Bible 365: Week 23

So, we officially wrapped up the book of Psalm and have started Proverbs.  I like to refer to Proverbs as the book of wisdom and pro righteous living.  I mean if you break Proverbs up it's a combination of the words pro and verbs.  And we all know that if you're pro something that means you're in favor of it and verbs are things that you can do physically.  Seriously, the book of Proverbs is going to give us pretty much the game plan for how we should be living our lives.

In fact, Proverbs 1:7 tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."  I don't know about you all but I've met a few fools in the Christian community.  They think they know it all and they want to live their lives according to their own terms instead of God's.  They want to pick and choose what's a sin and what's not.  And honestly, I think it's because they don't have a healthy dose of fear of God.

I'm not saying I'm perfect because I'm not. However, I'm smart enough to know that I don't have all the answers.  Therefore, I listen and seek the advice of my elders and church leaders at time.  I also try my hardest to live my life as close to perfect as I can.  There are times that I still get angry and fly off the handle. However, you won't catch me out in these streets stealing, killing, cheating or lusting over what's not mine.

But the point is that I'm trying to perfect my issues that aren't pleasing to God, whereas a fool or foolish person could care less.  They just throw caution to wind and live life without morals or good standards.  And I think that we all know a few people who fit that bill.  

I also like Proverbs because to me it speaks to our youth and young adults.  They're getting on up there in age and getting grown.  Some of them are letting their heads get big and whatnot.  Proverbs 1:8-9 urges them to "...hear the instruction of your father; and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck."

I took these verses to heart.  When I lived under my mother's roof, I definitely obeyed her rules (laws).  And I am proud that I did because I maintained a good reputation.  Guys knew not to approach me with any games because I wasn't interested in sex, drugs or any of that other crazy stuff that can come with guys in high school.  I didn't run with the crowd of fast girls.  I kept my head the in books and went to church religiously.  I was teaching Sunday school and VBS, volunteering at nonprofits and participating in other character building activities.

Proverbs 1:18-19 warns about the side effects of greed saying, "But they lie in wait for their own blood.  They lurk secretly for their own lives.  So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners."  Yep, greed is one of those 7 Deadly Sins!  We hear of all these celebrities dying young and you can often times look back and see that they started going down hill when they started to get greedy and cocky with their fame.  This can happen to anyone.  You get a dose of something good and then you OD on it.

"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?" asks Proverbs 1:22.  I think the reason being a Christian is so hard is that in all honestly God is not a simple a god.  He's complex.  He could have just created us and not given us any commandments, but He wanted to challenge us to be more.  The fact that He gave us the ability to create life through reproduction is proof that nothing about Him is simple.  If that were so, He would have just kept on creating adults like He did with Adam and Eve.  Instead, we get to watch and experience the different stages of life.

I just really hope that as we make our way through the book of Proverbs that you will seriously open your mind to the wisdom and instruction that is being given.  Don't take the simple way out but rise to God's challenge!

Week 24 Readings

6/10:  Proverbs 3

6/11:  Proverbs 4

6/12:  Proverbs 5

6/13  Proverbs 6

6/14:  Proverbs 7

6/15:  Proverbs 8

6/16:  Proverbs 9