The Fool 3 (Proverbs 24:7)

Foolishness traps the mind in a child-like state that inevitably impedes the individual from growing and maturing.

"Wisdom is too high for a fool; he opens not his mouth in the gate [where the city rulers sit in judgement]." Proverbs 24:7, Amplified

A fool cannot understand wisdom therefore he has nothing to say. He has nothing to say because he does not understand those wise things, or even the things of God. The fool has filled his mind with childish things.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against being silly and having a good time. But there is a time to have fun and be silly, whereas there is a time for buckling down and seeking out wisdom.

Wisdom and Counsel (Proverbs 24:5-6)

Wisdom and counsel, hand in hand, can be a truly unstoppable force.

"A wise man is strong and better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power; for by wise counsel you can wage war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety." Proverbs 24:5-6, Amplified

True wisdom is knowing that you may not know everything. In other words, wisdom is not always having the answer for whatever situation may be, rather it is knowing when others may have that answer. Presidents of corporations have a "board" to help make those tough decisions and even our President has the "joint chiefs" for other important decisions.

No one can ever have all the answer, if they did, faith would not be a necessity. A wise man once told me, "I may not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." When in doubt, reach out.

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.

Wisdom Versus Strength (Proverbs 21:22)

Wisdom is so much better than strength.

"A wise man scales the city walls of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust." Proverbs 21:22, Amplified

Wisdom breaks down strongholds. The strong have only their strength to rely on, but the wise have wisdom to help them overcome any obstacle. Wisdom is better than strength because wisdom is knowledge applied. How can a strong man overtake one stronger than himself? He may get lucky, but the odds are stacked against. The wise man, the cunning man, however, has the better chance to bring down the mighty because of his wisdom.

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.

Fathers and Children (Proverbs 17:21)

Every father wants to be proud of the child that comes from his loins.

"He who becomes the parent of a [self-confident] fool does it to his own sorrow, and the father of [an empty-headed] fool has no joy [in him]." Proverbs 17:21, Amplified

Today the verse is pretty self explanatory. Yes, every father wants to take joy in the son that comes from his loins, but when that son is foolish then there is no joy for the father. It is the job, responsibility and privilege of the father to pass on wisdom to his son. This is why it is important to encourage spiritual integrity on children. Not only teach our kids the worldly wisdom that we have experienced, but also teach them about our God that we experience on a daily basis.

The Fool (Proverbs 17:16)

Wisdom is not exclusive to a certain type of people or a certain sect of society. Anyone can become wiser.

"Of what use is money in the hand of a [self-confident] fool to buy skillful and godly Wisdom, when he has no understanding or heart for it?" Proverbs 17:16, Amplified

Solomon understood the idea that wisdom is available to everyone but could not understand why the fool had the same opportunities as non-fools. It has been stated before that the fool has said in his heart there is no God, so why give him the opportunity for wisdom? We serve a truly awesome God. In order or Him to be a just God, He must give all the same opportunities. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NKJV) no one has a corner on the market when it comes to knowing the Lord. Even the fool has the opportunity to know Him.

Beauty, Wisdom and Glory (Proverbs 16:31)

Age is a gift from the Lord that comes with a conditional wisdom.

"The hoary head is a crown of beauty and glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness - of spiritual and moral rectitude in every area and relation." Proverbs 16:31, Amplified

This "hoary" head is actually speaking of gray hair. Gray hair is a sign of beauty, wisdom and glory. It speaks of someone who has been there and done that. At the feet of the silver-haired grandparent or even parent a child should want to sit and listen to stories.

But this beauty, wisdom and glory comes with a condition. The person having the hoary head must be found in the way of righteousness. I know everyone one has come across that crotchety old person who hates everything and is unhappy with every condition. But there is something different about the elderly who is following the Lord. There is a peace as he or she comes to the end of things. The silver-haired person knows that the beauty, wisdom and glory must be passed on to the next generation. My father was a man who developed gray hair very late in his life. But with that gray hair came a respect and admiration for him because his walk with the Lord had turned for the better. A lifetime of lies and deceit turned into a life of servitude.

What Separates Us? (Proverbs 16:23)

Learning is a constant process. It is never truly finished until we meet our Lord.

"The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips." Proverbs 16:23, Amplified

There is a saying that someone speaks their mind. I feel that humanity really speaks their hearts instead of their minds. We often speak out of emotion without thinking of the consequences that our words may have. The wise, however, instructs their mouths on how to speak. The way the verse reads, this can be a child of God or of the world. Anyone can speak with tact or intelligence. Anyone of the world can also learn more and become a persuasive person. What separates us is in how we get our knowledge and how we use our knowledge. The Christian has the same abilities and tools as the rest of the world. It is how those abilities and tools are used to glorify the Lord.

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.

Rebuke and Wisdom (Proverbs 15:12)

The bitter and the scornful never like the idea of being corrected or rebuked for the heart is so set against others.

"The scorner has no love for the one who rebukes him, neither will he go to the wise [for counsel]." Proverbs 15:12, Amplified

To be scornful is to have either contempt or disdain. Anyone who does not have the Lord in their lives can come to that place of contempt. Think of it like a glass of water. By an open stove, the glass has the ambient temperature of the room and the extra boost of heat from the range. But if that water is moved farther and farther away eventually making itself into the freezer, the colder and harder that glass of water will get.

When the heart is this cold and hard it is difficult to express love to anyone, especially one who has rebuke and correction for you. But that heart will not reach out either. It is similar to the heart of Pharaoh when dealing with Moses concerning the release of the Israelites. Pharaoh hardened his heart nine times, after the tenth plague the the Bible says that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. The idea of the Lord "hardening" the heart of man is actually showing us that the Lord established Pharaoh's heart. Our heart must be founded on something.

The heart of man can be a cold and bitter place, but filled with the love and wisdom of the Lord it can be a place for others to seek for truth and refuge. In order to be that refuge for others and to have the ability to lead others to the truth, we must first have the ability for a heart inspection. This may take some rebuke and correction, but rebuke is never going to be easy. No one enjoys being wrong. Correction is a tool invented by the Lord that allows us to better ourselves. There was a master sculptor who had created a beautiful representation of a lion. When asked how he was able to do such a thing he simply responded like this, "I chip away anything that does not look like a lion." Rebuke and correction chip away the parts f the heart that do not resemble the Lord.

Sleeping Giants (Proverbs 14:33)

Inside of every man there is going to be found either wisdom of folly.

"Wisdom rests [silently] in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of [self-confident] fools is made known." Proverbs 14:33, Amplified

To have understanding means that you have taken the time to become intimate with with something. As we become intimate with the Lord, we begin to understand Him and His ways more and more. In that understanding, wisdom is bred. But the only way to receive that wisdom and understanding is to become intimate with the Lord.

The foolish man, however, only becomes intimate with those things that will bring him pleasure. "For the foolish person will speak foolishness, and his heart will work iniquity; to practice ungodliness, to utter error against the Lord, to keep the hungry unsatisfied, and will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail." (Isaiah 32:6, NKJV) No one is the focal point of the fool's vision, except for himself.

Become intimate with the Lord today. Begin the understanding of your Savior. Attain wisdom from Him who breathed life into you.

The Pay Out (Proverbs 14:24)

In the former study, we found that all work has its profit. If we invest ourselves, we do not necessarily have to wait for the pay out. We can see a return on our investment in this life.

"The crown of the wise is their wealth of wisdom, but the foolishness of [self-confident] fools is [nothing but] folly." Proverbs 14:24, Amplified

In any business, a true business man wants to see a return on his investment. If he invests his own money into a up and coming business that has a dynamic product that no one else has, then he just might see a larger return. But with every business, there is risk. It may be a Ponzi scheme, or just another get rich quick scheme.

The same goes for the Christian. We must invest ourselves in the Kingdom of God, but in doing so we are taking a risk. This risk I am speaking of is ridicule and laughter. The world is searching for the next "get rich quick" scam to fill that void they have in their hearts. As for as they are concerned, God is not the answer they are looking for. But unlike the business man, we will always see a return on our investments if we are faithful to the Father.

The fool has nothing but his own folly to look forward to. This is the man or woman who invests their spirits into something that is passing and fleeting. Spiritually, we are all investors. But it must be in something that is secure and everlasting. So as Christians, it is our duty to make that investment so that we can have our return, a return of increasing wisdom. This will be our crown in this life. An investment in the Lord means an increase in wisdom. But to trusts our hearts to any other source is just plain folly.

Firm Foundation (Proverbs 10:14)

The wise store and build, whereas the foolish comes to tear down and destroy.

"Wise men store up knowledge [in mind and heart], but the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction." Proverbs 10:14, Amplified

The wise man store up knowledge in mind and heart so that it may be used in times of need. It is kind of like the body storing fat and drawing on the reserves when they are needed. Wisdom is one of those things that will not perish, it can be stored up and called upon to use later on in life.

The mouth of the fool is the antithesis of this. It will tear down and destroy anything it can. The wise man must stay away from the fool to protect his storehouse of knowledge. If he is not careful, the fool may destroy all that he has reserved in one swift action.

We can liken this relationship to the man who built his house on the rock and the one who did not. Both men are given the same opportunity to build a residence. Similar tools are used in he building of every house as well as materials. But the foundation of either one was different. One built his house on the firm foundation of the rock which is Jesus Christ. This was the wiser of the two. The destructive powers of nature came and that house did not fall, but the other house is described as having a great fall.

The fool is that destructive force for the wise man. In storing up knowledge and building the storehouse, one must be careful where he is building. Is he building around friends that are not like minded? Is he building where destruction is imminent? Or is he choosing to build responsibly, in a place where there is security and safety?

Blessing of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:32-36)

There is a certain blessing that comes to a man when he obtains wisdom. Life seems to get better with the wisdom that he has found. However, when that same wisdom is denied by man, his life will go down a slippery slope. You see the way of wisdom is an upward progression. If one were to choose the way of folly there is only one other direction to travel, downward.

"Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed - happy, fortunate [to be envied] - are those who keep my ways." Proverbs 8:32, Amplified

Happy and fortunate is the man who not only find the way of wisdom, but also keep it. There is a certain care that goes into "keeping" something. One can find a number of things in life, but until one takes the time to keep it, then it truly has no value for that individual. "For where your treasure is there will be you heart also." (Matthew 6:21, NKJV) The cultivation of wisdom is the key here. Keep it, take care of it, love it but do not forsake it.

"Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it." Proverbs 8:33, Amplified

A part of truly becoming wise is the acceptance of instruction. Instruction is not necessarily synonymous with discipline. One can receive instruction without discipline. I currently work in a school and daily I am in a class helping to instruct. I do not go into the children with a belt or whip in my hand. Instruction is never forced, it must be received. I try to have the gentle hands needed to guide the impressionable minds of these young children. They have the option to neglect what I am trying to teach them. It is solely their responsibility to either accept or reject the instruction that I have. In truth, the instruction of myself or their teachers will ultimately leave them in a better position than when they first started the day.

"Blessed - happy, fortunate [to be envied] - is the man who listens to me, watching at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life, and shall draw forth and obtain favor of the Lord." Proverbs 8:34-35, Amplified

There are those who seek wisdom out on a daily basis, waiting for any morsel that may fall from her table. Blessed are those who find those morsels. If wisdom cannot be found where we are the we must go to it, we must seek it out. The intensity of the search reveals the desire of the heart. In finding wisdom one comes into life and favor with the Lord. This is not a coincidence or a hope, it is a promise.

"But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death." Proverbs 8:36, Amplified

We must understand this one spiritual truth, if we are not for the Lord then we are against Him. There is no neutral ground here. To not love wisdom is to hate it. This word hate used by Solomon is speaking of a personal hatred. It is like that one person that you do not like just because. When asked why you hate, no definite answer can be given. To not love wisdom is to treat it in the same fashion. As I stated earlier, if we are not traveling in the upward direction of wisdom then we are traveling in the other direction. To turn your back on wisdom is to turn and face death.

Wisdom Predates Creation (Proverbs 8:22-31)

Even before the creation of the world, wisdom was with the Lord. This is a really complicated thought. If the Lord created wisdom what was He before its existence? The creation of wisdom was not for the Lord, rather for man. Our God is omniscient, all-knowing. The Lord created wisdom as a tool of creation and as a way for man to identify with the Creator through the study of creation. Wisdom riddles creation.

"The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old. I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed." Proverbs 8:22-23, Amplified

Wisdom was instrumental in the creation of the world. The Lord ordained wisdom to be a key factor in the creation of the world. There is a scarlet thread that runs through the Bible. From the beginning to the end of the Bible we can find Jesus on every single page, the plan of the Lord in every single book. Without intelligence and wisdom, our God would have never been able to do this. The Lamb of God was slain even before the foundation of the world was laid.

"When there was no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills I was brought forth; while as yet He had not made land, or the fields, or the first of the dust of the earth." Proverbs 8:24-26, Amplified

On the third day of creation the Lord created the dry land. Wisdom led the Lord to separate the light from the darkness even before creating the dry land. The firmament was created before the dry land as well; these were the waters above the waters. It is believed that this was a blanket of precipitation that worked in the same fashion as a green house and were also instrumental in the destruction of the earth. Before the first, second and third days wisdom stood steadfast with the Lord.

"When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when he drew a circle upon the face of the deep, and stretched out the firmament over it, when He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep, When He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] HIs command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth; Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him as a master and director of the work; and was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always, rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting the sons of men." Proverbs 8:27-31, Amplified

By wisdom the Lord set limits to the waters of the seas. Jeremiah the prophet wrote, "'Do you not fear Me?' says the Lord. 'Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though the waves to to and fro, they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.'" (Jeremiah 5:22, NKJV) it is interesting because the Lord was comparing His people to the sea. The sea had a limit placed upon it, and it could not and would not pass. If a mindless body of water obeys the Lord, then what of the human heart? Why is it so hard for the heart of man to remain true to the Lord. Wisdom delights our Lord. Can we not then also delight our Lord through the application of wisdom?

The Possessions of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:12-21)

In this particular chapter we had the call of wisdom. She told us what she could do for us. Now in this section of the chapter wisdom is going to shows us her wares, if you will. After answering the call of wisdom, something happens inside of us all. It is when we possess wisdom that we begin to see as it see and hate as it hates and love as it loves.

"I, Wisdom [from God], have made prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion." Proverbs 8:12, Amplified

To be prudent is to act or show care for the future. Wisdom is a planner always looking toward the future and preparing us. In that preparation comes the search for knowledge and discretion which is always found by wisdom. I guess the next question to ask would be are we prudent in our lifestyles? If not, then we must ask ourselves why. Why am I not living prudently? If wisdom makes its home within prudence, then we too should become familiar with the application of prudent living.

"The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil. Pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate." Proverbs 8:13, Amplified

Living prudently also includes the fear of the Lord. Now this is not the kind of fear found in a horror film. it is a reverent fear, it is a worshipful fear. In looking out for the future, one must realize that there are certain things that one cannot entangle himself with. To live prudently one must expel all evil from his life. Wisdom calls out four different things by name:

• Pride - By pride the devil fell. Now remember that pride is not how highly that one thinks of himself, it is how often. "For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but of this world." (I John 2:16, NKJV) Pride has no part in the Father so it too can have no part in us. Prudence will think of others first.
• Arrogance - This is another form of pride, but by definition it means, "having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance and abilities." Arrogance steal the spotlight and allows no one else the opportunities that you may fulfill. In other words, arrogance will never share the glory. It is possible to take too much on to oneself with every good intention, however, we must be careful where we place the glory. Prudence takes the humblest seat in the house.
• The evil way - Now this is obvious, or is it? Wisdom hates any other way in life that is not leading toward the upward calling of Jesus Christ. We should all share that same distaste for life which does not include our Lord. The narrow gate is the prudent path.
• Perverted and twisted speech - This is a particularly ensnaring thing. How do we address one another? What kind of jokes are we telling each other? We must be careful of our speech, because it is one of those things that as we get comfortable it becomes easier and easier to speak a certain way. Prudence nor wisdom will afford us to turn one away from God because of our speech. Prudence has a gentle tongue.

"I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth." Proverbs 8:14-16, Amplified

Counsel and knowledge belong to wisdom, so wisdom should have its place within the political realm. In America today, this seems like a less likely scenario. Our judiciary system does not seem like it acts either in prudence or wisdom. But I must remind, even myself, "Let every soul be subject tot he governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." (Romans 13:1, NKJV) This included Caesar Nero in the early Christian era, who would ride naked in his garden to the light of burning Christians.

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently will find me." Proverbs 8:17, Amplified

There is a promise to those who seek for wisdom. If wisdom is sought out, it will be found. Now the qualifier to that statement is that the search must be diligent. There is a certain blessing in being persistent and a satisfaction when what we look for if found. Think of it as young children looking for Easter eggs. All search for the pastel treasures, but one will emerge victorious. That one child will be the victor because he (or she) found the most. Their search was more diligent, their hunger and appetite was stronger. The same can be said of wisdom and the search for it. Will you search like you will be the victor? Will you emerge the winner having more in your basket than the others? The good thing about wisdom, however, is that there is not a shortage out there. There is no inventory of wisdom, all can be diligent and search out wisdom and emerge victorious for themselves and their families and their God.

"Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth, and righteousness [that is, uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God]. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver." Proverbs 8:18-19, Amplified

Solomon knew this truth first hand. He was asked by God what he wanted when he became king of Israel. Solomon chose wisdom to rule the people of Israel over riches and fame and everything else. Gold and silver and precious stones cannot comfort the soul the way that wisdom can. Nor can riches solve the problems of life, only postpone the outcome of certain events. But wise and prudent living will make for a joyful life.

"I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness [of moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation], in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches, and that I may fill their treasuries." Proverbs 8:20-21, Amplified

Wisdom will never deviate from the righteous path. To follow and pursue wisdom, one must walk the righteous path as well. Prudence and wisdom, hand in hand, will lead us to true riches, and that s our Lord and Savior Jesus.

(777) NEED-HIM (Proverbs 4:10-13)

There is never a day when wisdom will not be needed. Choices are made by each individual on a daily basis. As prayer is made for wisdom, a steadfastness must also be attained. It is not enough to just pray, but as we receive we must hold on to what the Lord has given to us.

"Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many." Proverbs 4:10, Amplified

Solomon is begging his child to receive what is being taught. I now as a child, I did not want to receive much of what my parents had to say. It was not that I knew it all, but the experience of doing it on my own was so enthralling. Independence is imbedded deep in the human heart, but independence and instruction are not necessarily terms that are not complimentary. I am going through the same thing with my daughter and son right now. Both of my children want to do everything on their own, but it is my heart's desire not to have them have to redo anything; work smarter not harder. No parent wants to sit and have to tell their children, "I told you so." If Instruction is received, a better quality of life is received because that instruction is coming from someone with knowledge and wisdom.

"I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have lead you in the ways of uprightness." Proverbs 4:11, Amplified

Solomon is qualifying his statement for his son to follow and receive his instruction; it is because he has lead his son toward God. If we are being led toward God, we should receive all that anyone has to give us. Being taught in the ways of God and how to walk in uprightness lead to better quality of life, therefore a longer life. Not only that, but Solomon is saying that he has offered up comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God. We are blessed with the ability to also receive that lesson plan as we read the book of Proverbs.

"When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered - your paths will be clear and open; and when you run you shall not stumble." Proverbs 4:12, Amplified

This is all spiritual allegory. Reading the Bible does not create for us a better cadence or a more even stride, but it does help us in our "walk" with the Lord. What this is in reference to is the journey that we are taking with the Lord and towards the upward calling in Christ. What Solomon is trying to convey is that our steps will be sure, there will be no doubt as we make decisions in our lives if wisdom is applied, and that wisdom is godly wisdom. I also believe that Solomon is making a reference to a girding of the loins. In this time, the men wore tunics which would make running very difficult. But if that same tunic was to be brought up between the legs and tucked into the belt, the legs of the man would then not be encumbered with the tunic; there would be nothing left to trip the man as he ran. Peter made reference to this same thing, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming ourselves tot he former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (I Peter 1:13-15, NKJV) This is what the wisdom that is being imparted to us will do for us if we lay hold of it.

"Take fast hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life." Proverbs 4:13, Amplified

It is funny what we deem important in life. We put insurance on our toys, priceless collections, homes, cars and lives, but are we placing that same kind of insurance into our spiritual life? If we put the same care into the insurance of our spirituality just imaging the quality of our walk. Wouldn't be nice to have an insurance agency that insured our spiritual walk? Just imagine calling (777) NEED-HIM and we reached an agent who gave us a policy number so that we could rest assured that our spirituality was insured. We already have; every time we open our Bibles to read or our mouths to pray we are reaching out to our Agent, Jesus Christ, who already gave us our policy, His blood. If we hold fast to that, then our life is insured.

Pray Then for Wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-9)

Solomon is desperately trying to convey the idea that the pursuit of wisdom should be the most important in one's life. Any other pursuit is fleeting and will never last. If one were to pursue the opposite sex they would find complete and utter emptiness, never being fulfilled. Solomon gives excellent advice to his offspring.

"Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension and interpretation [of spiritual matters]." Proverbs 4:1, Amplified

Wisdom comes from the Lord. Who better to ask for wisdom than the One who is not bound by the finite constraints of humanity? The Lord sits outside our realm and has infinite wisdom. WE covered before that the Lord came to Solomon in a dream and offered him anything that he desired and Solomon asked for the wisdom to rule over the people of Israel. In any job or occupation or career that we have we should always ask the Lord for wisdom and knowledge. Pray then for wisdom.

"For I give you good doctrine - what is to be received; do not forsake my teaching." Proverbs 4:2, Amplified

It is true, Solomon was giving good teaching and sound doctrine. Doctrine is nothing more than a belief or set of beliefs that is taught to a person or a group of people. Indoctrination is to teach this person or group of people the acceptance of this belief or set of beliefs uncritically. To hear it over and over again, one would begin to take in whatever knowledge was being taught and would be assimilated into that person. This is why one should read their Bibles and pray everyday. We need to indoctrinate ourselves to the truth so as to inoculate ourselves from sin. Pray then for wisdom.

"When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only one in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba], he taught me, and said to me, let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commandments and live." Proverbs 4:3-4, Amplified

Solomon is explaining here that his father did the same for him as he is doing for his offspring. It is important for a father to get involved in the spiritual growth of his child or children. We have a duty and an obligation to give them the tools to survive the world. "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands the intents of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever." (I Chronicles 28:9, NKJV) These were the words of David as Solomon was being commissioned to build the Temple. Pray then for wisdom.

"Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding - discernment, comprehension and interpretation; do not forget, and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. Forsake not [Wisdom] and she will keep, defend and protect you; love her and she will guard you. The beginning of Wisdom is, get Wisdom - skillful godly Wisdom! For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing. And with all you have gotten get understanding - discernment, comprehension and interpretation." Proverbs 4:5-7, Amplified

This is a commandment to every generation, "Get wisdom!" There is a promise attached to the pursuit of wisdom. If we pursue it and attain it, wisdom will keep and guard us. It is impossible to succumb to any obstacle in our lives if we are wise. Any problem can be solved through wisdom. Pray that the Lord would bestow upon us the wisdom that He wishes to give. Even more so, pray for discernment, comprehension and interpretation. It is there for the taking. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives o all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5, Amplified) Pray then for wisdom.

"Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her. She will give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you." Proverbs 4:8-9, Amplified

If we make wisdom the chief thing in our life then it will do the same for us. To exalt wisdom is to seek it out and apply it in our lives. As we do this, wisdom will lift us up to higher places. Humanity has a way of exalting the wise of the world. If you look at you calendars, you will find many different holidays that were created to exalt the wise in our nations history. Our past presidents have made this country great through godly wisdom. America has worn its wreath of gracefulness. It is sad to say that this wreath is withering, but for each individual, our crown can still shine. Pray then for wisdom.