"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen closely to my understanding so that you may maintain discretion and your lips safeguard knowledge" (Prov. 5:1-2, HCSB).
Although wisdom is a highly valuable commodity, it is rarely sought after today. Gold may be more expensive and easier to attain, but it is much less valuable. Solomon urges his "son" to take heed to his words. They are words that aid in the navigation of life. But they are more, they are life itself.
Wisdom, in the biblical sense, is the guide to walking in a way that pleases God. Being wise is part science, part art, part hard work, and all of faith. Wisdom knows that the guidelines enable freedom, when foolishness sees them as a loss of freedom. Wisdom knows that our knowledge is finite, and it rests in the infinite wisdom of God.
The human heart is like a garden. Left alone, it will bear little fruit because it quickly becomes overrun with weeds. An undisciplined heart is a jungle of confusing motives and jumbled passions. This overgrowth endangers the fruit the Word can produce.
We must be diligent in the garden of our hearts--carefully weeding out all selfish ambition, pride, malice, etc. By faith, we must labor diligently to put the Word into practice in our lives. Solomon says, "pay attention," and "listen closely." These things we must do, but he is not calling us to the mere use of our ears. No, he is calling us to listen as one who will be quick to respond. We listen in order to make certain that our actions will be the very ones our teacher would have us to do.
This kind of listen is fitting for followers of Christ, because in order to be a follower one must first believe and then obey Christ's commands. Without obedience there is no hope of salvation. Some might object, "Don't you mean, 'Without faith there is no hope of salvation?'". No, I mean what James meant. Faith that doesn't produce obedience is not saving faith. And true obedience to Jesus will always be driven by faith.
If we pursue wisdom, or to put it as Jesus did: if we will build our life upon the teachings of Jesus, then we will learn discretion and our lips will safeguard knowledge. That is to say, we will know how to please God and be able to teach others to do the same.
Are you paying attention to the wise? Do you listen carefully to the Word of God with an obedient heart? Do you consider yourself wise? Do others? If you feel like you lack wisdom, keep reading the Bible and combining what you read with faithful obedience.
Showing posts with label Seeking Wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seeking Wisdom. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Warning: Knowledge Increases Sorrow
"For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (Ecc. 1:18, ESV).
The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge can never be ends in themselves. It is not sufficient to "be wise" or to "have knowledge." These sorts of pursuits leave one puffed up with pride. With knowledge comes the expectation of correct response. Or to quote Uncle Ben, from Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Solomon initially pursued wisdom with the end of rightly leading God's people fixed in his sight. However, after his wisdom became known, he began trying to increase his wisdom for the sake of having wisdom. His focus shifted from glorifying God to glorifying himself.
His knowledge of the proper response to God, burdened him with guilt. Solomon's disobedience was costly, not only to himself, but his family and his nation. The more you know, the more you have reason to grieve. Knowledge burdens the learner with expectations, but the pursuit of knowledge often floods the mind with contradictory information that must be sorted out, and which can blind you to the truth.
That is not to say that one should never study or never seek to learn. I believe Solomon is saying that we need to know why we are learning (for God's glory), how it will help us to serve him, and why study should be approached with great care. Failure to discern between truth and opinion disguised as "fact," can be very destructive.
Let's say that you don't know that starving children are dying in Karzy*. One day you come upon a startling statistic that says 65% of all the children in Karzy will die of malnutrition before they reach the age of three. You check all the references and discover that the statistic is true. Now you have knowledge that increases your sorrow.
There are at least two ways it increases your sorrow. First, you are made aware of the fact that children are starving to death in a foreign land. Unless you're some kind of heartless monster, that fact should disturb you in some way. Second, you now have the responsibility to do something. Prior to discovering the fact you were blissful in your ignorance, and you had no moral duty. However, upon learning about the situation you become morally responsible, before God, to help the starving children.
Knowledge is power, and power brings responsibility. If we are to live in a way that please our King, we will continue to learn, and act upon what we learn. Learning for any other purpose, will only weary the learner.
*Karzy is a fictional place, however starving children are a reality in our world.
The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge can never be ends in themselves. It is not sufficient to "be wise" or to "have knowledge." These sorts of pursuits leave one puffed up with pride. With knowledge comes the expectation of correct response. Or to quote Uncle Ben, from Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Solomon initially pursued wisdom with the end of rightly leading God's people fixed in his sight. However, after his wisdom became known, he began trying to increase his wisdom for the sake of having wisdom. His focus shifted from glorifying God to glorifying himself.
His knowledge of the proper response to God, burdened him with guilt. Solomon's disobedience was costly, not only to himself, but his family and his nation. The more you know, the more you have reason to grieve. Knowledge burdens the learner with expectations, but the pursuit of knowledge often floods the mind with contradictory information that must be sorted out, and which can blind you to the truth.
That is not to say that one should never study or never seek to learn. I believe Solomon is saying that we need to know why we are learning (for God's glory), how it will help us to serve him, and why study should be approached with great care. Failure to discern between truth and opinion disguised as "fact," can be very destructive.
Let's say that you don't know that starving children are dying in Karzy*. One day you come upon a startling statistic that says 65% of all the children in Karzy will die of malnutrition before they reach the age of three. You check all the references and discover that the statistic is true. Now you have knowledge that increases your sorrow.
There are at least two ways it increases your sorrow. First, you are made aware of the fact that children are starving to death in a foreign land. Unless you're some kind of heartless monster, that fact should disturb you in some way. Second, you now have the responsibility to do something. Prior to discovering the fact you were blissful in your ignorance, and you had no moral duty. However, upon learning about the situation you become morally responsible, before God, to help the starving children.
Knowledge is power, and power brings responsibility. If we are to live in a way that please our King, we will continue to learn, and act upon what we learn. Learning for any other purpose, will only weary the learner.
*Karzy is a fictional place, however starving children are a reality in our world.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Weary, Stupid, and Foolish
I'm still making my monthly pilgrimage through Proverbs one chapter a day (except the months that don't have 31 days, then I read the remaining chapters on the last day of the month). Although I have read it at least 28 times in the 2+ years I have been meditating through the book, it still amazes me how much I relate to Proverbs 30:1-4. Agur states,
At times, I wonder if I have knowledge of the Holy One. My heart seems so wicked. It feels so prone to sin (particularly pride and selfishness). Yet, God in his grace reminds me of how dark my heart used to be, of how dark it could still be were he not restraining me, and of how light it will be once Christ returns for his own.
As to my lack of wisdom, I cry out: "O Lord, who give generously to all who ask, teach my heart to walk in wisdom that I might honor you" (see James 1:5). The darkness and dullness I perceive are not false, but they are not permanent either. Although I have yet to experience its fullness, the righteousness of God rests on me, because I rest in Christ.
I imagine, if I continue reading through Proverbs daily, that five years from now on some 30th of the month, I will read these words and completely relate to them. I will still feel weary. I will still feel to stupid to be a man. I will still wonder what's wrong with me. But even as I imagine that I know I will be a different person, because God, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, is still continuing to work in me.
I know these things, because I can see the changes that have occurred in my heart and life in the last five years. When I compare who I was 15 years ago, with the man I have become I see great changes. But they aren't changes I have made, and most of them didn't happen over night. These changes occurred as the Spirit applied God's Word to my heart and life.
I have been slow in adapting to the changes he has sought to bring about in my heart. I have hindered and grieved him at many points. I have been driven to repentance countless times, I have been cleansed of all unrighteousness, and I have been forgiven for the sake of Christ's blood. When I am weary, I pray resting in the confidence that the Spirit will labor tirelessly to bring about God's will and purpose in my life. When I see my need for wisdom, I pray for God to give me wisdom. When I feel stupid, I ask God to enlighten my mind with his Word.
I'm pray for you readers, as I am reflecting on what I am writing. I hope you can't relate to this passage, but my experience suggest that you can. Maybe you are weary. Maybe you feel stupid for giving into sin yet again. Maybe you feel foolish and undone. Hang in there. Even as we read Proverbs 30:1-4, we must remember that even as Agur says these things, he is saying them to the One he knows, knows all things. Even as he despairs at his own lack of knowledge, he rests in the reality that God cares enough to hear him even if he is weary, stupid, and foolish.
The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. Surely I am to stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One (Prov. 30:1b-3).There are times in my life that I look at the struggles I am going through, and I wonder if anything has changed. I am weary of failure. I am weary of the status quo. I am weary of sin making itself comfortable in this house that belongs to the Lord. I am weary of my own stupidity when I find myself so quickly deceived by sin.
At times, I wonder if I have knowledge of the Holy One. My heart seems so wicked. It feels so prone to sin (particularly pride and selfishness). Yet, God in his grace reminds me of how dark my heart used to be, of how dark it could still be were he not restraining me, and of how light it will be once Christ returns for his own.
As to my lack of wisdom, I cry out: "O Lord, who give generously to all who ask, teach my heart to walk in wisdom that I might honor you" (see James 1:5). The darkness and dullness I perceive are not false, but they are not permanent either. Although I have yet to experience its fullness, the righteousness of God rests on me, because I rest in Christ.
I imagine, if I continue reading through Proverbs daily, that five years from now on some 30th of the month, I will read these words and completely relate to them. I will still feel weary. I will still feel to stupid to be a man. I will still wonder what's wrong with me. But even as I imagine that I know I will be a different person, because God, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, is still continuing to work in me.
I know these things, because I can see the changes that have occurred in my heart and life in the last five years. When I compare who I was 15 years ago, with the man I have become I see great changes. But they aren't changes I have made, and most of them didn't happen over night. These changes occurred as the Spirit applied God's Word to my heart and life.
I have been slow in adapting to the changes he has sought to bring about in my heart. I have hindered and grieved him at many points. I have been driven to repentance countless times, I have been cleansed of all unrighteousness, and I have been forgiven for the sake of Christ's blood. When I am weary, I pray resting in the confidence that the Spirit will labor tirelessly to bring about God's will and purpose in my life. When I see my need for wisdom, I pray for God to give me wisdom. When I feel stupid, I ask God to enlighten my mind with his Word.
I'm pray for you readers, as I am reflecting on what I am writing. I hope you can't relate to this passage, but my experience suggest that you can. Maybe you are weary. Maybe you feel stupid for giving into sin yet again. Maybe you feel foolish and undone. Hang in there. Even as we read Proverbs 30:1-4, we must remember that even as Agur says these things, he is saying them to the One he knows, knows all things. Even as he despairs at his own lack of knowledge, he rests in the reality that God cares enough to hear him even if he is weary, stupid, and foolish.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Worthy of Thought
"The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise" (Prov. 15:30-31, ESV).
Father in Heaven,
grant me
eyes that see and
ears that hear,
that I may dwell in wisdom
for your glory.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
A Word to the Wise
My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb
are sweet to the taste.
Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it,
there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 24:13-14
Thursday, February 18, 2010
An Intelligent Heart
"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge" (Prov. 18:15, ESV).
Throughout the book of Proverbs, the pursuit of knowledge is not mere academics. It isn't the pursuit of mere knowledge, but the pursuit of the knowledge of God. As we pursue the knowledge of God, to learn of him and from him, we gain wisdom. Wisdom is the skill of living in a way that please the Lord.
An intelligent heart is one that pursues the things of God. It pursue his grace and his glory, because it knows that life is only found through these. Over and over again, we are called to pursue the knowledge of the Lord. Each time we are promised many precious promises. Turning to the Lord not only saves us, it promises us a greater future. We'd be foolish not to heed the call.
Throughout the book of Proverbs, the pursuit of knowledge is not mere academics. It isn't the pursuit of mere knowledge, but the pursuit of the knowledge of God. As we pursue the knowledge of God, to learn of him and from him, we gain wisdom. Wisdom is the skill of living in a way that please the Lord.
An intelligent heart is one that pursues the things of God. It pursue his grace and his glory, because it knows that life is only found through these. Over and over again, we are called to pursue the knowledge of the Lord. Each time we are promised many precious promises. Turning to the Lord not only saves us, it promises us a greater future. We'd be foolish not to heed the call.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)