June 30 - Proverbs 4-6
Wisdom is the principal thing. Living in wisdom is like walking in the light, and living without wisdom is like stumbling in the dark. There is no comparison between the two. These three chapters show us the importance of gaining wisdom, and they give us some specific examples. Proverbs 6:23 is a great summary verse. It says to "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." In other words, if you notice your heart drifting from the Lord, you need to make it a priority to get your heart back to His wisdom. If you don't, you will begin doing the wrong things, because you do what is in your heart. Set your heart on the Lord, and on living by His wisdom.
One way to do that is to stay away from sexual immorality. That is the theme of chapter 5. As long as there have been people, this has been a problem. Satan uses the flesh to tempt us and to destroy us. It may feel so right, but it is so wrong. Don't go by your feelings, they will fool you. The end of immorality is that your flesh and your body will be consumed, and it will destroy your soul, too. God makes the consequences for this type of sin high, because He hates it so much. A loving marriage between one man and one woman is God's answer to sexual immorality.
Chapter 6 has several specifics on wisdom. Don't co-sign with someone else on a loan. Consider the ant, and work hard like he does. Stay away from those who work evil. Learn what God hates, and stay away from it. (There is a list of seven things here that are seen all around us today.) Stay away from adultery. Can you relate to these things? Can you see how you have been hurt by breaking any of these commands? Can you see how you have avoided hurt by obeying these things? Proverbs is very practical, and all the way through this book, we will be able to evaluate how we are doing, and to make decisions to change our lives with God's help.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 7-9.
One way to do that is to stay away from sexual immorality. That is the theme of chapter 5. As long as there have been people, this has been a problem. Satan uses the flesh to tempt us and to destroy us. It may feel so right, but it is so wrong. Don't go by your feelings, they will fool you. The end of immorality is that your flesh and your body will be consumed, and it will destroy your soul, too. God makes the consequences for this type of sin high, because He hates it so much. A loving marriage between one man and one woman is God's answer to sexual immorality.
Chapter 6 has several specifics on wisdom. Don't co-sign with someone else on a loan. Consider the ant, and work hard like he does. Stay away from those who work evil. Learn what God hates, and stay away from it. (There is a list of seven things here that are seen all around us today.) Stay away from adultery. Can you relate to these things? Can you see how you have been hurt by breaking any of these commands? Can you see how you have avoided hurt by obeying these things? Proverbs is very practical, and all the way through this book, we will be able to evaluate how we are doing, and to make decisions to change our lives with God's help.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 7-9.