Listen to God’s Wisdom

June 7, 2020 Background Scripture: Proverbs 1 Lesson Passage: Proverbs 1:1 – 4, 7, 8, 10, 20 – 22, 32, 33 The lessons this month come from the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is one of the five books of the bible collectively known as the wisdom literature of the bible. Some of it is the wisdom of man and some of it is the wisdom of God. All of it can be instructive. The essence of wisdom literature is that the thoughts conveyed are independent of culture and time. Some of this writing originated during the age of the biblical patriarchs—that's over four thousand years ago! Yet, the truths conveyed are just as relevant today as they were then. The culture of that time and place would be totally incompatible with the culture of this country today. Yet, the truths conveyed are just as relevant for us today as they were for them then. The book of Proverbs opens with the declaration that wisdom begins when one knows and has a reverent fear of God. This is not to suggest something superficial, such as, thinking of God as some abstract being or ideal philosophical concept. To truly be knowledgeable of the person of God will lead one to have an awe-inspiring fear of Him. It further leads to a healthy respect for the pure holiness and perfection of His being. To know Him as our personal creator and the sustainer of life should inspire a sense of wonder in all. Therefore, God reveals Himself to us in a myriad of ways. There are so many revelations in nature to suggest that the physical world is a product of intelligent design. Nature has a perfect balance when it is not disturbed by man’s manipulations. Nothing is missing; God thought of everything from the beginning. Mankind was lovingly and deliberately fashioned by God and added into His creation as a keeper in the garden. There was a perfect balance between mankind and the rest of God’s creation. Throughout recorded time, fathers and mothers have passed on to their children the wisdom of being in balance with God and His creation; that is to say, we should be in balance with the Spirit of God and with the natural world. God made mankind intelligent so that we could grow in wisdom. As a result of mankind’s internal makeup, we have an intellectual thirst. This causes intelligent people to seek knowledge and delight in learning. Wisdom allows mankind to seek to be closer to God and to appreciate the created world around them. Foolish people seek to manipulate and control the physical creation for their own selfish benefit. Intelligent people recognize that wisdom has a permanence that cannot be taken away from them. On the other hand, we can only become stewards of that which is material. Foolish people are more concerned about material gain and not acquiring knowledge which could lead to wisdom. Greed for material gain will destroy a person’s life. Intelligent people seek God and His wisdom first. The foolish live as though God does not exist, or He is indifferent to the plight of mankind. Therefore, they set their priorities based on faulty thinking and fruitless pursuits. Wisdom cries out and asks the foolish, how long will they persist in their foolishness? Those who continue to reject the call of wisdom will perish in their rejection of God. Those who seek God and His wisdom will find and receive the gift of both. Evil will not paralyze them with fear. But they shall spend this life rejoicing in God and eternity in the safety of His presence. Listen to God’s wisdom and live. Robert C. Hudson May 28, 2020