Cast or Sink-Proverbs 3

Here is Sunday’s message from Proverbs 3, given by Randall Creasey. He breaks down the chapter by ways we are called to learn of God and his wisdom.

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Wisdom

Proverbs 2

I have read wisdom is the knowledge of what is right and true. I also heard someone tell me, wisdom is learning from past failures. The book of Proverbs defines wisdom by this, it is learning from discipline, learning from understanding, and how one passes on what was learned to other people. It is learning from your failures, the failures of others, and most importantly without having to fail, learn what God has to say and direction he gives through his word.

In this chapter of Proverbs we see some of the benefits of listening and learning from wisdom.

1) It is Fruitful to gain wisdom.

In verses 5-8 we see that God is the one who gives true wisdom and understanding. When you seek this wisdom it brings you into a right relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Then we read that we have protection in this life (from making poor decisions and not giving into sin). Wisdom is something given by God, true understanding is a gift from God who graciously gives it.

2) Wisdom Directs Your Path

Throughout Proverbs we see the comparison and contrast of the wise person and the fool. The wise will make right decisions and the fool will make poor decisions. As theses are all practical points to apply in our lives, verses 9-11 show us that it is good for our lives to follow after God’s wisdom. In verse 9 is says, “Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, and every good path.  It is foolish to not want to have good direction in this life. The Bible is our road map to life which the Holy Spirit is our GPS. Seek the Lord and his wisdom and you can’t go wrong. You will not regret following after God and his wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given. Ask God today for his wisdom with every part of life and he will direct your path in the way of knowing what is right and wrong.

More Instruction Please

We start a new book today, Proverbs. It was written by David’s son Solomon as instruction on listening and doing what is wise. King Solomon wrote the first 6 verses as a reason why it is important to listen to wisdom and to gain knowledge. Solomon wanted to teach, his son and those that read this what to learn from his failures and not having to fail themselves.

Know Wisdom and Instruction.

In verse 2 we see that the purpose of Proverbs is to receive wisdom and instruction; to be able to handle wise dealings in righteousness, justice, and equity. It was to give knowledge and discretion to the youth too. Proverbs is so relevant for us today, we can learn many wise things from this book but more importantly grow closer to the Lord through true knowledge and wisdom.

The first instruction that Solomon wrote to his son was to listen to the words of his father and mother and how precious they are. They are like graceful garland or pendants on your neck, which is something you can wear and be proud of (vs 8-9). The second instruction was to stay away from those that want you to sin. In psalm 1 we read that the man who stays away from those that sin is happy or blessed.

How important is it that you choose your friends wisely. We all have peers but we can choose who we hang out with and who we listen to. Solomon was instructing his son to choose wisely with those he hangs out with. If someone is encouraging you to sin, they are not helping you. They are bringing you down spiritually and also may inflict harm upon you. In 2nd Corinthians 6:14, Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to choose who it was hanging out with. They were to not be unequally yoked together with a non-believer. This would mean do not choose your best friend whom you do everything with to be a non believer.  Proverbs 27:17 says, As iron sharpens iron, let one man sharpen another. We should choose those that would help us become stronger, more efficient Christians than someone that would bring us down spiritually.

I could recall different stories of middle schoolers that have gotten themselves in trouble by hanging out with the wrong people. It did not just happen, it was small compromises that led up to getting into serious trouble. Be warned and encouraged to seek friends that love the Lord. As Solomon wrote that these people that want you to sin, their result is not good and actually bad.

How We Got the Bible

Here is last Wednesday’s message on how we got the Bible part #1 by Arron Sanders.

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Psalm 147

It is good to praise the Lord. The psalmist opens this psalm with those words. How true it is when your heart is fixated on the Lord, that is is good to praise the Lord. He goes on to say that it is pleasant and good to sing to God.

Is it delightful to sing to the Lord? The answer is, it should be. I hope it is for you. The psalmist writes about how good God is and why we should praise him. The reason we see is that God is all powerful, he controls all things. Here is what the psalmist lists as why God is good.

1) He heals the brokenhearted. 2) He knows how many stars there are and has named them all. 3) His understanding is above all measure. 4) He is just to the righteous and wicked. 5)He is in control of the weather.

God is good and all powerful. When we come to a chance to worship Him, it should be with all of our heart and all of our self. Do you get distracted? Do you find your quiet time and worship time with the Lord as awesome and sweet? Or, is it just another thing to do? I like what this writer did, he wrote down different attributes of God and thought about them. This is something that I am challenged in doing, listing the things of how and why God is so good and to know my worship time with him is precious. I love being able to just sit and read God’s word and think about how great he is.

Content in the Lord

Psalm 131

This is a song by David. He wrote it as he was content in the Lord and when he was in the presence of the Lord, there was peace. This psalm is the second shortest psalm out of the book. It says, “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed  and quieted my soul, like weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

David was showing that he has true peace and contentment in the Lord. Do you? When you are faced with trials, situations, problems, or things that are not pleasant, are you content with where God has you, what God has you going through? It is easy to look at our problems or life as overwhelming and such a huge thing, but the reality is, God is bigger and better than any of it. David realized that true satisfaction came from the Lord and being in his presence. Do you think the grass is greener some where else? Are you not satisfied or content with the Lord?

Being satisfied in the Lord

Instead of seeking great things for yourself, seek great things of the Lord. Jeremiah 40:5 says, “Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord.” Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. When you seek the Lord you start to realize what is really worth pursuing and what is not. A couple of things to gauge yourself with this: What is your motive for what you are pursuing? What is the goal of what you are pursuing? Are you happy with where God has you? If not, why? What is God’s Word showing you with pursuing after Him?