Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro
 
My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. Proverbs 1:10

Here we are given an inside seat to a spectacle that takes place every day.  This event is when a fool or group of fools approach a person to entice him to join with them in their ungodly schemes.  This is something we need to see because as Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes, there really is nothing new under the son.  Men have tried to get others to join with their gang to do mischief for numerous generations.  The lies are pretty much unchanged - and yet they are good to know ahead of time so that we are not taken in by the offers of fools whose only true promise is to get us into serious trouble before everything is over.  How young people need to read these words and profit from rejecting them ahead of time.

Here a father speaks to his son to warn him against such foolish company - and against their foolish offers to "cut him in on the action."  His first instructive comment is to refer to those who do such things as "sinners."  What is instructive about this word is the comment made by Zhodiates that this word is used, "to describe those who, by their actions, are under the wrath and judgment of God and face ultimate destruction."  In Psalm 104:35 we are told that these folks will be consumed from the earth - and in Isaiah 1:28 that they will be crushed and will come to their end by the hand of God. 

The father warns that these people will come to "entice" them.  They will come with words to try to allure, persuade, and deceive.  They want to convince this young man to join with them as they plan to do their evil deeds.  This may sound all melodramatic to some who read this - but that is only because the world has done a good job of mocking this kind of talk.  They do so by overdramatizing the father or the spiritual guide - making him sound stupid when he warns of such things.  Their effectiveness has only dulled the minds of our children to those who truly will come to them with such wicked counsel.  In the end they only make it easier for the criminal and harder for the parent or mentor.  This father is doing a good thing in warning his son about this kind of interview.  His advice to his son is not to consent.  In the end the boy is going to have to make a decision on his own.  Eventually every child will leave the home and will face temptation to do evil.  If we do not instruct them - they will face this without godly counsel on their side.  This father does an admirable job of letting his son hear the enticing words ahead of time.  But the father does so with additional commentary explaining to his son just where such counsel will lead. 

Hey dad, let me ask you a question.  Are you preparing your son to face these things?  Are you taking the time to let him hear the kind of things he is going to be told - and then put them into the context of where they will take him?  There is a kind of Christian parenting that is going on today that does not think kids should be exposed to anything that is remotely wrong.  I agree with this when it comes to exposing them to such things and encouraging them to do them.  But what this godly father is doing is exposing his son to the reality of what wicked men will say to him one day.  He is letting his son know the arguments - the offers - the lies that will be told to him.  Then he is taking those statements and dismantling them before his son.  He does so by showing his son where such lies will lead him.  The warning his boy receives is a wise one - and one that we would do well to teach to our own children as well.  When we think that placing them into a world without any form of tempation of proposed evil will protect them - we may be deceiving ourselves.  One day they won't be with us - and an evil man will approach with his slick lies.  What will they do then?  Will they know how to stand and resist the lies?  Maybe . . . maybe not.  The only way we can prepare them for such a day is to teach them by exposing them to what will be said - as well as the sure judgment and destruction that comes with the lifestyle that will result.
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Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate.  Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

Today there is a form of theology that emphasizes social justice as its core value.  This is somewhat confusing to those who desire to walk with God on the basis of grace because it tends to make concern for the physical poor and needy the primary cause of Christianity.  As a guy who is quickly approaching the age of 50 I can tell you what the "social justice" movement is going to end up becoming.  It will eventually follow in the footsteps of the social gospel of the 60's and 70's - and every other time when the emphasis of those teaching the Scriptures moved away from the gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching that man needs salvation from his sins.  I say this with a little hitch in my heart - because if we had just followed the teaching of the Word of God in the first place - we would not have needed an "emphasis" on social justice.

Solomon's mom tells us straight up that the godly king - and for that matter any other godly man regardless of authority and position - stands up for those who cannot defend themselves against the powerful.  Unfortunately the church from time to time forgets that when the gospel was clarified in the book of Acts the leaders also asked that as we preach the gospel we would remember the poor.  There it is - not a social justice emphasis - or a gospel of social works that needs to be taught as a substitute for the real one - but a gospel that teaches salvation by grace from our sins against God and His law.  As we go about preaching that gospel - we should also remember the poor - and minister to them accordingly.  But at no time do the leaders in Acts condone a gospel that replaces the true one with mere gracious acts to raise the social level of a man without dealing with his fallen spiritual condition.  To lifte a man socially without dealing with his core corruption of sin is to prepare a man for hell by making him enjoy earth better before he goes there. 

We are commanded to open our mouths for the mute.  The word here refers to the physical condition of being unable to speak - but the idea is metaphorical.  There are those who need an advocate.  They are mute not because of a physical disability, but due to a social one.  The unborn cannot speak for themselves - thus we must speak for them.  If they could speak they would fill the world with their screams and cries of pain and anguish as they are slaughtered by the millions within their mother's womb.  They cannot speak - therefore we MUST!  In the 60's and 70's the plight of the black man in America was thrust before the church.  Shamefully, we did not speak up for their rights - and by our silence (and too often unbiblical teaching supporting racism) we all but lost the black community to a political gospel.  When we refuse to speak out for the mute and for the rights of the unfortunate - we are setting up disaster for ourselves in future generations. 

As much as I love our nation - we made a tremendous mistake in our founding in not abolishing the practice of slavery.  We had an opportunity but did not do the right thing.  That set up the disaster of the 1860's when our nation fought a bloody war over that issue.  I know as a historian that many will complain that the war was fought over states rights, and in one way I would agree with them.  But anyone wanting to be historically and morally honest knows that the rights that the state wanted were the rights to continue an odious practice of slavery that had horrific effects on the black man in America. 

We are to open our mouths and judge righteously.  We cannot allow social mores to guide us - we must be guided by God's righteousness.  That is why the plight of the homosexual is not the same as the plight of the black man and racism.  Homosexuality is a choice - a moral choice.  It is called sin in both the Old and New Testaments.  It is not the unforgiveable sin, but it is one that Christ died to set us free from nevertheless.  Therefore whereas we can speak against those who target homosexuals for violence and hatred, we cannot say that this should be accepted as a normal lifestyle and also should be taught to our children as an acceptable ssexual choice. 

We are to defend the rights of those afflicted and needy.  In Jewish culture of that day this meant speaking out for the poor.  It meant standing up for widows and orphans who had no voice in the gate or in a judicial setting.  Money was not to speak in the place of justice, righteousness was.  When we allow our judicial system to fundamentally treat the rich different than the poor - we must speak out against that kind of abuse.  God expects it - no - God commands it.  Maybe if the church in generations past HAD spoken up for the poor, the needy, and the afflicted - we would not have to see emphases that detract from the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Although we can do little more than humbly apologize for those past oversights - we can offer hope to those who were affected by speaking out against present day abuses.  When it comes to the issues of our day we need to ask the question, "Are you speaking out - or have you suddenly lost your voice?"

 
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Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich. Proverbs 28:6

Integrity and honor are character traits that are of high value in the kingdom of God.  They make a person very wealthy even though at the time they may not have a fantastic financial bottom line.  When someone is varying between two stances - which is what this passage called being "crooked," they can have all the money in the world and still be seen as far less successful than the poor man who lives a godly life.  God's way of valuing things and people is far different than that of the world.

The word "crooked" is very interesting.  The literal Hebrew means, "perverse in two ways."  What this describes is someone who is going back and forth between two opinions and two views.  According to the Theological Wordbook of the OT this term refers to the twisted and perverting nature of sin.  The word was also used to describe how a woman twists her hair for the purpose of putting it in braids.  Thus the word came to mean the way that people twist their ways and choices contrary to what God commands and desires.  The word is used to describe the way rulers "twist everything that is straight" (Micah 3:9).  In a similar Proverb about the need for integrity, this same word is used to describe how fools are perverse in their speech. 

Too often the rich think they are beyond the law - or above it because of the influence their money buys in this world.  I have several friends who are police officers who have told me again and again that they have far more trouble out of rich people they pull over for speeding than from any other group.  They are told that they should give the rich person a warning or nothing at all because of all the people they know in City Hall.  They try to throw their influence around to intimidate my friends in law enforcement into ignoring the law - or might we say perverting it.  They want my friends to act crookedly.  These guys write them tickets seeking to enforce the law - only to have them ignored by those in power when they come to court.  Too many of the rich make the mistake of placing their hope in riches and what they provide in this world - rather than in God and the hope of His reward in eternity.  I say this not to absolve the poor of integrity issues - because the problem is not money - it is the love of money.  I've seen the love of money in every financial category there is.  The warning here is to run after integrity and honor - and not allow money to make us think that these things don't matter as long as you are well off financially. 

Just an aside here for our mutual benefit.  I've heard a saying again and again that grieves my heart.  Here is the saying, "Money may not be able to make you happy, but it makes your misery much more bearable."  Those who say that are truly deceived.  They think that a few years of less miserable riches are worth trading for all of eternity.  God does not countenance such foolishness.  They are truly deceived because they do not understand that their momentary happiness in their wealth and stuff will actually make their judgment more severe.  The Scriptures tell us, "To whom much is given, much is required."  Whatever brief comfort they find in their things and their wealth will be infinitely offset by the searing judgment that awaits them for loving the world and therefore not having the love of the Father in them.  Again - that was for free - because I'm tired of fools sounding wise to this world when they are only multiplying their foolishness for a judgment that awaits them at the throne of God.  True wisdom is seeing the end, in this case eternity, and making sound decisions with God's ways in view.

The poor man walks differently here because he walks in his integrity.  The word "walk" is the Hebrew word "halak" which means to come and go, or to walk about.  It was a word that was used to describe a flowing river, the blowing of the wind, and the movement of animals of all kinds.  It was therefore used to metaphorically speak of the pathways of one's life - and came to mean the lifestyle that one chooses.  This poor, wise man has chosen to walk out his life using God's wisdom as his guide.  The best way to describe this integrity that the poor, wise man chooses is to walk with all of our heart in the things of the Lord.  The word here for integrity was used to describe the way that men like David and Job spoke of walking with a perfect heart.  This did not mean these men were sinless - just that they did not want to waver between two opinions and two ways of living.  They wanted to live for the Lord with all their heart - all the time. 

There is something that God values greatly in this world.  But what God values and what men value are two entirely different things.  This world does not value living for God and His ways with a whole heart.  They might give an honorable mention to the occasional religious person who they admire for a few moments because of their devotion to God, but they do not see this as a way of living for all men.  They live for the things of the world - and chase after them with all their heart.  But what is highly valued by men of this world is despised by the Lord.  He is looking for men whose heart is completely given to Him.  How much better it is to be one of these men - regardless of their financial bottom line.  It is far better to be that kind of a man and poor - than to be the richest man on earth and only enjoy it for the mere length of a breath - which is how God describes this life in comparison with eternity. 
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A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5

Like deep, still waters, so the hearts of men can deeply conceal their plans.  The word "plan" here is key to understanding this particular proverb.  What this word means will govern what we need to learn.  The word is "esah" and it means advice or a plan.  What helps us most in understanding this word is the comments of Zhodiates who says the following about this word.  "It sometimes suggests the idea of a plot." 

The plots and plans of wicked men are hidden deep in still waters deep within their hearts.  Isaiah speaks of these kinds of hidden plans and plots when he says, "Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, 'Who sees us?' or 'Who knows us?'" (Isaiah 29:15).  Thus we come to understand that this proverb is warning us of the ungodly plots of the wicked.  We are told that these plans exist hidden deep within the hearts of the wicked - but a man of understanding will draw them out.

This ability belongs only to the "man of understanding."  He is the one who possesses the ability to distinguish between the good and bad, true and false, and the forthright and the one whose motives are deeply hidden.  This man of understanding has the capacity to look through outward actions and words, and see the hidden places of the human heart.  This one does not accept everything at face value alone.  He not only estimates their words, but the deep underlying motives and aims that are behind them.  It is such wisdom that allows the man of understanding to discern hidden motives or hidden agendas.  This is the way that he draws out the hidden plans and plots of the wicked. 

In the New Testament this Spirit-given ability is called the gift of discernment - or discernment of spirits.  It is a wonderful gift God has given to some to see below the surface.  They are able to see into the heart by God's grace.  What they see allows them to read below those deep waters - and see the real reason something is being said or done.  Normally, without the Spirit of God, someone could easily pull the wool over our eyes and deceive us.  A plan might be laid that we think is gracious, but actually has harm in store for us.  That is when the ability to draw out the plans and plots of men is such a blessing. 
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"Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed.  Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding." Proverbs 9:5-6

God places a feast of wisdom before us in this verse.  We read of how wisdom has worked hard to place a wonderful table before us with God's sumptuous fare upon it.  The invitation is very simple, "Come eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed."  This kind of spread is not something that took place in the home.  What is being spoken of here is the preparation of a feast.  Each day we awake, God has that kind of feast awaiting us.  There is an open invitation given to us to come and partake of that feast.

The feast offered to us has conditions on it though.  And if we will not meet the conditions, we will not enjoy what God has prepared.  To partake of wisdom, we must forsake folly.  That is what God says to us in this passage.  Forsake your folly and live.  To forsake something means to leave it behind and have nothing more to do with it.  When we forsake folly - we are leaving behind the foolish ways of this present world and choosing instead to eat what God puts before us. 

Note here that when we forsake folly we will live.  The foolishness that men embrace is a foolishness that has far more dire consequences that we think.  It is a foolishness that will not listen to God or embrace what He says.  It is a foolishness that makes us think we are just fine like we are - in need of no great change.  It is a foolishness that does not see the dangers of sin and selfishness and proceeds from sin to sin day after day.  Stay like this and you will find yourself in hell for all eterntiy.  That is why wisdom calls to us to forsake such folly and live. 

We are also told that we need to proceed in the way of understanding.  We leave folly and also embrace the way - the road - the path - the lifestyle of understanding.  The word for understanding means not just to understand something - but also to comprehend it, to be able to discern the right action and then walk in it.  We proceed in the "way" of understanding.  This points us to a path and a lifestyle.  This is not just a one time choice, but something we do over and over again.  God leads us and teaches us and we add it to the other things He has taught us in the past.  As He does this - a lifestyle - a highway is laid out before us.  That is how God wants to lead us.  He wants to show us those ways over time until walking in His way becomes like walking in a highway.  We don't have to be concerned about tight turns - because we are on a highway that is wide and spacious.  That only comes about as we forsake win and stupidity and embrace God's ways from our heart!

There is a feast awaiting us every single day we live.  But it is a feast that is found by the man who forsakes sin - and who embraces truth.  He walks in this way - with many failings and with many sins.  But as he does so - he begins walking in a broader and broader path uutil he sees things clearer than ever - and until choices which may have been difficult at first become successively easier.  May God grant us that kind of meal - that results in that kind of maturity each and every day we live. 
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Keep your way far from her And do not go near the door of her house, Proverbs 5:8

For many, the reason that they fail and fail again in conquering sexual sin is because they are trying to walk as close as they can to the line rather than walking miles from seeing it.  Let me explain as we look at today's "little bit of wisdom." 

Solomon is giving his son great advice here concerning the immoral woman.  He is told to keep his way FAR from her!  He tells his son not to go near to the door of her house!  What great wisdom he offers here - and yet it is as simple as a child learning their first letters.  The problem is that too many ignore this advice - and do so to their own demise. 

FAR - there is the definitive word that we need to remember when it comes to avoiding sexual sin.  What usually happens is that a young man wants to go as close as he can to sin - without actually stepping into it.  He walks the line between sin and righteousness like someone walks a tight rope.  The result of this choice on his part is that he sins - and does so fairly regularly. 

Here is a truth and wisdom you need to remember when it comes to sexual sin - and hanging around the wrong kind of women or men.  If you want to walk as close as you can to sin - you will sin.  You are destined to fall if your goal is to stay close to the edge of sin.  David knew this when he instructed Solomon in this very same information.  David understood this all too well. 

David should have never been in Jerusalem when he committed adultery with Bathsheba.  The Scriptures tell us that when kings went to war . . . David chose to stay home.  This presents a very dangerous situation for David.  First of all, David is not where he should be - fighting for Israel and engaging the Lord's enemies.  So our first lesson is this - if sin is our enemy, why would we want to get as close to it as we can?  If David would have been where God wanted him to be - he would have never faced temptation in the first place. 

David's actions had consequences.  Now he was a man in a city filled with women whose husbands were away at war.  Where there would have been a natural protection afforded to David by the presence of Bathsheba's husband - that was not the case. 

When David was walking on the roof of his house and saw Bathsheba bathing - he could have walked away and gone back into his palace.  Instead he chose to look - and to note that she was a beautiful woman.  Each time David decided to walk on the edge of where God wanted him to be - and what God wanted him to do - David was ensuring that he was going to eventually fall off that edge headlong into sin.  Eventually, David succumbed to the desires that were raging in his heard.  Even though he had a palace filled with wives - and probably by this time concubines - he had to have this woman.  The rest is a sad and sordid history.

But enough about David - how about us?  Where are we walking in these matters?  Are we steering clear of sin - especially sexual sin.  I know of men who have stumbled again and again into pornography and other sexual sin - who grieve over their failures.  But they are unwilling to get a filter - unwilling to submit to accountability - and many think they can continue to get as close to sin as possible rather than run from it. 

If you want to know the answer to all this - it is to follow Solomon's counsel here - and keep away from the immoral woman - or wherever you are seeing her image or pictures.  If anything our heart's desire needs to be a desire to get as close to JESUS as we can!  That is what needs to drive us in our hearts.  We need to have a heart that says - not only do I want to keep away from her and steer clear of the door of her house.  I want to do just the opposite - to keep as close as I can to Christ - and to often go near Him. 

If you want to avoid sexual sin - then AVOID IT!  But in avoiding it, don't think inches or millimeters.  Think miles and miles!  By staying away from the source of temptation - we will find our hearts wonderfully protected as we instead draw near to our Lord Jesus Christ!
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Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all things. Proverbs 28:5

Why should we never trust an evil man to administer justice?  It is because a wicked man is morally confused.  His mind is not filled with what is just - but rather with what his own flesh desires.  He is not led by the Spirit of God, Who takes the Word of God and instructs us in what is right and true.  He is led by the spirit of this world, which, when it does not get what it wants, it kills and steals and decides rules do not apply.

To grasp what this proverb is saying we must once again delve into the whole concept of evil.  The philosophies of today do not recognize evil - or call it what it is.  They state that man is basically good and if left to himself, without negative influences, would self-evolve into everything that is right and good and perfect.  The evil man does not acknowledge God or that God's Word is right and true in all things.  Thus he is blind when it comes to true justice. 

The word "justice" here also needs to be discussed for a moment or two.  This word is "mishpat" in the Hebrew - and it actually means "judgment."  The judgment spoken of here is that of God.  Israel was expected to uphold true justice.  God warned her leaders that they should decide with justice between two brothers in conflict.  God declared what is right - and men were to take what is true and right and use it for judgment and the administration of true justice.  The place we find this "right" and "truth" upon which justice can be understood and practiced is God's Word.  It is written down - and it is absolute truth.  All other truths in the world must conform to it - or be found wanting - and be untrue.  Oh, how the world hates this kind of talk.  "Mollify your statements man," they say with teeth clenched.  But the fact is always the same that the Bible IS truth.  If you want justice - you will have to judge according to what God has to say on the issue.  Nothing else will do - and nothing else ultimately matters.  The fact that evil men reject God's Word and choose instead to decide things by what they think, is the very reason they do not understand justice.

The second half of this proverb states the opposite aspect of this truth.  Those who seek the LORD (who seek Jehovah God) understand all things.  Those who seek the Lord - and do so in truth - seek Him through His revelation of Himself in the Word of God.  This is the ONLY place where you get accurate information about God and Who He is.  When we seek Him and know Him through what His Word teaches us about Him - then we not only understand justice - but we understand all things.  Both times the word "understand" is used it refers to the ability to discern or to perceive what is right.  It means being able to distinguish between two things.  You see the world - you see the Word - and you can make a viable decision on what God wants in any situation. 

Note here that we find that justice is not the only thing you receive when you seek the Lord.  The wicked cannot even grasp justice alone - but the man seeking God - gets it all.  He understands and can discern all things.  There is the glory of knowing and loving the Lord.  You don't get just wisdom - or justice - or joy - you get all things.  Having Him - you have it all!  Paul said in Colossians that in Christ was all the riches of wisdom and understanding.  Those who seek Him understand ALL things!  Thus the goal of our lives should be to seek and to know Him.  We don't study the Bible to become more spiritual - or more wise - or bolder - or anything else.  We study and know the Word because when we do - we get everything.  God gives it all to us in Christ.  Having Him we have everything. 

Evil men should not be trusted to know and administer justice.  The man who can be trusted to make decisions and judgments for an entire society - is the man who desires to know God with all that is in him.  Find that man - and you will find the one who understands all things - not just justice - but the meaning of life itself. 
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The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. Proverbs 11:6

There are reasons to be righteous and godly that are expalined by the path itself.  Such is the case with today's proverb.  It is one that is kind of self-explanatory.  Let's take a look.

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them.  This simply means that the fact that we live a life that is right in the eyes of the Lord will be a source of deliverance itself.  Let me give an example.  I knew a brother who was wrongfully accused and stood before a federal court in what could only be described as a no-win situation.  His lawyer counselled him to 'bend' and 'twist' the truth a little during his testimony so that he would be seen by the jury and the judge in a better light.  He struggled with this advice because he knew the Lord wanted him to simply speak the truth.  The morning of his testimony God confirmed this to him and he purposed in his heart to speak the truth - even if it made him look bad in court.  As he testified he spoke only the truth.  Several times this should have made him look bad - but he spoke it any way.  When he came off the stand - his lawyer looked at him amazed.  He said to him, "Your testimony just won this case."  Sure enough that is exactly what happened.  The righteousness of this brother's testimony was what delivered him.  When they saw his honesty and his godly behavior on the stand - the jury and the judge knew that this man was not guilty of the charges that had been leveled at him. 

The treacherous don't come out as well in the end though.  We are told that their own greed with cause them to be caught.  To be treacherous simply means that someone is untrustworthy.  They cannot be trusted.  In the end, it will be their own greed that will be their downfall.  They will want a little too much - and will reach beyond where they should - and that will ruin them. 

What a great picture for us.  Doing what is right delivers us - it delivers us from so much just for doing the right thing.  First and foremost it means we are NOT doing the wrong thing.  We are not doing something illegal or ungodly.  The very good choices of the righteous means that they are not making bad choices.  This protects them greatly from serious error and serious problems.  But the ungodly - they are just weaving a net for their own feet with their lying ways.  The web of lies and deceit they weave - meant for someone else - meant for some poor sap to step into - winds up being the very trap they themselves will fall into to their demise. 


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Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4

If you asked most people if they would rather have riches or righteousness - most likely most would answer that they would like riches.  That is due to two facts.  First it is due to the fact that mankind is lost and ignorant of their true position before God.  Second, it is due to the fact that the rich man in the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man - has not yet had his message broadcast to the world as he would have wanted.

Proverbs tells us that riches do not profit us in the day of wrath.  If riches are all that we have - we are seriously in trouble.  Note that we read here of the day of wrath.  This refers to the day that God releases His wrath on those who have rejected His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  That will be a sobering day indeed for the rich.  They have stored up their wealth when they should have used it for the glory of God and the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  On that day, their riches will mean nothing.  Honored on earth among men - riches are despised in heaven - unless they have been used for the glory of God. 

Two men would love to testify to this fact.  The first is the rich man who did nothing to alleviate the pain and suffering of a poor beggar named Lazarus.  He lay at the rich man's gate, his only ministers dogs that licked his sores.  HE longed to be fed with the scraps that fell from the rich man's table.  He received nothing from him.  On the day of God's wrath - the rich man was cast into hell and Lazarus was taken into Abraham's bossom - to await the day he would be taken to heaven.  The rich man - suffering miserably - asked that someone be sent to tell his brothers of this place.  He knew that riches would not deliver in that day - only righteousness would do.  The second man who would love to testify  would be the rich farmer who thought he had it made because he had a bumper crop.  Faced with filled barns already, he wondered what to do with his wealth.  He decided to build bigger barns, fill them and then say to himself that he was set for life.  He trusted riches, not righteousness.  He lost.  The Lord called this man a fool and told him that he would die that night - and what would he do for his own soul.

Riches will not profit us in that day when we face the judgment of God.  Only righteousness will do.  Actually, only a certain kind of righteousness will do too.  That is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  That alone will stand in that awful day.  Nothing else will matter except that we've repented and turned in faith to Jesus Christ.  What He did on the cross will pay for our sins - what He did will allow us to be credited with a perfect righteousness that will cause us to be accepted before God.  Only what He did - only His righteousness will matter.  It will save us from death. 

In light of this truth - what are YOU trusting in on the day of God's wrath?  You may think it is not coming - that God is too nice to judge anyone.  The fact of Scripture is to the contrary.  God will judge - He will call us to an accounting - and He will accept only one thing on that day to make us acceptable in His sight.  Oh that we would be wise and run to the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.  Oh that we would open our eyes and be aware of the horror of that day for those who trust anything other than the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.  It alone can deliver from death.  Any other thing will fail eternally.  Now let me ask the question . . . On the day of God's wrath what do you want to have - riches or righteousness?
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For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

According to most folks - you can get wisdom from numerous sources - all of which are pretty much equal to one another.  I know this is not a popular statement - but that view is contrary to what the Scriptures state.  The Word of God makes it clear that the true source of wisdom is Jehovah and the Words that come from His mouth (i.e. revelation of Himself in Scripture).  The world will actually lead you astray in the end - God never will.

Now in order to undestand the previous statement, you have to grasp a biblical view of life.  It is not enough for us to go around and make semi-wise choices in life.  The purpose God gave us life is that we would live for and unto His glory.  That includes coming to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ - then living the rest of our lives to the glory of God.  That is wisdom.  Anything that does not ultimately lead to that end is foolishness. 

Some assert that Confucius, Plato, Socrates, and other philosophers and sages offer us great wisdom.  I do not disagree that they have sayings that are wise - but I also assert that the only reason their sayings reach the level of wisdom is because they agree with what the Scriptures teach us - either directly or in spirit.  The problem with following such wisdom as a source is that none of these men ever came to faith in the God of the Bible.  Thus, in spite of their temporary wisdom - they ended their lives in utter foolishness - following the same rebellious purposes of mankind.  Unfortunately, none of their so-called wisdom led them to see their own sinfulness and the God of creation.  None of their so-called wisdom led them to turn away from their own works and look in faith to God and His solution for the sin of mankind.  I realize that such a statement seems either unbelievably bold or incredibly arrogant.  But this is the standard worldview of the Bible. 

The LORD gives wisdom - this is the assertion of this proverb.  If you really want wisdom - turn to God.  If you want to grasp knowledge and understanding, you are going to have to realize such things come from God's mouth - i.e. the revelation of Scripture.  Jesus said, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  This does not mean that we have to hear God actually speaking to us every day.  Jesus was speaking of how the Scriptures give us God speaking - His revelation of Himself and His will and ways.  If we learn to listen to Him through the Word - we will truly be wise. 

What does it mean to know wisdom in the area of "knowledge?"  The Hebrew word here for knowledge means a technical or specific knowledge of God, of the world, and of how to make practical decisions based upon what God says.  That is a wonderful thing to have - that specific "word" from God that comes from understanding and applying Scripture to your situation.  The ability to technically use God's Word and the knowledge of Him and His ways to know what to do in every situation you face.  The second word, understanding, helps even more.  It means the ability to discern - decide between two things and differentiate between them - thus a biblically based reason and skillfulness in chosing between what is God's will and what is sinful - or in certain cases, second best.  That means we have the ability through knowing God and His Word to see a choice between two or more things - and then be able to distinguish what is God's will and way - and what is not. 

Some want these things through a direct - or at least that is how they represent it - communication with God.  "God told me to do this or that," is their reply to just about everything.  I used to do this more than I needed to and it presents a real problem for us and for those who love us.  It places us in the position of infallibly knowing God's will.  God said it to us - are you questioning God?  I've heard from God - are you questioning Him?  The problem actually is not anyone questioning God - it is that we are questioning your ability to hear Him infallibly at all times.  Thus we place ourselves in a position of not being questioned about our decisions - and put our friends and family in the uncomfortable spot of not really being able to offer loving critique of our infallibility of having heard from God. 

Wisdom is seeing that the way we hear from God is through His Word as His Spirit teaches us - or grants us impressions and leadings.  Often what I was actually saying when I spoke of God speaking to me, was that His Word said something to me - and I was seeking to obey Him.  In all honesty - I could have misinterpreted the Word - or picked a verse that agreed with what I wanted to do.  Remember, the LORD gives wisdom - and it is from His mouth that the specific knowledge and discerning understanding come to make godly decisions.  Therefore it is wise to appeal to His Word - and also be open to correction, suggestion, and possibly even rebuke as to our impression or leading.  This requires the ability to think critically about ourselves and our decisions - which I know is very hard.  But it also requires us to be able to stand on the Word when we know it is God leading us through it.  In the end, it requires knowing the LORD, the Word, and a growing maturity in both.  God does give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to us.  He gives it freely, according to James chapter one, to those who need wisdom and understanding.  Turn to Him - to where He has spoken objectively in His Word - and learn to follow His leading - not as an infallible inner subjective word - but as a work of His Holy Spirit that can be confirmed through the Scriptures and godly counsel.  He will lead you and guide you this way - and you will be far more secure in that leading - than in a subjective feeling you have inside.
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