February 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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"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser - Proverbs 9:9

There are two principles that I see in today's verse. First of all, we see once again that the way that a man responds to teaching reveals what kind of man he is. The man who already thinks that he knows it all and thus is not open to instruction is really a man of ignorance. A truly wise man wants to learn more. He wants to grow wiser, for he is smart enough to realize how little he really knows in the face of all that the Lord has made available. Thus, the wise man wants to gain as much additional information about the Word of God as he can. The man who thinks that he doesn't need to read It or hear It taught is the fool.

The second principle that I see deals more with those of us who are in leadership positions. My personal experience has been that we spend much of our time trying to get people who really aren't very interested in spiritual things to become slightly interested. We beg and plead, trying to get church folks to come to services once or twice a week. While I believe that we should work with everyone, the teaching here seems to be that we should invest most of our time into those who have already shown a desire to learn truth, and are already showing aspects of wisdom. Paul encouraged Timothy to commit the things that he had learned from Paul to "faithful men" (II Tim. 2:2). According to verse 8 of Proverbs 9 the scorner is not even worth rebuking because he will just get mad. Thus, we need to find those who want to be wise and help them to grow in the Lord.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery