January 9, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 9
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2. She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13. A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15. To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

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Forsake the foolish, and live - Proverbs 9:6

Wisdom is something that every person needs to have. Believers in particular are told to pursue after it. Those of us who are Bible teachers have a tendency to try to bring our students to a position of understanding by giving them more and more Truth and expecting them to memorize it and practice it. This is proper, and we dare not deviate from it. However, according to this verse, an individual needs to be willing to forsake foolishness if he intends to live a wisdom-based life. Until a person decides that his foolish lifestyle and thinking are sending him in the wrong direction, and then chooses to renounce his folly, all the wisdom in the world will be wasted on him.

To forsake something means to abandon it. Many Christians do not progress in their Christians lives because they are unwilling to abandon their sin. They enjoy looking at inappropriate material, listening to that which is ungodly, and participating in that which brings reproach to the name of God. They enjoy their carnal companions and their fleshly pleasures, and they refuse to surrender them to the Lord. Thus, there is no room left in their hearts and minds for wisdom because they are filled with folly. They have quenched the Spirit of God, and thus limit the work of the One Who is the Giver of wisdom.

Peter wrote that knowledge could only be added to the Christian life after virtue was established (II Peter 1:5). Once foolishness has been forsaken, true wisdom can be obtained. Until then, all attempts at gaining knowledge are futile.

Have you turned away from anything that would keep you from receiving wisdom?

Pastor Mark J Montgomery