Understanding

Understanding

“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”(Proverbs 16:16 KJV)understanding

Solomon was born into wealth. He was the son of King David. David as king had grown very wealthy. Revenue was coming into his coffers regularly. When David died and appointed Solomon to reign in his stead, with that reign came David’s wealth.

So, when Solomon was given the choice by God to ask for anything he humbly recognized his youth and experience and asked God to grant him the wisdom and understanding to rule the nation. This shows us the heart of young Solomon – he wanted to rule, not for what he could gain from that rule – but because he wanted to lead the nation as a wise and benevolent ruler. God was pleased with his request and gave him a wise and understanding heart so that he could rule, but also gave him wealth and honors to the degree that he was the wealthiest and most honorable or well-known king of his time. He became the wealthiest man who ever lived. God was pleased with his early life and early devotion to him. Later, that would not be the case, as Solomon in his old age was turned away from God by the ungodly influence of his wives. (If only he had heeded the Proverb later in this very chapter, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, IF it be found in the way of righteousness.”)

But early in his reign Solomon used his great wisdom to increase the Kingdom, not through warfare, but through diplomacy and economics. As a result, he became fabulously wealthy and world renowned in as much as other monarchs traveled great distances to see his Kingdom for themselves and to seek his wisdom.

Solomon recognizes the superiority of wisdom and understanding over silver and gold because wealth can be lost, stolen, or otherwise degraded and often beyond our control. But with wisdom and understanding if one is careful and diligent in growing their intellect through study and meditation, that wisdom and understanding can never be lost or stolen. One who has wisdom and understanding of God’s word and will and who lives by those things may lose all their worldly possessions but still be better off than the unrighteous person who possesses much silver and gold. Seek God’s wisdom and understanding. Apply yourself to obeying God and His Word. Seek those things which are above and lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. You may not become rich or famous or gain worldly honors, but you will have a greater blessing for eternity in heaven, which would beggar the worldly riches of the richest man who ever lived.

Read 1 Kings 3:5-14, Psalms 37:25; Matthew 6:19-21; Colossians 3:1-3; James 2:5

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An Abomination to the Lord

An Abomination to the Lord

There is a paragraph in Proverbs which every person should know. Listen to God as He tries to get our attention and says, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him” (Prov. 6:16). We must never overlook what follows these words, for we must flee from all that God finds detestable. When we stand before God, we must not stand with anything that is an abomination to Him.

#1.  God hates “a proud look.” It may not be by accident that this is listed first. It is the opposite of humility which is found in the heart of the one who humbles himself before God. Humility leads one to God, but pride does just the opposite.

#2.  God hates “a lying tongue.” Our God cannot lie, and He by His holy nature wants us to always speak the truth. This must be very important for it is listed in another form in the sixth attitude God hates.

#3.  God hates “hands that shed innocent blood.” Our nation is shocked by the brutal killing of children in Ukraine, yet legally permits the slaughter of children in the womb. God abhors both of these.

            #4.  God hates “a heart that devises wicked plans.” There are sins which come into our lives because of weakness which suddenly comes into our lives. There are sins which men lie awake at night and scheme how to do evil. God makes a difference between these. The difference is mercy and justice.

            #5.  God hates “feet that are swift in running to evil.” Those who plan evil do far more than make plans. They can hardly wait to carry them out. And they run to do evil!

            #6. God hates “a false witness who speaks lies.” This obviously involves lying which has already been mentioned, but in our day, think of how it applies to false teachers who claim they speak for God but lie.

            #7.  God hates “one who sows discord among brethren.” Our God is one (Deut. 6:4) and longs for His people to be one. However, think of how serious it is when one stirs up trouble in a local congregation and creates a situation where the faith of so many is weakened. There were those individuals in Corinth who sowed discord over teachers like Paul, Apollos and Cephas. He refers to the church as God’s temple and says, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him” (1 Cor. 3:17). Religious folks can create such havoc!

Think about this list and imagine standing before His judgment throne having paid no attention to this list. We need to know the list, but we must do all we can to destroy sinful actions from our lives. He is holy. God help us to be like Him.

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Cussing in Front of the Preacher

“Cussing in Front of the Preacher”

On more than one occasion, I have heard someone say, “Don’t cuss in front of the preacher,” or similar. Let me go on record as saying that I don’t like to hear anyone cussing, but I hear plenty anyway. I hear it in media, shopping, at restaurants, at football games, and just about every other place not associated with the church. However, I want to emphasize, that it does not matter what I think on this topic or whether someone personally offends me or not. It is not the preacher that a person needs to worry about cussing in front of—it’s God Almighty! And He hears it all!cussing face

Maybe someone might be thinking that God doesn’t mind listening to my cussing. Well, just listen to the word of God on this topic. In the book of James (3:8-10) we read: “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” The truth is that “cussing” is just “cursing,” and the Holy Spirit says, “these things ought not to be so.” God doesn’t want you to be cussing whether it is in front of the preacher or anyone else!

The words of the Christian are supposed to be graceful. Listen to Ephesians 4:19: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Does cussing edify? Is cussing gracious? We all know it isn’t. Just stop doing it (period).

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Receive with Meekness

Receive with Meekness

James describes the kind of heart we need in order to profit from studying the Bible. Read His words carefully. “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas. 1:21-22).

Every time we read the Bible, listen to Bible teaching or are studying the word, we must receive it with meekness. Sometimes there are individuals who have great knowledge about the Bible and can readily quote it, but it does not seem to change them. Why? Because they do not receive it with humility. Knowledge of the Bible involves the “head,” but meekness involves the “heart.” When Samuel heard the message of God in the middle of the night, he said, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.”

There is more than meekness involved in Bible study which will change our souls. James uses the expression, “the implanted word.” Jesus’ parable about the sower described what happened to the seed which fell on good soil. Unlike the seed which fell on stony ground which began but “had no root” (Luke 8:13), the roots of the seed on the good soil had depth and produced much fruit. James is not talking about just hearing the words but adds the word “implanted,” showing that the “seed” is far more than knowing the Bible. This seed sinks deep into our hearts. This is why the KJV translates this as “the engrafted word.” Bible study in this passage describes four actions: (1) the hearing of the word; (2) an openness to receive the word; (3) a heart which humbly listens to God—he is humble enough to accept the truth, even when it hurts and condemns; and (4) letting the words sink deeply into us.

Look again at this paragraph in James. It begins with the word “therefore.” This indicates that divine truths had just been uttered and based upon that truth a heavenly conclusion is stated. What had James just said?

James had described a man who so readily charged God with tempting him. James showed this violated the nature of God. Look at verse 19. “So then my brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Is it possible that these words which can apply to dealings with others have a primary application to not hastily charge God, but to be swift to hear God, slow to speak before Him and become angry at what He says?

The next time you study the Bible, do not begin your study with a preconceived conclusion you want to use the Bible to prove what you believe. Remember that Solomon said that when we come before Him, “let your words be few” (Ecc. 5:2). Always be swift to hear God.  Think about it.

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A Soft Answer – Proverbs 15:1

A Soft Answer – Proverbs 15:1

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 KJV)

“I’m so angry with right now that I could just scream!” he said with a loud, belligerent voice. She looked up at him and whispered, “I’m sorry you feel that way and I apologize.” He looked at her for a moment with a bewildered expression and said in a quiet voice, “I can barely hear you, but did you just apologize?” “Yes,” she said, “Will you forgive me?” “Of course, I forgive you,” he rejoined. Her answer to his anger was soft in two ways: audibly and the words themselves were tender. The softy spoken apology did two things there. First, it caused him to stop and think about what she had said and second, it brought his anger level down several notches. Her soft answer turned away his wrath. An otherwise good man may be swift to anger, but when his anger is given a moment to cool, his anger will dissipate as fast as it came one.

“I’m so angry with you that I could just scream!” she said with a loud belligerent, voice. He looked back at her and shouted, “Go ahead! It is your fault anyway! You distracted me as we were heading out after I ate my bowl of ice cream!” “What did you say?” she yelled back. “How is it my fault? You are the moron who put the ice cream in the pantry. You’re the idiot who left the freezer door open!” “Well fine!” he yelled. “I’m going out for more ice cream! And I might not come back!” he hollered as he wrathfully slammed the front door. She had a right to be upset with him for putting the ice cream in the pantry to melt and to leaving the freezer open ruining a lot of food. She did not have the right to use injurious words in her anger. Her grievous words stirred his anger to greater wrath. An angry rejoinder, while tempting, especially when you are also angry, will only lead to more strife.

Christians are called upon to be peacemakers, not strife engenderers! When some lashes out at you angrily, follow God’s advice and give a soft answer. In many cases, this will halt the anger and lead to reconciliation.

Read James 1:19-20; 3:1-12; Romans 12:18-19

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