Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro
 
One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer. The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men. Proverbs 24:8-9

There is a foolishness that leads men to plan evil and devise ways of running after foolish things.  We are warned against such things here in Proverbs.  The term "plan" here means to think up things, to mull them over in your mind and to consider something extensively before doing it.  The wicked man's mind is set on his evil - he plans it and considers it - thinking through the things he is going to do.  Every wicked man is given to doing evil - everyone who has not been redeemed by the work of Christ on the cross is set in this direction - but there are those who take it to another level.  They actually sit and make serious plans to act out their evil.  Proverbs tells us that men like this will become known as a "schemers." 

What is a "schemer?"  The term here is literally, "lord of mischief."  He becomes a master at doing things that are wrong - things that are just plain evil.  The word here is "ra" and it means evil, misery, and wickedness.  It is not just that the schemer is planning mischief like you would see from a bunch of young men who plan pranks.  This is a man who is planning and scheming about evil and godless things.  And anyway - who wants the title, "lord of mischief" anyway?  This is not exactly a title that brings great respect with it, except among those who glory in evil. 

The next verse expounds upon this even further.  We read that the devising of folly is sin.  There it is as plain as we can make it.  When you become known as the "lord of mischief" you are sinning.  When a person begins to "devise" folly - they are planning, purposing wickedness, lewdness and sin.  The Hebrew word used here almost never pertains to any kind of good intention.  It is reserved for the plotting of the wicked and the thoughts of foolish people.  This word also is used heavily when describing sexual sins like prostitution, adultery, rape, and incest.  This is NOT a good word at all - and when we are planning and purposing to do such things - we are walking in gross wickedness and sin.  That is why this word for planning and purposing here is stated as sin itself.  When we are devising foolish things like this - we are sinning.  There cannot be any clearer statement than this made to us and given as a warning to us. 

This is also why when someone begins walking in this way, they become a scoffer.  They scoff at God's Word with its warnings and its prohibitions of such lifestyles.  They hate it - and mock it because it points to their actions and says plainly that they are sinful and wicked.  In fact - this particular scoffer is so godless that God tells us that he is an "abomination to men."  This is sinking to the lowest of low points.  We have someone who has decided to plan and to map out their life for the purpose of evil, godless scheming, being the "lord of mischief," walking in folly, sinning, and scoffing at God's ways and morals.  This is not a path the wise want to take.  It is a warning to us to abandon even the smallest of sins - and to deeply abhor departing from the Lord.  We do so because we do not want to displease or dishonor the Lord in any way.
 
 
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.  Proverbs 28:4

How should a Christian deal with the wicked in society?  That is part of what we will learn in this passage in Proverbs.  We read of those who "forsake" the law here.  These are people who look at God's law and they abandon it.  They want to loose themselves from it - and see God's Law as a binding thing - something that chains them and keeps them from doing what they want to do.  They separate themselves from what God says is morally and ethically right.  Not only do they do this - but they praise the wicked.  The wicked are the ones who revolting against God.  They do not want to obey the Lord  - nor do they intend on doing so.  When men forsake God's Law - they don't want anything to do with it - or with anyone who is obeying it.  They prefer boasting and rubbing elbows with those who reject it as well.  They praise the wicked for their open-mindedness and for their desire for life.  They package evil and wickedness in such a way that it looks good and acceptable.  Problem is that God does not change His mind - and the things that He considered wicked before - He will continue to consider them wicked until the end of time.

The ones who keep God's Law - they strive against the wicked.  Keepers of the Law are those who watch over it and seek to protect it.  They cringe at the thought of disobedience - but they also realize the damage it causes.  Therefore they strive with the wicked.  To strive here means to stir oneself up against something.  When we strive against the wicked - we are standing up to their views and opposing them.  We will not allow them to win the battle of ideas in our world without a fight.

The way this looks in the world today is that godly men and women stand for God's righteousness.  We stand for it in our homes - in our churches, and yes, in the world system itself.  We will not go quietly, but will show people the error of living apart from God's Word and ways.  We will fight them in the marketplace of ideas - by preaching the teaching the Word of God.  We will show that a godless lifestyle is not blessed here - or in eternity.  God's ways are best - and we will stand for them and in them. 

So how do we do this in our current situation.  First, we identify what is godly, what God considers to be righteousness and what He considers to be sin.  Next, we pray for God to grant us victory in overcoming the wicked.  Then . . . we act!  The slave trade was an evil in the British empire.  It was one that William Wilberforce was unwilling to stomach.  He fought and strove with the wicked within the empire in an effort to ban it in their country.  It was not a short fight for Wilberforce, but rather one that lasted most of his career - yet he strove on - never losing sight of his Lord - or of what was right in the midst of it.  We face a similar fight today with the abortion industry.  This is a wicked practice and one which God abhors.  If we are God's people and grasp righteousness - we need to rise up and strive with the wicked once again on this issue.  No matter how long it takes - or how difficult the battle becomes, we need to strive with the wicked on this matter until this barbaric practice is laid aside in our nation.  We must speak against it - work for godly legislation that will outlaw it - and offer ministry to the women who would be drawn into it.  This is how we practically take this Proverb - and we do so everywhere wickedness r
 
 
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. Proverbs 17:4

What does it say about us if we are willing to listen to evil thing and to wicked statements?  What kind of lesson should we learn from the shame of having listened to someone who says damaging things about others - and their motives are far from pure in saying such things. 

Anyone who lives in this world knows that there are plenty of people who speak with wicked lips.  It is a liability of living in a fallen world that this is the case.  So the fact is that we will hear plenty of wicked things said each wek we are alive.  But the proverb does not speak about over hearing wicked things being said.  It speaks to those who "listen" to these things.  Listen is the word "qasab" and it means to listen carefully to something - to pay attention and to give heed to it.  Most of all this kind of listening intends eventually to obey what it is listening to when it hears.  This is why we read that an evil DOER listens to wicked lips.  It is because they listen with an intent to obey and to be influenced in a bad way. 

When we pay attention to those with a "destructive tongue" we have another problem coming in the future.  The destructive tongue is one that speaks so as to cause destruction and calamity.  The word in the Hebrew has the idea of someone who has a destructive desire toward others.  Here is something that unfortunately has run amok in our society.  We have people seeking to destroy others with their words.  They want to destroy and cause havoc with what they say.  Too often this is the level of political discourse in our country.  We have both sides desiring to destroy the other with their words.  What everyone pretty much knows is that whatever is said is either blown out of proportion, or is a total lie altogether.  Thus, when we listen to such things - we will find ourselves eventually lying just like the ones to whom we listen.  Thus the proverb warns us that a liar pays attention to these things.  Those who constantly listen to lies will in time speak the same way as they are hearing. 

These things both begin with what we listen to and pay attention to in our lives.  In time what enters our ears will make its way to our hearts - and we know from the Word that what is in our hearts will eventually come out of our mouths.  This progression is unavoidable.  Therefore we need to heed closely the admonition of Scripture, "Be careful what you listen to!"
 
 
That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge. Proverbs 5:2

One of the ways that we know that we are being discreet in life is by what comes out of our mouths when we speak.  What is fascinating about this passage is that the overall gist of the fifth chapter of Proverbs is that it deals primarily with the issue of immorality and those who fall into the trap the adulteress. 

One of the reasons why we need to gain wisdom and understanding is so that we may watch out to be discreet.  The word "observe" in this passage means to guard and be careful.  Zhodiates states that this word basically means to be on your guard.  What you are guarding is "discretion."  Yet the word is different than the discretion that is mentioned most often in the book of Proverbs.  It means a thought - or the thoughts in our minds that are used to make up our plans.  There is one major point though that needs to be distinguished about this word.  It most often means evil plans and schemes that are contrary to God's ways.  What Solomon is warning his son to watch out for in life is evil plans and schemes that begin to formulate in his mind.

When it comes to maintaining purity in our lives, what happens in our heads is vitally important.  We need to watch over our minds and what is running through them.  Actions begin as thoughts - which in time turn into plans and schemes.  The reason we watch and guard our minds is to make sure that when lust and immoral thoughts try to push in - we deal with them.  It is not just enough to push these thoughts out - we need to bring them to the cross.  The Word tells us to mortify these things - and that means to kill them!  Nothing short of this will do. 

The second half of this proverb says that when we watch over the development of evil plans and schemes in our heads - it will help us to watch over our mouths.  Our mouths will speak "a knowing" when we guard our minds.  This knowing is once again primarily a discernment - but one that is specific to the situation.  Remember that here this refers to sexual immorality and the wiles of the adulteress.  We are warned in the very next verse that the adulteress captures men with her words and her flattery.  These things often cause men to be deceived in their hearts and minds.  The flattery of a woman giving them attention strokes their pride and their ego - something very dangerous to a man who doesn't watch what enters and walks through his mind.  In time his pride and ego can lie to him and fill his mind with thoughts of further flattery.  He begins wanting to spend more time with this woman - at lunch and eventually at secret meetings he keeps from his wife.  We all know where this is going - toward an eventual adulterous relationship with this woman.  Yet the real danger started with the thoughts that ran through his mind - and the words he began to speak to this woman because he didn't watch and guard against the adulterous thoughts that were fostered in his head.  He may not wake up until the damage is irrepairable. 

It is vital to our spiritual progress and protection to keep a close eye on what is going through our minds.  This is the stuff that can cause us serious problems.  What begins in just a seed form in our minds will eventually sprout and bear disastrous fruit.  Better to deal with seeds by being wise - than have to cut down entire forests because of a lack of watchfulness.
 
 
From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence. Proverbs 13:2

How we speak will often determine the level of blessing we enjoy in our lives.  Now I do not speak of the way some mention words as if by our speaking we can create blessing and curse.  This is the name it claim it crowd - who think merely mentioning we might be sick will insure we are because of our unbelief and our disobedience.  This doctrine is just theological wind. 

What the proverb is teaching us is that when it comes to how we speak - what we give is often what we get.  On the good side of things, the man who speaks what is good and uses his mouth to build up and love others - will in turn enjoy that same good as it comes back to him.  It is interesting that the proverb states the from the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good things.  What is the fruit of the man's mouth - that is mentioned here?  It is not just the words he speaks - but what they lead to that is the focus of this passage.  We speak something or say it.  Where does that lead?  If we speak godless, critical, unholy words, we will most definitely receive a harvest from these words.  That is what the writer of Proverbs is trying to tell us.  Be careful what you speak - because there is a harvest of your words that is coming.  You can enjoy good from what you speak - and you can experience bad as well. 

There is a contrary aspect to how we speak.  We read here of the desire of the treacherous man next.  There are those whose mouths are filled with treachery and violence.  They speak things that should not be said.  Their mouths are used to injure rather than build up and encourage.  Their mouths are unkind and unloving - and the end of their words is violence.  How we need to see this and realize that our words and our mouths will pave a way for us.  When we use them rightly our words pave the way for good things coming back to us.  But when we become treacherous, deceitful, and ungodly in our speaking - it too will come back upon us - but only in the way of violence and problems. 

Watch how you speak.  It will determine what is coming to you in the end.  Speak and act as those who know that they will be judged by God for every idle word we speak.  That way you know that there is a harvest of your words that is coming - and you will receive your just dues based on the words that you chose to use - whether good or evil.
 
 
A good man will obtain favor from the LORD, But He will condemn a man who devises evil. Proverbs 12:2

Good and evil men . . . here we find ourselves with the biblical worldview running headlong into the worldview that sees morality as something that is relative.  It is interesting to see that today we don't hear things often referred to as being good or evil.  Yet that is exactly what the Scriptures speak of in today's proverb of the day.

The good man is the man who is well-pleasing.  There is a loaded statement if ever one was made.  The question is asked - and rightfully so - pleasing to whom?  Well, in this case, the well-pleasing man is the one who lives well pleasing to Jehovah.  This is what is told to us in this proverb.  This good man - the one who is well-pleasing - receives favor from God.  Thus the one he is pleasing is God Himself.  Look further into the Hebrew word "tobah" which is the word used for "good" here and you will see this clearly.  The word means not just well-pleasing, but also fruitful, morally correct and proper.  The idea is that good is in th eyes of God Himself - Who is the One determining the "rules" for good and evil.  Ah, again we run into a wall in regard to worldview.  Yes, God is the One who determines the rules - Who sets them - Who has given us His moral Law and calls us to obey and walk according to it.  The man who seeks to walk according to this moral law is the one God refers to as the good man.  The benefit for walking in this way is God's favor - which means pleasure, delight, acceptance.  God offers to the good man His favor.  Thus the good man knows that God takes pleasure in his ways - He delights in how He is living - and His lifestyle is one that God accepts. 

How men rebel against things like this.  How can we be so arrogant as to say one lifestyle is superior to another?  The world hates it when we say that a lifestyle is morally superior to others - and inversely - when a lifestyle is considered immoral.  They want all lifestyles to be considered valid in their own way.  What they don't understand is that in making that assertion they make it to where the only immoral lifestyle is the one that holds to any morals.  In addition to this - they also place all moral judgments on shifting sands of public opinion.  In effect they lower all moral choices to the level of no moral choice at all.  Everything goes in their worldview - because the most immoral judgment at all is ever voicing a moral judgment. 

God lays the foundations for moral choices and moral judgments in this world.  He does so because He is God - because He is creator - and because He is both true and just.  Thus we read the second half of this proverb which says, "but He will condemn a man who devises evil."  There it is again - a moral standard.  God sets it - and when a man begins devising (thinking, considering, setting up) evil - God brings a moral judgment to the table.  God condemns such behavior.  How is evil defined?  God is the One who defines it in His Word.  Since He is just - He will set up what is just and good and all that does not agree with Him and what He says, is evil. 

Here is the crux of this proverb.  The truth is that there is a moral standard in the world.  God has set it.  If there is no moral standard set by a being outside of this creation - then there is no moral standard.  Worse that this - the actual working out of this lie is that there will be a standard - but it will be set up by men - and eventually enforced by unjust men who will have things their way.  You wind up with a moral morass.  Things WILL spin out of control.  It is far better to have God set up what is right and wrong - and do so by a Word that He has given to reveal what that is in the world.  God gives us His Law and His commandments.  He does so without any respect of persons - and - in the end He alone will be the One before Whom we stand - and through Whom we will know whether we are called someone good or someone evil.
 
 
The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it. Proverbs 22:3

What should a person do when they see evil - or know that evil is in something that they are considering doing or seeing?  Some say that in order for us to minister and to live in this world, we have to participate in some way in the activities of this world.  Yet, when you read this Proverb, it counsels us to be careful what we watch and participate in as we live our lives.  We may just do something that can cause great harm.

The Proverb speaks of the prudent.  He is the one who is shrewd and sensible.  It describes someone who sees deeper than just surface level.  He sees into things and realizes there is an affect on him when he participates or looks at something.  This prudent one sees "the evil" and hides himself.  Evil here means soemthing bad or evil.  It refers to a wicked heart - and actions that are in no way neutral.

First of all a wise man knows that there is evil - and it can be detected and considered from an objective point of view.  The one who states that he can decide whether something is evil or good for him - is deceived.  God has determined what is good or evil - and He is the One who lets us know these things in His Word.  Our job then is to know His Word and through it to have a grid in our hearts as to what is good and what is evil.  The pudent and wise one is the one who does this - then when he sees something evil - he reacts to it immediately.  How does he respond?

The prudent man responds to evil by hiding himself from it.  There are two interesting aspects to this.  First, he just simply hides himself from the evil itself.  He does not participate in it - and keeps himself from it.  But there is another aspect of this that is important to recognize.  He also hides himself from even seeing and knowing it.  In effect, he hides his "mind" from certain things.  There are those who say that in order to minister to those in evil, we need to know it in some measure.  Yet Proverbs tells us to hide ourselves and our minds from evil.  We can confidently say that Jesus did not have to experience evil in order to minister affectively to those caught up in it. 

The naive though, have a problem.  The problem starts with their naviette in which they don't even know the evil.  They are ignorant of the Scriptures and thus are not even sure what to avoid.  This is something important for us to grasp.  Knowing evil through experiencing it is not wise - but knowing what is evil from that which is written in Scripture is very wise.  It lets us know what to avoid and in what we should participate.  The naive go on when they see evil - and they pay for it. 

Here is an interesting thing to consider.  The Proverb here says that when the naive proceed into evil they are punished for it.  The word used here is "anash" and it means to fine or to penalize someone with a fine.  It can mean an actual financial fine someone pays out - or it can mean a condemnation that rests on the wicked for their punishment.  I don't think it is too far off to say that in some cases both of these are true.  There is a fine we pay when we do not avoid evil.  Some evil lifestyles are very socially and financially destructive.  When we participate in them, we pay the price - literally and physically.  There is also a spiritual cost when we ignore the Lord and walk into evil.  There is a break in our fellowship - a polluting of our minds - and even at times a bondage that can begin that will punish us for days, weeks, months, and even years to come. 

The prudent man avoids all this - because he watches and considers all his actions - and weighs what they will cost him - now - and far into the future!
 
 
"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. Proverbs 8:13

Hate . . . most people believe that Christians should not hate at all.  They believe that hate is a bad thing.  Yet here in Proverbs, the book of wisdom from God, we have a command to hate!  Let's take a look and see how God calls us to be a hater . . . of sin and evil.

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil . . . here is where it all starts.  It starts with a respect and honor for God Himself.  We will never be wise until we understand that God is great - greater than all others and penultimate!  That respect, honor, and yes fear will move us toward wisdom - because what is penultimate in our lives is what will eventually govern us.  That honor and respect also means that we will hate evil. 

Hate . . . This Hebrew word means to hate, to despise, to dislike something or someone and thus to be hostile toward it and loathe it.  The statement, God doesn't hate anyone is not theologically sound.  According to Psalm 11:5, God hates those who love violence.  We learn in Hosea 9:15 and Amos 6:8 that God detests and hates those who turn to evil and choose it instead of Him.  Psalm 5:5 makes is clear that God hates all those who love evil.  Rather than try to do an exhaustive study on this - let's realize at this point that God hates certain things - and yes - He hates certain people.  Here is the fact of this passage - if we honor and respect God - we will hate evil.  We will loathe and despise it with everything within us.  The proverb goes on to say, we hate several things specifically. 

Pride . . . we hate pride.  Pride has an interesting root word that instructs us greatly.  The root word means to rise up, to lift up, and thus to exalt.  There is only One Who sould be lifted up and raised up and exalted.  God is that One and His interests and desires should always reign supreme in our lives.  Problem is that they don't - and we lift ourselves up and exalt ourselves as the authority in our lives.  We decide we know best - and we are adequate for life and for everything.  This is the root of pride - when we choose to exalt self above God.  This we should HATE! 

Arrogance . . . this is pride in action.  Pride indicates the attitude that a person has that is independent of God - the one who thinks they can live apart from Him.  Arrogance is when a person acts upon that pride and lives in a way that no longer exalts and honors God.  We act arrogantly when we lift up our own thinking and reasoning above that of God.  That kind of action we should HATE!

The Evil Way . . . the word way is the often used word "derek" and it again refers to a lifestyle - a way a person walks and lives their lives.  Note here we've moved from the attitude of pride - to the acting out of that pride in arrogance - and now we see the fruition of many acts of arrogance in an evil lifestyle and way of living.  When we choose not to honor or lift up God, but rather lift up ourselves over and over again - we develop an entire lifestyle.  God hates a lifestyle that ignores and dishonors Him - and we should HATE it too.

The Perverted Mouth . . . This is a mouth that deviates and distorts the Lord's ways and turns from Him.  It is corrupt and deceptive speech - a distortion of what is straight and right.  When a prideful lifestyle and arrogant actions prevail in our lives - we will then justify them by speaking what is perverted.  We will justify our lives - and as we do - we will distort God's ways - and deviate from them in what we say.  Romans 1 says that the wicked not only live the way they do - knowing it is not God's way - but they also heartily encourage others to do the same thing. 

God does hate certain things - and He lists them here for us to learn and to avoid.  The wise man learns these things - and realizes that one of the most foolish things in life to do is to anger and enrage the living God and embrace what He hates.
 
 
12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; Proverbs 2:12-15

Why is wisdom needed?  Well for many in the modern mindset, maybe it isn't.  They contend that the basic nature of man is good.  Yet the very reason for wisdom is the fact that evil exists.  But we are not being told about evil in theory - we are being told here that evil men exist.  The battle with evil in theory is one only in our minds - but a battle with evil that actually involves evil men - that is another story altogether. 

The first thing we learn is that there is a "way of evil" that exists in our world.  We are facing those who have developed lifestyles that embrace evil.  The facts are in - and those facts clearly delineate for us that man is fallen.  The facts also indicate that being fallen, man has developed a whole way of life that is contrary to the will of God.  If we are not careful and wise - we will find ourselves following that path - that way of evil.  According to Solomon, we need to be delivered from the way of evil.  Maybe this is why we hear John telling us, "Do not love the world or the things of the world, if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him." 

The way we are drawn into this way of evil is by men who speak perverse things.  This perverse speech involves saying things that distort and deviate from what God has said and what God wants.  It is deceptive, corrupt speaking that either denies the Word or twists it until it suits our fallen appetites.  That's why we need wisdom and discretion - the ability to distinguish between things godly and ungodly.  We need to know when an "evil man" is trying to deceive us and lead us astray.

The evil man leaves the paths of uprightness to walk in their darkness.  Here it is again - the fact that there is an entire walk and path that is ungodly.  But we also learn that there is a corresponding walk that is upright and godly.  The evil man leaves God's ways and chooses those that are dark instead.  We learn again from John that the ungodly hate the light and do not come to the light.  That is the way of the evil man.  That is also why we need wisdom and understanding - to remind us that fellowship with the evil man means fellowship with darkness.  It seems that God is trying to get us to see that there is a light/darkness - good/evil - godly/ungodly situation in life. 

Worldly wisdom equates the best of thinking and acting to mankind.  That is why they are shocked with evil rears its head.  They want to think the best of man - when the truth is man IS capable of the worst atrocities.  Proverbs tells us that there are those men who "delight in doing evil and rejoice in perversity."  We almost shrink from these statements - yet that is what is said here.

If there has been a "fall" of mankind into sin that has corrupted them utterly - then it really isn't that much of a stretch that man rejoices in evil and perversity.  To fallen man - evil is good and good is evil.  Isn't that what we see today?  In our world evil is called good and good evil.  They consider the things of God strange and His commandments as burdensome.  They see freedom as bondage and their current state of bondage as freedom.  Delight in doing evil then becomes the norm - and it should not be all that strange to see those devoting entire programs on television and articles in writing to rejoice in how they pervert the straight paths of God. 

Look at the sexual revolution of the 60's as an example.  The morals of the past were thrown off (possibly the biggest lie of that period was to deny that such things had always been happening - just that they were done far more secretly).  But I think that the shock was not that morals were cast aside, but that now those acting immorally were rejoicing openly in their perversity.  The movement was not just a desire to set aside what is right - it was a rejoicing in what heretofore was considered evil.  What is even more amazing to me is that several generations of this behavior has led to society adopting such actions as normal - and now even certain segments of society say we should rejoice in evil.  NOW we get why we need to cry out to God for wisdom, discretion, and knowledge to escape such a fate. 

The final statement about the way of evil is that their direction in life becomes like their heart.  Their paths (again the word for lifestyle) are crooked.  Crooked is the Hebrew word 'iqqesh'.  It means something that is morally, religiously, and socially perverted.  This perversity comes from the source of an evil, deceitful, perverse heart.  No longer are certain actions perverted - but the whole direction and path of their life runs counter to the truth of God.

Their lifestyle is finally described as being devious.  This is the last straw.  It describes a person who has followed their perverse and wicked ways to the point where they now despise and reject God's ways.  They find them abhorrent.  What is worse is that they are utterly blind to their condition.

What we have described for us is the natural degradation of fallen men.  They may begin with the remnants of God's image within them - but as they continue in their perversity they soon scald their conscience and harden it to the point where they no longer feel any shame in their sin.  By the way, this is exactly what is taught to us in Romans chapter one.  We learn that man begins with denying God and being ungrateful, but ends with those who cheer on the wickedness of man - preferring their own perversity to anything God has to offer.  In light of such an ignoble end - we see why Solomon impresses on his son the importance of crying out to God for wisdom and understanding.  There is too much at stake here to live and let live.  The fall of man guarantees that what starts as a mere snowflake will become a massive ball of snow that destroys all in its path.  May such a vision of the destructive power of our core perverseness motivate us to a passionate cry for God's wisdom and a desperate search for His ways and paths.