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Wisdom Builder

Proverbs 20:22 God provides solutions to those who pursue His way in the midst of persecution.

When evil people attack us, the natural reaction is to strike back.  We get angry and search for ways to retaliate.  Our solutions generally will make the matter worse.  This word of wisdom advises us to "wait on the Lord".  This does NOT mean that we do nothing.  Instead, we fight the urge to react irrationally and pursue wise council.  We refuse to speak emotionally because that makes it easier to do what is unproductive. The wisdom we need to deal with the issue is available to us. "Waiting" is not easy, but it is worthwhile.   God has promised to deliver us if we choose to "wait". 

Proverbs 23:12 Effort spent to understand and apply the Word of God transforms your life.

One of the great mysteries of the human condition is the depravity of man's heart.  This is why we continuously see war and misery throughout the history of mankind.  God has declared that man's heart is "deceitful and desperately wicked, and who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).  Today's proverb opens the door to the solution!  Did you know that God has promised to CHANGE the hearts of those who will listen to His Word and work to understand and apply it?  Think about that for a moment.  God has promised that He will change our heart!  This promise is found in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and throughout the Bible. You may be set in your ways, but God wants to change your heart!  You may believe that you are only human and bound by human desires, but God wants to change your heart!  How does this happen?  How do you unleash this power into your life?  Proverbs 23:12 describes how to get started.

Proverbs 12:18-19. Trusting the wrong words will injure you, but words of wisdom will heal you!

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me".  That famous quotation is wrong!  Words WILL hurt you if you assign value to the wrong ones!  What words are the wrong words?  Well, when people speak, preach, sing or otherwise communicate thoughts, ideas or philosophies which are contrary to truth and God established principles of life, there is the potential for you to be harmed!  Words that we accept frame the way we think!  How we think influences what we DO and SAY.  We are warned in verse 18 that when some people speak,  it is like swords piercing our body!  In other words, words can hurt us.  Here is the good news, "But the tongue of the wise promotes health".  You can choose to fill your life with words that injure you or words that make you healthy.  If you are healthy, your family will be healthy.  If you are wounded, your family and your community will suffer.  We need to ask ourselves, what do we love to listen to?  Are we hearing words that hurt or heal us?  We must choose to pursue wisdom or we will not know when we are being injured by someone's words.!  

Proverbs 30:11-14 Pursue God, allow Him to cleanse you or be counted with those who believe that their way is right!

These verses from Proverbs 11 form a prophetic warning for our generation.   The Bible actually has more to say about the time in which we live than any other time period in human history!  There are two important things to note about the time in which we live: 

1)  the wickedness of mankind will spiral out of control, and

2)  many people will not recognize their need to have their heart cleansed. 

This generation is "pure in its own eyes" and is "not washed from its filthiness".  Jesus left us a directive for this hour, "be not deceived". There is only one way to escape the chaos and deception of this generation, we must pursue God and allow Him to cleanse us.  Those who refuse to do this will be counted with the crowd that believes that their way is right.  For more information on this generation, please see this Parable Power article: A World In Chaos

Proverbs 28:9 If you refuse to hear God's word, your prayer becomes offensive to Him.

Most people know the story of the man who was trapped on his roof during a flood and prayed for God to save him.  A couple of boats came by to give him a ride to safety, but he refused them saying, "God is going to help me!".  He also refused a lift from a helicopter for the same reason.  The floodwaters continued to rise until the man drowned.  When the man stood before God, he complained, "Lord, why didn't you save me?".  God replied, "I sent you two boats and a helicopter!"

This story is a little ridiculous, but when people turn away from hearing God's word they too are refusing rescue!  God sends His word to rescue people from the dangers of living in a perilous world, yet people refuse to listen!  In this age of technology, God's word has never been more accessible and easy to understand.  There are free apps that make it simple to discover what God has said about virtually any topic.  There are numerous bible-based channels and TV programs that are broadcasted 24-hours each day.  The sad truth is that after we refuse the boats and helicopters, prayer will not save us!  Your prayers will not be answered if you refuse to seek out and respond to God's word!  The good news is that no one has to be overcome by the floodwaters of life, we just need to listen.

Proverbs 11:25 Generous people are endowed by God wirh "true riches"

Life on planet Earth is challenging for everyone.  Many believe that riches will solve life's issues  However, drug addiction and alcoholism do not care if you have money or not.  Only true riches can bring meaning, fulfillment, and peace to your life.  True riches can only be acquired by being generous.  You must give to others some of what you possess.  Perhaps all you have is a kind word, advice or a smile.  Everyone can be generous.  When you decide to give, God rewards you with true riches.  You will have what you need to deal with the challenges of life. Fear, anxiety, and the enemies of life will not overtake you.  Generous people are favored by God. We are selfish beings who love to please ourselves.   This is why Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was "You shall love your neighbor, as yourself". (Mark 12:31)

Psalms 119:92-93 The secrect to success and freedom is to delight in His Word.

We are bombarded each day with information from various sources.  News channels, radio, social media, games, movies, TV, music, and people vie for our attention on a daily basis.  What we hear has a great influence on how we think and what we do!   Our choices are rooted in the words that we have consumed.  The dangerous aspect of this truth is that our choices will shape our future and impact our families!  Trouble comes to everyone.  Some life issues we face are a direct result of what we listen to.   When we become addicted to the wrong information sources, we do not make good choices and do not have effective answers or help when trouble comes.  There is a secret that will change our future..  There is a proven information source that provides wisdom and supernatural help when needed.  The secret to success in life and deliverance from trouble is revealed in Psalms 119:92.  The word of God must become your delight!

Proverbs 24:11-12 A lack of concern and care for those in need is dangerous

For several years I helped high school athletes attain scholarships and other aid for college.  By far, the most valuable information given to these young people had to do with character development.  This may seem strange, I always encouraged these athletes to find and help someone in need!  Not only does this help to produce self-esteem, but comes with many intangible benefits. Religious leaders in Jesus' day asked Him, "What is the greatest commandment?". Jesus' answer also included the second greatest commandment, "Love thy neighbor...".  When we refuse to consider and care for others, people may not notice it, BUT this proverb teaches us that God does.  This is good news for those who choose to help others in need and a warning for those who only pursue that which benefits themselves.

Proverbs 23:4-5 When riches are the goal of your life's work, pain and regret are inevitable.

My mother lived through the Great Depression.  Despite having barely enough income for food and a shabby roof over their heads, my mom and her mother routinely cooked and fed soup to those who had even less than they did.  Meanwhile, millionaires, who lost their money, were jumping from buildings and committing other forms of suicide.  There is nothing wrong with having money and wealth.  However, People are endangered when the acquisition and possession of riches rule their lifestyle.  Loving God and loving their neighbors were riches that sustained my mom and her family through difficult days.  They did not have a lot of money, but they had true riches!  Our family is growing and prosperous today because of wisdom imparted from my mother.   Monetary riches are deceitful and temporary.  This Proverb teaches us that they fly away like an eagle.  Wisdom leads us to pursue true riches which are eternal.

Those who read and listen to God's Word receive the power to cope with chaos. Proverbs 1:33

We live in a dangerous world.  The explosion of technology has given us access to worldwide atrocities, moments after they occur.  Images of the viciousness and hatred within the hearts of men are literally in our pocket!  The impact on our society is borne out in high rates of suicide and mental disorder.  Where can we find peace and courage to deal with the world in which we live?  The answer is the Word of God.  We have to choose to READ and LISTEN to it.  Only then will we obtain the reward!


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