Putting the I into WISDOM
The Christians who have most influenced me for good have had a fully functional familiarity with the book of Proverbs. They were (and are) able to take their considerable knowledge and apply it to their lives, providing both godly examples and godly advice. Join with me as each of us endeavors to put the I into WISDOM. Let us seek to exemplify God’s wisdom in our daily lives. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Often, we feel unable to help people in any significant way. However, if we speak wisely, we can be of great benefit – if, of course, others listen. Proverbs 25:12 says, “As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.” Remember the qualified approval of complimentary words (avoid self-praise, seeking praise and the sickly sweet praise of flattery). There are no such cautionary warnings attached to biblical reproof. A double lesson is found here: we must both speak and listen wisely. Probably all of us can think of a time or two (or ten thousand) when we did not heed wise warnings and suffered; we can also probably remember a time or two (but not ten thousand) when we did listen, obeyed, and benefited. When God spoke directly to Cain, “Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5); soon, he killed Abel, his brother. Conversely, when David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband Uriah, God sent the prophet Nathan to rebuke David. Nathan said, “Thou art the man” (II Samuel 12:7); David responded, “I have sinned against the LORD” (verse 13). Let us then listen to wise rebuke.