Knowledge is Life, Therefore Choose Life (Proverbs 18:15)

A good question to ask ourselves is what are we seeking after in this life? What drives us on everyday?

"The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking - inquiring for and craving - knowledge." Proverbs 18:15, Amplified

To be prudent is to show care for your future. It is one thing to seek after pleasure that lasts for a few minutes or even days, but what about that substantial stuff? It is sort of like choosing between steak and sugar. One choice is very beneficial and has sustenance to it. The other choice is not detrimental, but does not have the ability to sustain like the other. So the prudent man must then seek after knowledge and the wise has a craving for knowledge.

If we are truly the Lord's, then there will be within us a desire to seek after better things. Not only are we seeking after knowledge, but there is a hunger for such things. What are you hungry for? I guarantee you are hungry for whatever you have been putting inside your body, or mind, or soul.

Remember one thing, however. Knowledge equals death; death of ignorance. The ignorant might not understand the benefits of steak when all they have had is sugar. But once we have had the steak, our eyes are enlightened to that which is good and that which is not so good. So not only is knowledge death, but it is a birthing of choice. We can choose steak. We can choose sugar. We can choose Jesus. We can choose sin. We are surrounded by choice. "I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord you God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NKJV)

Strength of Spirit (Proverbs 18:14)

We all need something to sustain us. But what happens when we become unsustainable? When our spirit us broken, this is when we are most vulnerable.

"The strong spirit of a man will sustain him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?" Proverbs 18:14, Amplified

AS we commune with the Lord on a daily basis, our spirit is strengthened. Even those who choose a different path other than Christ can have a strong spirit, because of their resolve. But those of us who choose Christ above all else have that outside influence, that strength that does not involve ourselves.

This is why we need this outside influence because when our spirit becomes broken how are we to be sustained? Thank you Jesus for your strength.

Hearing the Whole (Proverbs 18:13)

It is very important to listen to a whole story, or testimony, before rendering judgement.

"He who answers a matter before he hears the facts, it is folly and shame to him." Proverbs 18:13, Amplified

I work on a playground with elementary children during their recesses and lunches. It is important that I listen to them when they come to me with a grievance. When I have heard the whole matter, then I can dole out punishment, or discard it as a useless tattletale. But I must hear the whole thing.

The same can be said about our laws. Now I believe our judicial system to be totally dysfunctional. But in the beginning it was not so. Our system was designed to find a person either guilty or not guilty by reason of trial which included evidence and testimony. Nicodemus even stated so in favor of Jesus when questioned by the religious leaders. The whole story can be found in John 7:45-52, but the verse I want to focus on is 51. "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" (John 7:51, NKJV)

It will be to our own condemnation when we answer before the whole matter is heard