Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel (Proverbs 21:30)

Advice is a great and wonderful thing to give and receive. But no advice can ever be given that is contrary to the Lord.

"There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord." Proverbs 21:30, Amplified

Over the years, it may seem that this statement does not ring true in America, because we now have laws and practices and government that seems to go directly against the will of God. So is this verse wrong? No. What is says is that nothing will "prevail" against the Lord, it does not mention that man would not try to be contrary to the Lord. It is within our nature. And what he verse is really stating is that whatever counsel that we receive, nothing will be as good as what the Lord would have us do. Take for instance the act of intercourse. The world says that we should do whatever we feel like because if we love someone it can't be wrong. But if we do, there is danger of unwanted pregnancy and even STD's. But he Lord tells us to wait until we are married, what can be wrong with that?

The only reason why the world is so resistant against what the Lord would have us do is that He would have us deny ourselves for just a moment. We are creatures that need and want immediate satisfaction. If you are hungry, go to a drive through or pop a dinner in the microwave. Are you horny, why wait for your wife for there is a plethora of pornographic sites for one to choose from on the net.

Wisdom, understanding and counsel are best is received from the Lord. There is no trickery involved with the Lord, He is black or white and never gray. It is either yes, no or wait. Denial of our desires just makes us appreciate whatever it is we are waiting even more.

Wandering Hearts (Proverbs 21:16)

When are we really dead? Can we die before we actually take our last breath?

"The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall abide in the congregation of the spirits - of the dead." Proverbs 21:16, Amplified

Notice the vernacular of the verse. It is speaking of one who has wandered out of the way of understanding. This is a man who has been in the way of understanding then. He is a man who has taken no care in watching his steps. His focus has moved and he begins to wander. We can liken this to driving. Sometimes when we lose focus and maybe begin to think of other things rather than the road we are traveling, we can wander from our lane into another lane. Luckily there are those little things on the road that our tires hit to remind us that we are wandering.

The Lord is the same way. He will not just allow us to wander without a warning system. But what happen if we do wander fully from the way. We will die. Just like Adam and Eve. We may not die instantly from a physical death, but we can and will die spiritually.

Different Strokes (Proverbs 19:25)

It takes different strokes for different folks. For some, correction comes by way of the physical and for others it takes but a simple word.

"Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will increase in knowledge." Proverbs 19:25, Amplified

The scoffer is one who loves to listen to himself more than he wishes to speak to others, therefore he will drown out any logical voice in his vicinity. Words will never work on a scoffer, only physical beating. I know it sounds vicious, but the Bible does speak a lot about the physical correction of children (who are usually scoffers). But the simple are to learn prudence through physical correction. Notice, they will not become wiser, but rather they will learn prudence. There is a difference. Prudence is the act of showing care for the future. What future? Maybe the future of the hind end. Maybe how to not get caught next time.

However, the man of understanding will receive the words of reproof and become wiser. Why? Because his heart is already ripe to receive correction when needed. He is a man of understanding, so he knows the value of correction and what may come about by scoffing at that correction.

Wisdom and Understanding (Proverbs 19:8)

The Bible encourages to do things that are beneficial for our well being.

"He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good." Proverbs 19:8, Amplified

The getting of wisdom is never going to be detrimental to our well being. Wisdom is basically a application of acquired knowledge. Notice the transition, though. first there is the gaining of wisdom then there is the keeping of understanding. We must first gain wisdom in order to keep the understanding brought forth through that wisdom.

The Sweetness of Prudence (Proverbs 16:21)

To be prudent is to show an active care or interest in the future. I know this is a subject and a definition that has already been covered in these studies, but the book of Proverbs often broaches subject matter more than once. Repetition is usually indicative of the need to hear. In other words, the more the Lord says it, the more important it must be for us to hear.

"The wise in heart shall be called prudent, understanding and knowing; and winsome speech increases learning [in both speaker and listener]." Proverbs 16:21, Amplified

Wisdom brings about a great respect from other persons. In the book of First Kings in chapter three, Solomon is visited by the Lord. The Lord offers him anything that he might request. Solomon chooses wisdom over everything including riches and fame. In his first wise act, Solomon is confronted with two women who claim that one baby is both of their own. They each claimed that the other had killed the other baby in their sleep. Solomon proposes that he cut the baby in half in order to satisfy both women. It was the compassion of one of the woman that exposed her as the real mother. After that it was said that Solomon's fame grew. Solomon wrote more than just these proverbs that we read in these thirty-one chapters.

What the Amplified Version calls "winsome speech" the New King James calls "sweetness of the lips". This is not necessarily a discrepancy in texts since both have similar meaning. To be winsome means to be attractive or appealing sweetness is mostly always attractive to audiences. When speech is sweet, more people will tend to listen. I do not agree with those who want to stand on corners with megaphones and preach hellfire and brimstone. I do believe there is a time and a place for such teaching, but this is not what draws people to Jesus. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." God was in the position to be wrathful and vengeful, but He chose love. God was in the position to punish, but He chose the sacrifice of His Son. God did not have to love, He wanted to love. Life without Christ does end in death and hellfire and brimstone, yes, but His focus on the earth was love. The world needs to understand why it does not have to go to hell. Sweetness will draw men to Jesus. Sweetness will allow for us to know and understand our God more.

Riches or Wisdom? (Proverbs 16:16)

Would you rather be rich and stupid or smart and satisfied? This is not to say that the rich are stupid, because they have to have some sort of business savvy to get rich. The pursuit, however, is the focus of this morning's study.

"How much better is it to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." Proverbs 16:16, Amplified

Everybody has a pursuit in life, a passion that they have dedicated themselves to. What is that passion for you? Is it fame? Is it accumulation of possessions? Is it riches? Solomon lays out here that the pursuit of wisdom and understanding are to be desired more than anything else. Though wisdom and understanding are not tangible possessions their existence is still evident in our lives. The footprints of wisdom can be seen in our lives. Understanding can be seen in our relationships with others. Wisdom and understanding are both good for the soul, whereas any physical possession is only good for the physical world. Can riches be used in a "Christian" way? Of course. But is riches are our main focus, our goal, our crowning achievement, then we have missed what the Lord wants for us.

The Search (Proverbs 15:13)

Just as the condition of our heart determines the outcome of our day, it also determines our object of our desire. The heart determines what our mind dwells upon and thinks about.

"The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, inquires after and craves it, but the mouths of [self-confident] fools feed on folly." Proverbs 15:13, Amplified

The understanding that Solomon is speaking about here is the state of our being. Not everybody understands the sin nature of man. Some just understand the base animal nature in man to serve the impulses of the flesh. As we come to an understanding of the salvation of God, then our desires must turn from feeding the flesh to building up the spirit. This search becomes the end all of our being.

But he who has not yet given himself over the salvation of God, or has not heard about this same salvation only concerns himself with foolishness. But the language of the verse seems to imply that this person has chosen the flesh over the spirit, because he has placed all confidence on himself.

Tilling for Satisfaction (Proverbs 12:11)

The Lord blesses those who work for what they get. I am in no way saying that people who come from money are not blessed by the Lord. Having money or no money, the Lord still wants us to use our hands.

"He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense and without understanding." Proverbs 12:11, Amplified

It is in the nature of man to do nothing. I would much rather not work. But I know my own heart would be consumed by a worthless pursuit. Does this mean that I am without sense? No. I have the sense and understanding enough to know that I must work and stay busy.

As of right now, I am not making a whole lot of money where I work. In fact it is about half the income that I am used to bringing home. I till my land by going to work everyday. In doing so, the Lord has blessed me with the ability to pay my bills, my mortgage, have food on my table for my family and clothes on our backs.

If I were to allow my heart to follow its own desires and lusts, I would lose everything. I pray the Lord give me the strength to make it through each day. His grace is enough for me.