A Good Word

Today, I woke up sick.  I spent the latter part of yesterday on a chicken farm.  I went into the houses and instantly my nose began to run pools and my lungs folded up like a lawn chair at the same time.  Usually when I work there I wear a mask covering my face and I have an inhaler for emergencies. However, this time I had none.  My inhaler broke because of a door falling on it (weird circumstances) and no mask because I got a new vehicle (thank you Jesus) and I didn't transfer the masked into the car.  Fighting through that work yesterday was a tough ordeal.  After I came home my niece was here (who I love dearly) and playing all night when it feels like you have peanuts for longs is a tall order.  I woke up not feeling good.  And being sick is not fun, but when I turned on my computer I looked on Facebook (the incredible social network) and received a message from a friend.  She said that she had seen something and that it had reminded her of me (something Christian) and that encouraged me.  Proverbs talks about this very thing.

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. Proverbs 12:25

People have heaviness in their hearts.  This world is full of turmoil and trouble because this world is cursed and fallen.  Trouble is everywhere.  How I felt this morning happens a million times a day and as servants of the King we need to take up our responsibility as an encourager. The bible says many times that we should encourage one another, exhort one another and edify one another.  Are we doing this?  I'll probably get better from this sickness (LORD willing)  and be fully healthy, but some have emotionally and spiritually heaviness.  How much more would one need a cheerful word in this?

I charge you today to not live in the light of your own life but to notice the lives of others.  I charge you to bring joy in another persons life, and to bring a word that uplifts and encourages the people around you.  Let us not talk negative to tear down but positive to build up.  Let us not forget the times we felt hopeless and needed encouragement.  Let us spread this encouragement and exhortation to others.  Above all let us bring the ultimate good word Jesus Christ to those in spiritual turmoil because He the only saving grace for humanity.

The Wise and the Foolish

Proverbs talks much about wisdom.  As a matter of fact this book is filled with many sayings about what to do to become wise, how to act if you are wise, and how precious wisdom is.  I ran across some verses today in my daily readings.

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled.  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.  He that reproveth a scorner getteth himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.  Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will in crease in learning.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:4-10

This I have read previous times and it always hit me a certain way; however, today it seems a bit different.  This is one of those passages where we should start from the last verse and work up.

 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. We must remember where wisdom comes from.  Wisdom comes from God.  We must first honor the King and know in whom we should base our belief system on.  Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life..."  John 14:6. All truth is Christ.  Therefore if any man or woman has wisdom in anything in this world it has come from the Father who is truth. It is only discerning that truth which becomes increasingly difficult. Let us remember that.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will in crease in learning. Let us learn from each other is next on the list.  Let us tell each other of how to avoid situations how to love better, how to reach certain goals, how to apply things in our lives, how to gain a better relationship with others, how to live more for Christ, and many other things.  Let us learn from each other.  This is why we are part of a body in Christ, to share experiences. The writer of Hebrews (Heb 10:24) said "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works;"  We must remember it is good for us to share with each other in our problems and to gain advice from others in the family of God.  This will help us to live greater for God.  But refer back to the first point because only true wisdom comes from God. Any wisdom we get outside of God's people is not safe to be taken (not to say that some of our non-Christian acquaintances cannot have sound advice, but the can because all truth is of God) and cannot be trusted unless one is able to discern truth from lie.  And this is true because does the world and Christ have to do with each other.  They are enemies (James 4:4).

He that reproveth a scorner getteth himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.  Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. In the context of these words the writer is saying that we should not continue to push wisdom on those who do not want to receive it. And this is true.  I believe that we should try to help those in need, yet if the person denies the advice and begins to argue then it is unwise to continue any further with the conversation. Also we are to choose to whom we present this advice to.  This is to put our pearls before swine.  It must be evident that they will accept this wisdom we give.  And that is the traditional view that I have seen.  However, as I read this part of the scripture today I began to think, what if Solomon wrote this not only to warn of the fool, but also to warn us of ourselves as being the fool.  How many times do we argue when a Christian friend is only giving us advice about our actions or our faith.  He or she is only doing what the bible directs them to do (Gal 6:1).  Maybe these verses are here to warn us of ourselves.  Maybe they are here to bring to light the foolishness that we have.  As I look back on my life I realize that I was the fool many of times.  We should choose to listen to those who give advice (especially elder in the faith) so that maybe we can become greater followers of Christ through their revelation.

Whoso is simple, let him turn in heither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled.  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding  Finally I charge you to listen to these words for they are not mine but only interpretations of the Word of God.  But not only my blog but all those that think they know it all, because maybe there is some truth to the words they have to say.  Listen and become wise for what is the price of wisdom? I charge you to see the humility in listening and isn't humility being Christ-like which being gives us better understanding? So let us listen more today and become wise in and through our God.