God's Wisdom and Understanding - Proverbs 1-2 and I Corinthians 16
As we begin reading the book of Proverbs, I want to encourage all of us to hear what Solomon was saying about God's wisdom and understanding. Those who fear God and realize He is the Almighty, All-knowing God will submit to Him and accept His instruction. Those who reject God and His wisdom will go their own way. Which group do you fall into? The wisdom of God is all around us, but we can reject it. The wise person will seek after it with all of his heart. The unwise will live in greed and disdain for God and for others. Eventually, their lives will fall apart, because they miss the blessings of God. He does not feel sorry for them, because He tried to show them His wisdom and understanding, but they rejected it. We must not let those types of people draw us away from following the Lord's wisdom. We must constantly look to Him and stay true to what He reveals as the truth. Then, He can bless our lives. Isn't that a pretty good summary of everyday life in the world in which we live? I think if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that God has made Himself and His wisdom clear to everyone, but there are some who reject and some who accept.
I Corinthians 16 is Paul's conclusion to the first letter to Corinth. As we read it, we see that Paul was doing his best to follow God's wisdom and understanding for his life. He was not going his own way. He was living in the fear of the Lord, and there were others doing the same thing. He commended those folks to the other believers, so they would get to know them and pray for them. He encouraged the believers to walk in God's wisdom when he said, "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." That is a short summary, but it is very telling. Don't go the way of this world, but do things God's way. How are you doing in that area? Is it more important for you to find God's wisdom and live by it, or is it more important for you to do what you want to do? You may not be an evil thief or murderer, but if you choose to live the selfish life, you are rejecting God's wisdom. You are on your own. God's can't bless the life that does not seek to live by His wisdom and understanding, or He would be blessing sin.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 3-5 and II Corinthians 1.
I Corinthians 16 is Paul's conclusion to the first letter to Corinth. As we read it, we see that Paul was doing his best to follow God's wisdom and understanding for his life. He was not going his own way. He was living in the fear of the Lord, and there were others doing the same thing. He commended those folks to the other believers, so they would get to know them and pray for them. He encouraged the believers to walk in God's wisdom when he said, "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." That is a short summary, but it is very telling. Don't go the way of this world, but do things God's way. How are you doing in that area? Is it more important for you to find God's wisdom and live by it, or is it more important for you to do what you want to do? You may not be an evil thief or murderer, but if you choose to live the selfish life, you are rejecting God's wisdom. You are on your own. God's can't bless the life that does not seek to live by His wisdom and understanding, or He would be blessing sin.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 3-5 and II Corinthians 1.