Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro
 
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. 
 
 
Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold. 11 "For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her. Proverbs 8:10-11 (NASB)

How valuable is wisdom?  You can't find any valuation for it on the New York Stock Exchange or in a bank.  There is no mention of it in any of the mutual funds or among the currency exchange markets either.  So just how valuable is wisdom?  Well, according to what we read in Proverbs 8:10-11 wisdom is extremely valuable - worth far more than anyone in the financial world could imagine. 

First we learn that we should take a father's discipline and instruction rather than silver.  "Musar" is the Hebrew word used here and it means the instruction and discipline that comes through a father's oral instruction - but it can also mean the way this comes through the rod as well.  According to other places in Proverbs (i.e. 1:7, 8:33, 13:1, and 15:5) if we receive this we receive life and the favor of God.  When we reject our father's instruction and discipline, we receive death, poverty, and shame.  In many ways the Word of God says that the way we deal with our father's instruction and discipline will be mirrored in how we receive His in our lives.  Hmmm, a southern way of saying this might be, "Take your daddy's talkin's and whippin's rather than money."  Might sound kind of strange - but when I think of the value of a godly father's instruction - it is something that is invaluable.  When I consider how much I could have learned from my dad - and how much pain and problems could have been prevented in my life if I did - I see where this is worth more than silver.

The second statement her is to take knowledge rather than gold.  This is the Hebrew word "daath" which means a knowledge gained from learning, discernment, and insight.  The word speaks of a knowledge about how life works, as well as a knowledge of the divine.  A way to put this where you can really grasp it is that the knowledge God commends is knowing Him and therefore knowing how to life live to its fullest.  Now if we thought that a father's instruction and discipline was valuable - we will be blown away at the value of the knowledge God gives.  It is worth more than the choicest gold.  The gold described here is what is known as "fine gold" and it describes gold that is highly refined and extremely valuable.  To know God and thus to know how to live this life is so incredibly valuable.  Nothing is worth more to a human being because such wealth does not leave you when you die physically.  To know God and how to live will last for all eternity. 

Next we are told that wisdom is better than jewels.  The word used here usually refers to rubies and other highly valuable gems.  The word also indicates that these are not raw jewels, but ones that have been cut and adorned with gold and other items to make them highly valuable.  Imagine if you will the entire collection of England's crown jewels.  These are not as valuable as wisdom.  Wisdom again is simply seeing things the way that God sees them and thus knowing how to make decisions that please and honor Him.  To close out this proverb we finally read that "all desireable things cannot compare with her."  Take all the things of this world that men consider valuable.  Pile them all up into one glorious wealthy heap - and all these things together cannot compare to wisdom. 

This world puts great pride in what they consider valuable.  We even used to have a show were the lives of the rich and famous were put on display for all of us to covet.  The problem is that all those things are not as desireable as knowing God.  They don't add up to a life where we learn valuable and wise lessons from our earthly fathers - then follow their example by learning from God Himself the very things they have sought to teach us.  What is the value of wisdom?  It is of such a high value that they've not even invented charts that can accurately show the true value and the wealth that comes from it.  That can only be measured in the joy and thrill of a myriad of lifetimes spent in the presence of God Himself in heaven. 
 
 
A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, Proverbs 1:5

When does a person stop learning in life?  According to Proverbs, only an unwise man stops learning.  A truly wise man will hear things throughout his entire life and will continue learning from what he hears.  Here in verse 5 of chapter 1 of Proverbs we see that in the opening statement of Proverbs a lifetime of learning is what the wise man embraces. 

The fool is the one who thinks he knows everything.  He walks about in life thinking he has learned all he needs to learn.  But it is a fact of life that we will never learn a billionth of all there is for us to know.  Were we to spend a thousand lifetimes doing nothing but learning - we would only scratch the surface of all that there is to know in the universe - let alone know all there is to know about God.  Therefore we should always be listening, studying, and opening our minds to learn as much as we can.  Only this way can we ever hope to have a heart of wisdom. 

When the wise man hears the words of Solomon - and more importantly the Word of God - he hears.  Note it does not say that he listens - for many listen but don't actually hear what is being said.  The wise man hears what is said and allows it to sink deep within his heart.  When he does so he increases in learning.  The word for learning here is very interesting.  It is "leqah" and it means learning or insight.  The idea behind this word is not just gathering a group of facts.  It refers to when a person has insight due to the facts that they know.  Spiritual education requires that we know the facts - but it goes far beyond that.  Spiritual education leads someone to be able to have insight - to be astute to what God is doing and saying.  It means we are able to discern between good and evil - between knowing God and not knowing Him.  When we increase in learning we are not just increasing in the amount of knowledge we have.  We are increasing in our ability to walk with God and discern all things from His standpoint. 

The second half of the Proverb points this out to us.  It tells us that a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.  When we hear and learn - we will also gain understanding and wisdom.  We hear and are able to distinguish the difference between things - between choices - between outcomes.  We understand the truth - and can apply the truth to every situation of our lives.  In doing this we acquire the counsel of wisdom from God.  The Lord makes Himself known to us - and knowing Him makes all the difference in the world.  We see things differently - and definitely make different choices. 

A good question to ask ourselves is whether we are just gathering information - or we are gaining a greater insight and ability to make godly choices in life.  If we constantly hear what God is saying to us in His Word, in the circumstances of our lives, and through the godly counsel of others, we will increase in our ability to discern and see things as God sees them.  "THAT" will do wonderful things in helping us make good choices all day long - and over the course of our lives.
 
 
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. 
 
 
The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. Proverbs 12:5

Why is it far more wise to deal with a righteous man than with someone whom the Bible would refer to as wicked?  That is what is set before us today in Proverbs. 

The first thing we see here is that the very thoughts of the righteous are described for us.  The word "thought" here is the Hebrew "machashabah" and it means a thought, a purpose, a device, or an intention.  The word means the actions and deeds that spring from the thoughts that fill someone's mind.  These thoughts that lead to actions are described as "just."  These thoughts are governed by the justice and the right-ness of God.  The righteous man has as his guide and as his governing principles the Word of God.  As the Spirit of God uses the Word to guide him - the righteous man wants to do what is just in God's sight - and thus is most likely to do that which is truly just and right in any situation.  That is why you definitely want to do business and to be in the counsel of a righteous man.  He is not governed by his lusts and by wicked desires.  Things like dishonesty and stealing are just wrong to him.  Therefore you can trust him to do what is right at all times and in all situations.  One of the psalms describes this man as one who will swear to his own hurt - and not change.  This means that even when he sees later that he has made a business decision that is not in his best interests - he will be true to his word - even when that means being hurt by it. 

The counsels of the wicked on the other hand - are deceitful.  You do not want to do business with a man the Bible describes as wicked - because of the issue of character.  The counsels here are the advice and the counsel that this wicked man follows.  They are consistent with his character, which by the way is seriously lacking.  His counsels are deceitful.  He may promise something, but in the end he will not deliver on it.  He is out for his own good and does not even blink at lying to someone if he can gain from it.  He is not trustworthy - and therefore any commitment and any decision he makes is not worth the paper it is printed upon. 

This is why you want to know the character of those with whom you do business.  This is important because a man's word should be his bond - but often it is not.  Let me close this particular proverb with a cry for godly Christian businessmen to rise up and make themselves known in our society.  As a pastor, I deal with brothers who are businessmen.  One thing that I have heard that grieves me deeply is how they talk of other Christian businessmen - and of born again Christians in general.  They have made statements that they really don't like to deal with those who readily identify themselves as Christians.  The reason they say this is because of the number of times they have been burned by so-called brothers in business deals.  What a horrific commentary this is on the church!  God's people SHOULD BE the best people to deal with in business matters.  They should be the most honest - the most godly - the most righteous and trustworthy.  What I hear though is that they are not.  In fact what I hear consistently is that the one person you don't want to do business with is a Christian.  I say this not to denigrate the church - but to chastise myself and all true born again Christians for not being the witness that they should be when it comes to how we do business.  God calls us to be a witness for Him - not just in words - but in all that we do.  It is the counsels of the wicked that are to be deceitful.  The thoughts and ways of the righteous - they are to be just.  May God gives us grace to reclaim the culture in the days ahead so that the name of Christ no longer has to bear the disgrace of ungodly believers.
 
 
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your intimate friend; That they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with her words. Proverbs 7:4-5

Solomon is teaching his son the kind of relationship you should have with wisdom and understanding.  He uses two interesting pictures here to describe this relationship - but they become so much clearer when you see the issue that wisdom is addressing in our lives. 

"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister."  That is the first metaphor that Solomon uses to describe our relationship with wisdom.  Wisdom should have a place in our heart like family does.  Like a sister walks with us and can speak to us - so wisdom is to have that access in our lives.  We are to allow our sister wisdom to warn us - and this is especially true in the area Solomon is about to mention.  Verse 5 tells us that this is in the area of the adulteress.  There are few people who can help a brother better than his sister when it comes to knowing when a woman is in his life that should not be.  I did not have any sisters, but I've watched my own daughters know in moments whether a woman was good for their brothers or not.  I've also seen them speak to their brothers lovingly yet firmly of this as well.  But even closer to us that the wise counsel of our sisters is the counsel of the Holy Spirit as He speaks wisdom to us concerning this issue.  He is trying to get us to see things from the perspective of the Father in heaven - who sees exactly what a woman is and is not.  Oh, how we need to listen and to heed his warnings - and see the adulteress outside our hormonal view that too often dominates and deceives us. 

Another way to see this is to call understanding our intimate friend.  Here is a word that is even more fascinating.    Intimate friend here is the Hebrew word "moda" which means a kinsman or relative.  What is truly wonderful about this word is that it is the word used in Ruth for the kinsman redeemer.  This is a picture of Christ, who redeems us out of our slavery and out of our troubles.  Understanding can redeem us from a bad situation when we are about to be involved with a woman who will destroy us.  When we understand, we discern godly actions - and that discernment helps us to make right choices.  We not only see wisdom, but we comprehend it.  

Zhodiates comments on this word are eerie when we see it used here.  "A lack of this kind of understanding was morally culpable and resulted in sin."  When we lack understanding - when we do not discern that an action is evil and will result in us sinning against God and others - we are in great danger.  We've all heard the statement - it is one thing to know the Bible, but another to understanding it and apply it to all of life.  That is what Solomon is saying to his son here - that understanding should be like his kinsman redeemer.  Understanding and the abilty to discern evil from good - as well as the direction to actually choose it as well - will rescue him from many dangers.  The lack of these will leave him open to much harm - and that is multiplied when it comes to situations involving the adulteress.

 We begin to grasp why wisdom and understanding need to be our sister and kinsman redeemer when we see the way that the adulteress seeks to capture men.  The wise father here is offering very sage advice to his son - in an effort to rescue him from the snares of immoral women who would capture him with their wiles. Wisdom and understanding keep us from the adulteress.  There is something we need to hear in our day - or any day for that matter.  If a man does not walk in this world with his spirit open to the Holy Spirit - he will have the normal abnormalcy of walking in his flesh.  I call this normal - because it is the state of all who come into this world.  I call it abnormalcy because that was not how God originally made man - nor is it where God wants us to be.  Too many men, young and old, walk blind to spiritual realities.  This makes them sitting ducks for immorality and every other kind of vice common to mankind.  It is only seeing things from God's perspective that will guard us from the adulteress.  Thus we need to think in cooperation with the Holy Spirit who desires to give us wisdom and understanding - not with our desires and with our labido.  We need to be guarded and protected . . . from ourselves. 

This "strange woman," which is what the Hebrew literally says, is a foreigner.  This term may surprise you, but it has more to do with a "spiritual" foreigner than any kind of nationality issues.  God warned Israel about the nations that surrounded her because their daughters would intermarry with Israel's sons.  God's concern was that this situation would result in Israel's sons worshipping the false god's that these women worshipped.  As a result, these sons would turn from the Lord and follow the false gods of the nations instead of the one true God, Jehovah.

The adulteress has a secret weapon in her arsenal.  It is one that God warns us of - and yet still hundreds and thousands of men fall for it every day.  She "flatters" with her words.  Men love for their egos to be stroked and pampered.  They love it when a woman says nice things about them - compliments them - and tells them how wonderful they are.  (As a man, I fear that this comes from the arrogant prideful thought within me that when they do - they are so right - because . . . well . . . because I just so incredibly awesome!)  Oh, here is the danger, men!  We want the ego strokes because of our pride.  When a man has been married for a while - too often these ego-strokes begin to fade in the marriage due to men being doofusses and due to the natural progression of sin. 

(Just a note to wives . . . ladies, you cannot ever grasp how important it is for your husband to know you appreciate him - and that you still consider him your hero - and a warning as well is needed here.  If you don't do this - or think its just dumb to say things like this cause you've been married 5, 10, 20, 30 years.  I can promise you that at some point, some other woman may begin complimenting and flattering your husband.  He is still responsible to be godly, be pure, and be faithful.  But that task becomes all the more difficult - when he receives no encouragement at home - no ego-strokes - no compliments.  This makes it harder to resist when someone finally appreciates him.  This is not meant to justify unfaithfulness - it just hopefully helps you see that your God-given task of being his helpmate (which includes encouragement and seeing him as your hero) will make it so much easier for him to see the smooth, flattery of the adulteress for what it is . . . a trap!)

The adulteress uses flattery to trap a man.  She uses compliments and smooth statements as bait for another woman's husband.  The word for flattery means words that are smooth and slippery.  What a picture of the deception and the lies that are at work here.  She worships herself and her own desires - and she is working hard through her slippery, smooth comments to get this poor sap to join her in her worship.  He can worship himself and enter into her worship of herself through an illicit relationship.  She catches her prey by luring him in through the baited compliments she places into her trap.

Wisdom and understanding are essential to delivering us from such things.  God's viewpoint is simple men.  Are you married?  Do you presently have a wife?  Then this is totally and completely out of bounds!  If this is absolutely outside of God's will for you - then who could be behind such counsel and such temptation?  We need to see these compliments for what they are.  They are bait on a hook!  If you nibble at the bait - a hook is going to tear through the flesh of your lip - possibly rip open your jaw - and no matter how hard you fight, you're going to be reeled in and mounted as a trophy on Satan's wall!  My how that description just changed how we view the flattery and slippery speech of the adulteress!  We went from being enamored with her beauty and the promise of ecstasy - to feeling sick at our stomachs at the thought of a hook tearing through our skin and the pain that it would yield.  Good!!  That is what wisdom and understanding are supposed to do.  They are supposed to take the silly trappings off of the devil's lies - off of our flesh and its deceptive thoughts - and show us the horror of what truly lies ahead. 

This is why wisdom is to be our sister - and understanding our kinsman redeemer.  They can take the most sensual, inviting situation and show it for what it is.  It is going to be horrible!  It is going to be bondage!  It is going to be regretted in the end!  May God give us grace to see these things - to wake up out of the stupor of our fleshly sleep - and see the truth before it is too late. 

 
 
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Proverbs 4:5

How do you become wise?  There is a question for the ages, yet the answer as you will see is much easier than you would think.  Becoming wise involves first wanting to be wise.  We've seen from other Proverbs that the first step in becoming wise is to realize that you are not wise.  That may at first sound ridiculously simple - but you would be surprised how many people miss it.  Once you realize that you are not wise, the next step is told to us here.  You begin to do all that you can to acquire wisdom and understanding.  Of course I know the next question will be, "How do you do that?"  That is what we will examine today as we look at this Proverb.

If you want to acquire wisdom, you hang out with wise people.  This is important mainly because it should move you toward God.  Since He is the author of all wisdom - you would want to spend a lot of time reading what He has to say and listening to what He desires to communicate to you.  This also means you want to cultivate the habit of being very sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you in the Word each day.  One of the quickest ways to move from foolishness to wisdom is to listen to and to follow Him.  This means working on the discipline of getting into God's Word every day.  It means getting into it with a heart that listens to God.  You are not just "doing your Bible reading," but you are seeking God's face - desiring His counsel - and longing to communicate with Him in a way that you have the wisdom you need for life itself. 

Some other things that would be ways to acquire wisdom would be to read often in the book of Proverbs.  This is the book of wisdom itself in the Scriptures, so it is only right to spend time in this particular book.  Learn to do a "daily proverb."  This is the practice of reading the chapter of Proverbs that coincides with the day of the month.  Since there are 31 chatpers in Proverbs you will never lack a chapter for the day of the month - and over time you will watch your mind be filled with God's wisdom.  Another thing to do is to learn "the moral of the story" in the history of the Bible.  We can learn a great deal from both the wise and foolish behavior of people in the Bible.  You can add to this reading books written by wise men, receiving godly counsel from older, wiser men and women, and also listening and going to your own parents for counsel.  These are all ways you can acquire wisdom.  By the way, the word wisdom itself simply means, "learning to see things from God's perspective."  That is what you are seeking as you do all these things. 

The verse here also says that we are to acquire "understanding."  We are not just gathering wise sayings and teachings.  We are wanting to be able to comprehend and discern what do to and what to say in life.  This word means to have that discernment that knows how to choose the right thing and reject the wrong thing.  It has a strong moral and religious sense to it.  We want to gain and acquire an ability to see two things that differ (even if they only differ slightly) and know how to choose the right one and embrace it wholly.  This involves not just learning and acquiring wise sayings and information - it involves using it to see our situation as God sees it.  It is applying the wisdom we've learned to each and every situation that we face.  This comes with time and with continued wise counsel.  It comes as we do post mortem work on our previous decisions - and on the decisions of others.  This is not done for the sake of condemnation - but to learn from what we've done wrong and what we've done right.  It involves humility as we pick a personal disaster apart and examine just what made us make such a foolish decision.  As we do this - we will better know what do to in the future - and how to recognize similar situations and make much wiser decisions when we face those sitiuations in the future.

The last thing we need to do also seems so simple - but actually it is very profound.  We need to remember what we've learned.  The father tells his son, "Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth."  As we hear the earthly father parrot these words, we should realize that these are the same words that God uses over and over again throughout the Law, the Prophets, the wisdom writings, the Psalms, and the New Testament.  I think in some way all of us are afflicted with a little spiritual alzheimers.  We forget what God taught us.  One of the funniest, yet saddest pictures of this is the disciples freaking out in a boat that is being tossed and turned by the waves.  In order to move around in the boat they had to step over the 12 baskets of food Jesus just had them gather the day before.  They had to stumble over them to get to Jesus to tell Him to wake up because they were all about to perish!  Jesus then got up - rebuked the wind and waves - and pretty much blew their minds at the power God gave Him.  But where would they have learned this?  Oh, from the feeding of the 25,000 to 30,000 people from just yesterday!!  But then again - we have a bad tendency to forget what we've been taught. 

God calls us to remember!  Remember the lessons God taught you.  Don't forget the valuable information He shared with you.  Don't drop the ball that He just gave you!  This is not easy folks.  If it was He wouldn't say it so often - and we wouldn't blow it so often.  We are prone to pride and to self-sufficiency.  That is often at the root of why we forget.  We don't exactly embrace the whole idea of not being able to do things ourselves.  We don't exactly enjoy going to God for counsel on decisions.  We don't exactly warm up to the fact that we need to surrender our wills to God daily - even hourly and if it were a word, "minutely."  This deals with the last bit of wisdom the father shares with his son. 

The last thing that keeps us from acquiring wisdom and understanding is rebellion and disobedience.  The father says to his son that he is not to "turn away" from the words that he speaks.  Our last problem with acquiring wisdom is that we turn away from it willingly.  WE ARE REBELLIOUS!  There are times when we choose to be wise in our own eyes - and chart of course for disaster in the process.  This requires that we die to self daily.  It requires that we recognize that though we are converted - we are not fully sanctified.  We need to see the subtle workings of our flesh, the world system, and Satan in our lives.  Follow these three and you will not walk in wisdom.  You will not acquire it - nor keep it.

Acquiring wisdom and understanding is imperative for each of us.  It involves humbling ourselves and listening to God - and those through whom He would speak to us.  It involves not just listening, but learning and discerning what is said and how it applies to where we are going and what we are doing and saying.  It is a life long process that allows us to grow in wisdom only in so much as we continue to view our world through the eyes of God.  It will only be then that we will have acquired wisdom - acquired understanding -and have learned how to glorify God in the things we say and do.


 
 
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. 5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.  Proverbs 26:4-5 

This particular verse and the next one have caused a stir among some who would like to think the Bible contradicts itself here.  As usual though, when you actually study the text (rather than knee-jerk react to it) you will find no contradiction.  You will find wisdom in dealing with fools - even those who have knee-jerk reactions hoping to discredit the Scriptures!

The wisdom given here in verse 4 is that we are not to answer a fool according to his folly because when we do so, we become just like the fool.  The fool would ask whether the infinite God can create a rock bigger than he can pick up.  If we answer him according to his folly, we will become like him.  The unwise man will answer, "No," to this question.  He thus falls into the trap set by the fool, who then jumps on the answer saying that then God is not infinite - because God cannot make the rock.  The problem with this question is that it is foolish in its very presupposition.  If God is infinite (which He is according to His self-revelation in Scripture) then by this very definition He is without limits in every way.  The question presupposes God is either less than infinite in power to make the rock - or less than infinite in power to pick up the rock He makes.  If God is infinite - any language that presupposes anything but infinite power and ability is by its very nature foolish.  Don't answer the fool according to his folly - for in doing so you will become like him.  You will make the same foolish presupposition that God can in any way be limited.  You answered the fool within the scope of his foolish thinking.  When a fool speaks this way - he proves he is a fool.  These kind of questions do not seek knowledge or answer - they seek an opportunity to pounce on anyone who answers them.  Therefore to answer them at all is to place yourself on the level of the fool - to make yourself just like him - a fool.  Jesus spoke of not casting our pearls before swine - because they will trample them and then turn on us.  To answer a fool in his folly is to cast pearls before swine. 

There are times when Christians need to remain silent.  Our lives and our faith should speak for us.  Our wisdom at times is better revealed by saying nothing than it is by wanting to have an answer for everything.  But there are times to answer a fool according to his folly.  A better way to state this for our understanding is that we are to answer a fool as his folly deserves.  So let's take a look also at verse 5 today - because it offers wisdom from the other way we need to deal with fools.

Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes.  When we answer fools it often does not need to be as they have questioned us.  We don't need to get into the slop with them in their statements.  But often we need to answer not their questions, but their spirit and their intent.  Oh, how we need to watch Jesus on this one (actually we should watch Him all the time - but on this one He offers such great interactions with fools).

When I read the gospels I am always fascinated that Jesus answers some people's questions - and others He does not.  He offers answers to his disciples when they question Him about certain things - but when he is asked questions by the foolish Pharisees and Saducees - He often answers their questions with questions - or with statements that reveal their heart.  Here is how to answer a fool as his folly deserves.  When Jesus asks a question to answer a question - He puts the responsibility to answer back into the court of the fool.  Almost every time He did this - it revealed the wicked, foolish heart of the questioner.  He answered as they deserved - and answered in such a way as to reveal the motives and heart of the one who wanted to trap Him.  Here is true wisdom dear saints.  He took the time to see past words to the intent of their heart.  We err when we think our purpose is to simply answer the words of those who questioin us.  What we need to do is to answer their heart.  But the question naturally arises, "How can we answer the intent of someone's heart?  How can we know this?"

Let me answer your question with a question.  How well do you know the Word of God?  How often do you discern what someone says using the Word of God?  The reason I ask this question is because Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."  Do you see the highlighted part of this verse?  It says that the Word of God can judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  This means when we look at all things (including what a fool says to us) through the lens of God's Word, we will be able to see thoughts and intentions of the heart that are behind the words we hear.  You ability to answer fools as they deserve to be answered will rest on your ability to see what they are saying through God's Word - and avoid the traps that your own ego or your own desire to put them in their place afford. 

Why should a fool be answered?  It is because he needs to experience God - and God's wisdom.  If your desire to speak, as I said above, is because "you" want to put him in his place - well - then we have two fools speaking to each other.  That kind of motivation comes from pride and a misplaced zeal that has little or nothing to do with God's honor and glory.  Note in the gospels how many times the words of Jesus left men blown away with the wisdom with which He spoke.  His answers left them with a touch of God.  Do our answers do as much?  You see, this is what we should covet.  We should desire that whatever answer God has us give leaves them with a sense of God's wisdom. 

Amazing isn't it that when we take the time to examine the full intent of God's Word - that seeming contradictions become some of the most wonderful truths.  There is a large contingent of fools out there in the world.  Our purpose needs to be to walk with God so that whether we are silent or speak - they do not run into us being God's vigilante - but rather they run into God Himself.  In the end He will be the One who answers all their questions and statements.  But He will do so bringing them to His desired humility for their lives - but also bringing them to Himself - and to His grace that can change their hearts from foolishness to wisdom - from their sinfulness to His righteousness - from being children of wrath to being children of grace.  Honestly . . . isn't that what He wants in the end?  He's not after some kind of prideful display where He puts them in their place - unless the place of which we speak is His salvation through grace. 
 
 
To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, Proverbs 1:4

Why should we read and study the Proverbs?  Here we receive additional reasons why knowing and studying this material is so important to us. 

We begin with the biblical fact that we are fallen due to sin.  This is so important for us to understand, because it reminds us that we are so prone to being deceived and led astray.  Far too many people do not begin with the sinfulness of the human heart as a starting place for learning and wisdom.  We tend to deceive ourselves in thinking that we cannot be deceived.  Thus we tend to be naive and don't question ourselves in our decisions and in our natural way of thinking.  Here is where the wisdom of God is our greatest friend.   Solomon writes that the proverbs are written to give prudence to the naive and discretion to the youth.  Let's take a look at both o these things as we consider a little bit of wisdom today.

The naive are the ones who are simpleminded and foolish.  The Hebrew word here refers to the person who is naive and too simpleminded when considering the complexities and challenges of life itself.  They do not have suficient understanding or perception to properly grasp how to make decisions in life.  The naive are very broadminded - but not in a good way.  What they need is skillfulness in discerning things.  They need an ability to detect subtleties in life.  The word for prudence actually means a craftiness which we usually consider a bad thing.  But for the one who is wise it is the ability to see through things - and to detect trickery and the kind of thinking that sets traps.  In Joshua 9 when the Gibeonites deceived Israel with their appearance - Joshua was deceived because he did not use the proper prudence to detect the craftiness of these wicked men.  Because Joshua simple trusted his eyes and the supposed honesty of the Gibeonites motives and words - he was deceived and led astray. 

Unfortunately we live in a fallen world where appearances do not always relfect the truth of a situation.  This is why we need God's perspective and counsel in all matters.  Yes, it would be wonderful if all men and women were perfectly honest - but they are not.  There are amazing subtlties in life that can only be properly understood by knowing God and going to Him for wisdom and understanding.

The second half of today's proverb says to us that the youth needs knowledge and discretion.  All of us have been and have known youths who know everything.  They have no need for anyone to share additional knowledge - nor do they need to know the ways of mankind - because they know everything.  This is definitely a product of of sin entering our world.  We desperately need for the youths in our lives to hear and increase in knowledge.  It is only by adding knowledge and a better skill in distinguishing things that have subtle differences that they will grow in wisdom.  Without such a growth in wisdom, they will find themselves in serious trouble - and as we learn often in Scripture - deceived and led astray from God's ways.  Therefore we need to keep our minds and our hearts open to God's Word and the teaching of His Spirit concerning wisdom.  God wants us to have a greater ability to detect and discern His ways and paths.  If we keep our hearts wide open to Him - we will know that wisdom and will be kept from many problems that might otherwise trip us up in life.
 
 
Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. Proverbs 19:6

Before I went on my recent diet I must confess that I was a somewhat regular visitor to a local donut shop.  While visiting there I saw part of this proverb fulfilled on a regular basis.  I would watch well dressed businessmen come in and buy two dozen donuts of various types and then head out for their important appointment.  Now I do not think these businessmen were donut freaks - they were just using the donuts to gain access to a customer.  Every man is a friend to him who gives gifts - especially when those gifts are donuts early in the morning.

Some proverbs are meant to help us understand human nature.  This is one of them.  The fact is that many men will seek the favor of a generous man.  The word for "generous" here means more than just someone who is giving.  It also means a noble man - one born of nobility - which also usually means a wealthy man - and one connected in such a way that he has power.  The simple fact of life is that many will seek this man's favor because of what he offers to them.  This is why people in high positions should be careful about those who are courting their favor.  It is a very rare thing for people in these kind of positions to find people who want nothing from them but friendship. 

The man who gives gifts will have many friends.  But - there is a flip side to this as well.  If you have the majority of your friends because of how generous you are - be careful to seek to court true friends in the midst of them.  When the gifts cease often so does their friendship.  That is why you want no only to be generous toward others - but also discerning.  Generous because it is a good thing to learn to be generous toward others - but discerning as well because you also want to know who are real friends are in life.  In the end - they will be the ones who will stick with you no matter what your bottom line is - or what your gifts will help to make theirs.