom, “If you don’t want to sin, stop hanging around sinners while they sin!”  Simple.  Your friends, coworkers, family, and neighbors will all be judged by God for their own choices, don’t let their sinful acts tempt you to sin.  Decide today to say, “No, to peer pressure and sin.”

If dirty internet ads entice you to sin, download Christian accountability software and delete those ads once and for all from your computer.  If your friends invite you to a club where you know drunkenness and perversion will be the norm, tell them no and invite them to your house for a Bible study!  And if your coworker asks you to be dishonest so you can make more money, correct them and let them know you don’t have to cheat and lie to be successful- your hard work will pay off!      

Make a decision today to not give in to the enticement of sinners- stand your ground in the power and wisdom of God.

Reflection | Do you know how to say “no” when sinners entice you to sin?   

Action | (1) Think of the last three people (or things like internet ads) that enticed you to sin.  (2) Say out loud in prayer, “In Jesus name I say no to sin and yes to God’s commands!”  (3) Lastly, next time sinners entice you say, “no.”

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, & Proverbs 12:12-14. Click here to read online.

Apr. 2 | The Fear of the Lord

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 1

Scripture | Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

Lesson 2 | The Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is one of the most misunderstood subjects in Christianity.  Some think that to fear God as a believer is to always be afraid God is going to send you to hell unless you perform enough good works.  This false understanding of the fear of God is corrected by John in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

On the other hand, some Christians believe that only sinners should have a fear of the Lord because once a person is born again God becomes their heavenly Daddy and will never judge or correct them.  This false belief is corrected by Paul in Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Therefore, the believer is to have a fear of the Lord because one day God will judge Him, but he shouldn’t be so full of fear that he or she neglects God’s great love for them.  As a result, to fear the Lord as a Christian means to, “honor and respect God as the Judge of all the earth who will also judge them one day.”

Imagine if your dad was a general in the US army fighting against terrorist in Afghanistan.  When you are home with your dad he loves you and treats you like a child.  If you mess up, he loving corrects you.  However, what would happen if you joined the Taliban and became his enemy?  He would have no choice but to fight against you with the full power of the US armed forces.  Now imagine if you joined the Army and served under him- he would still be powerful, but he would only use his authority to hold you accountable to the standard of being a good soldier.  Thus, He is a loving father at home, a terror to the enemy at battle, and your boss on the job.   

The same is true with understanding the fear of the Lord.  As a Christian you are always to respect and honor God as your Father because he will judge you one day according to keeping His commands.  Plus, if you reject Him and live as a sinner He will destroy you on judgment day.  However, if you remain in good standing with God He will always be a kind and loving Father to you.

As a result, Solomon is teaching in the above proverb that if we can understand the fear of the Lord, we are at the starting place of receiving God’s knowledge.  Because when we have a humble understanding of our place with God as His creation we should always obey Him.  However, the fool rejects wisdom and discipline by living in pride without the fear of the Lord because they think they can get away with doing whatever they feel is right in their own eyes.

The bottom line is to fear God and grow wise.  Reject God and suffer as a fool because God holds everything in His hands. 

Reflection | Do you have a proper fear of the Lord?   

Action | (1) Remove any false understandings of the fear of the Lord you may have. (2) Ask God in prayer to give you a healthy understanding of the fear of God.  (3) Lastly, accept God’s wisdom in humility- reject the way of pride.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, & Proverbs 12:11. Click here to read online.

Apr. 1 | Proverbs, Better Than Fortune Cookies

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 1

Scripture | Proverbs 1:1-2, “1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline for understanding words of insight…”

Lesson 1 | Proverbs, Better Than Fortune Cookies

It amazes me how silly people can be sometimes especially when it comes to superstition.  Sadly but true, some people religiously read their daily horoscope hoping for guidance, others go to fortune tellers to receive insight into their love life, and still others actually take the sayings of their fortune cookie serious (as if God was going to speak to them through a random cookie). 

Once I was out with another pastor at a Chinese restaurant and when the fortune cookies came he said, “Everybody read your fortunes but put at the end, ‘in the bathroom.’”  One person read out loud, “You will have great success today… in the bathroom!”  We all laughed hysterically and I thought to myself these things actually serve a purpose now- to make us laugh! 

The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon (the son of King David) for the purpose of giving (1) wisdom and (2) discipline to the people of Israel.  The Bible records that Solomon was the wisest and richest man that Israel ever had because God blessed him greatly, 1 Kings 3:12-13.  Though some of the proverbs found in the book are written by others, he is the major author. 

The word proverb means, “a simple saying that is popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity.”  God gave Solomon great wisdom to rule Israel and make it a successful nation.  Likewise, if we can learn from this wise king the wisdom God gave him we can be successful in all we do.

One does not change their life simply by reading a cookie, but if you read these proverbs (wise sayings) from God and apply the discipline that they give- your life will change.  Of course, as in all things God is the source of your strength, but you must be willing to apply what you learn. 

Start today and ask God to fill you with His wisdom as you read the book of Proverbs- they’re better than fortune cookies! 

Reflection | Are you willing to follow God’s wisdom, no matter the cost?   

Action | (1) Repent of any superstition you might have in your life, i.e., horoscopes, etc... (2) Commit to God in prayer to follow whatever instruction He gives you.  (3) Lastly, get ready to grow in wisdom!

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20, Luke 9:28-50, Psalm 73:1-28, & Proverbs 12:10. Click here to read online.