Value Wisdom

June 14, 2020 Background Scripture: Genesis 39, Proverbs 2 Lesson Passage: Proverbs 2:1 – 11 I believe Jesus had this passage from Proverbs in mind when he taught a crowd from the side of a mountain, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In other words, whatever people treasure, invariably, will define their character at that point in their life. We sometimes speak of “taking something to heart”, which is to say, we accept it as absolute truth! Whatever we accept as truth, we allow it to inform our decisions and our actions. We treasure the truth and we use it for directions in our lives. So then, what are treasures? A treasure is anything that we place a high value on—and I emphasize “high value”. If we think something has no value, then we don’t tend to think of it as a treasure. Our lesson today centers on wisdom as a true treasure. There is no assumption in the proverb that the reader already knows that wisdom should be valued as a treasure. Therefore, the proverb admonishes the reader (or hearer for that matter) to both receive and seek out wisdom as a treasure. The extent to which men go to find hidden treasures shows how much they value it. Yet, wisdom that is freely received should be valued as highly as the wisdom that is sought as a hidden treasure. Wisdom should be received or sought with the expectation that it is knowledge, discernment, and understanding. It is when the three are all embraced as one that we apply wisdom to our lives. God has wisdom in store for those who are in right standing with Him. God protects, guides, and keeps the upright in all situations of life. I believe God delights in the upright living as a reflection of Himself in the physical world. The wisdom of God within the upright is a moral compass that is used to navigate through the circumstances of this life and bring forth fruit as evidence of its presence. Those who are upright are not conformed to the world around them, but rather, they transform those around them through their character. That is the importance of Genesis 39 as background scripture for this proverb. In that chapter, Joseph is presented in two different situations. In the beginning of the chapter he is a slave in the home of an Egyptian officer and at the end of the chapter he is a prisoner in Egypt. Joseph’s situation went from bad to worse in that one chapter. However, Joseph demonstrated that he had the wisdom of God within him. Joseph remained consistent in his character in both situations and God was with him and blessed him and those around him. Those around Joseph realized that they were blessed by his presence. When the Egyptian officer’s wife attempted to take advantage of Joseph, he fled the scene. This was a demonstration of the wisdom he had in him. Joseph had a sincere loyalty and trust in God. Even in bad situations, he depended on God to take care of him. No doubt, this wisdom came from the knowledge of God that was imparted to him by his God-fearing father, Israel. If Israel taught his son, Joseph, to fear God, then by doing so, he also taught him wisdom. Even in bad situations, Joseph valued wisdom. If we follow Joseph’s example, then we will value wisdom as a treasure. And where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. Robert C. Hudson June 8, 2020

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