Proverbs 8 - Wisdom As Life Saver

12 “I, Wisdom, live with insight,
and I acquire knowledge and foresight.

13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.

14 Advice and priceless wisdom are mine.
I, Understanding, have strength.
Prov 8:12-14 (GW)

17 I love those who love me.
Those eagerly looking for me will find me.
Prov 8:17 (GW)

32 “Now, sons, listen to me.
Blessed are those who follow my ways.

33 Listen to discipline, and become wise.
Do not leave my ways.
Prov 8:32-33 (GW)

Reflection of B:

Wisdom has insight, knowledge and foresight (v12). To have wisdom we need to fear God. To fear God is to "hate evil", not to have "pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech" (v13). The world system may advice us otherwise, but in God's wisdom it is not so.

When we are willing to live a godly life and apply godly wisdom, we will be "blessed". We need to ask God for wisdom and He will grant it to us,provided we are willing to follow His ways of doing things.


Dear Lord,
Teach me Your way and I will follow You. When I am tempted to do otherwise, bring me back to the right path. Let me apply Your wisdom in my work and dealing with people around me. Thank You for Your guidance in my life.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Proverbs 2-3 - Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son,
if you take my words {to heart}
and treasure my commands within you,
Prov 2:1 (GW)

6 The Lord gives wisdom.
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He has reserved priceless wisdom for decent people.
He is a shield for those who walk in integrity

8 in order to guard those on paths of justice
and to watch over the way of his godly ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—
every good course {in life}.

10 Wisdom will come into your heart.
Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Foresight will protect you.
Understanding will guard you.

12 {Wisdom will} save you
from the way of evil,
from the person who speaks devious things,
Prov 2:6-12 (GW)

3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you.
Fasten them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will find favor and much success
in the sight of God and humanity.

5 Trust the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths smooth.
Prov 3:3-6 (GW)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first and best part of all your income.
10 Then your barns will be full,
and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.
Prov 3:9-10 (GW)

27 Do not hold back anything good
from those who are entitled to it
when you have the power to do so.
Prov 3:27 (GW)

Reflection of B:

There are so many wise things we can learn from the above proverbs.

1. Principles of wisdom

• We will be wise if we keep God's words in our heart (2:1)
• Only people who are "decent" and have "integrity" (2:7), and those who uphold "justice" and are "goldy" (2:8) will have God's wisdom.
• God's wisdom will "protect" and "guard" us (2:11), and will also "save" us (2:12).
• "Mercy" and "truth" must be our life success principle (3:3,4).
  

2. To ourselves - We need to "trust in the Lord" and "not rely on our own understanding" so that God will help us remove the obstacles along the way (3:5,6).

3. To God - "Honor the Lord with our wealth" and give Him what is best and He will ensure our barn overflows (3:9,10).

4. To others - We are to reward those who deserve and are entitled to it when we have the power to do so(3:27).


Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that Your wisdom is more than anything else I can possess. I pray that I will not detour from Your teaching and will stay faithful to Your principles of life for me. May I trust You fully and honour You with all I have. I pray that I will treat my colleagues and business associates fairly at my workplace. Watch over me, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Proverbs 1- The Reasons for Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon, David's son who was king of Israel, {given}

2 to grasp wisdom and discipline,
to understand deep thoughts,

3 to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—
righteousness and justice and fairness—

4 to give insight to gullible people,
to give knowledge and foresight to the young—

5 a wise person will listen and continue to learn,
and an understanding person will gain direction—

6 to understand a proverb and a clever saying,
the words of wise people and their riddles.


7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Prov 1:1-7 (GW)

32 “Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away.
Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.

33 But whoever listens to me will live without worry
and will be free from the dread of disaster.”
Prov 1:32-33 (GW)

Reflection of B:

Proverbs are words of wisdom written by people who fear the Lord and received knowledge from God. They help us not to fall prey of the wicked.

Someone ever said that I am "gullible" and too trusting. Perhaps I am. I trust people till I am proven wrong. Yet God has always brought justice for me at the end. In His sovereignty, He protected me from harm while I learned to be less gullible as I read the word of God, especially the book of Proverbs. Yes, by obeying God's word, we will not get ourselves into unnecessary troubles.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your words of wisdom, written through people who feared You, for our protection. I pray that I will keep Your words in my heart and follow Your instruction. Teach me Your way, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

Psalms 111-112 - How to be wise?

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Good sense is shown by everyone who follows {God's guiding principles}.
His praise continues forever.
Psalms 111:10 (GW)


1 Hallelujah!
Blessed is the person who fears the Lord
and is happy to obey his commands.

2 His descendants will grow strong on the earth.
The family of a decent person will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches will be in his home.
His righteousness continues forever.
Psalms 112:1-3 (GW)

Reflection of B:

I just read a book, "10 Laws of Leadership", by Bill Newman, a Christian writer. One of the thing he says in his book is "The leader has wisdom" and "wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge and experience to any given situation".

In the above Psalms, we are told that wisdom comes from fearing God and abiding by His guiding principles for living. When we fear Him, we will stay happy and our family will be blessed and we need not worry about finance. He will give us wisdom to do what is right.


Dear Lord,
You said in Your word that if we lack wisdom we can ask from You. Now I pray that You will grant me wisdom to know how to apply knowledge I have from Your word and do what is right in every situation, at work, at home, and with friends. Thank You for Your blessings in my life.
Praise You in Jesus' name. Amen.

Psalms 69 - My Stupidity

5 O God, you know my stupidity,
and the things of which I am guilty are not hidden from you.
Psalms 69:5 (GW)

Reflection of B:

Sometimes I feel very stupid. Sometimes I feel used in the name of love, or in the name of Christianity, or in the name of God even. Sometimes Christians take me for a ride or take me for granted. Yet, tonight's passage reminds me that God knows and sees everything. He already knew that I am a fool without Him. I need to rely on His wisdom to do what is right.


Dear Lord,
Yes, I admit that I am not wise and feel cheated a number of times. If I have sinned, please forgive me. Help me to be wise in You. Let me know how I should deal with people who may take me for a ride or use Your name in vain.
In Jesus' name I pray.