June 14, 2013

"When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths"  Proverbs 2:10-15

We are unpacking chapter 2 of Provers this week and examining what it takes for a guy to wise up. Our premise is that wisdom is a relationship and therefore, the dynamics that make for good relationships can help develop wisdom. Those dynamics are:

Listen
Look
Learn
Live
 

 On the Lighter side: The Wisdom of Cowboys:

• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
• Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier ’n puttin’ it back in.
• If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.
• If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
• After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him... The moral: When you’re full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
• Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
• There’s two theories to arguin’ with a woman. Neither one works.
• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
• Never slap a man who’s chewin’ tobacco.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Don’t kick a sleeping dog.
• The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

A THIRD OBSTACLE TO BEING A WISE GUY IS LEARNING WHAT PLEASES GOD AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
 

1) What about your habits? 

Do you have a growth plan?
 

2) What about your heart? 
 

Are you guarding It? 

Are you guiding it?

3) Who are you hanging out with? 
 

Remember that buzzards flock but eagles soar.

Don't get stuck on stupid by refusing to change when you learn you need to.
 

WISE GUYS HAVE A PLAN TO LEARN AND GROW.

 

 

June 13, 2013

“And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.”   Proverbs 2:2b-9

 

This is the Summer of Solomon as we spend these three months studying the Proverbs. In chapter one we gained this insight into wisdom: "KNOWING GOD IS WHERE WISDOM BEGINS AND WHERE FEAR IS TURNED INTO FAITH”.

 

The second truth we will explore is this: "WISDOM IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW, IT IS ABOUT KNOWING GOD IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP!"

 

Since wisdom comes from a relationship with God, the things that build relationships also work to develop wisdom. Those four factors are:

 

Listen

Look

Learn

Live

 

In the previous post I talked about the importance of learning to listen to God in order to gain wisdom. Solomon urges you to "incline your ear toward wisdom".

 

Today I want to consider the second wisdom builder - Look.

 

Look for what? "....you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God..."

 

When Betty Goldstein of Staten Island, New York, entered the hospital, her husband Ron wrapped her 3.5-carat diamond ring in a napkin for safekeeping. But in a forgetful moment, the 63-year-old Goldstein threw the napkin in the trash.

When he realized his mistake, he dashed outside, only to see the garbage truck rumbling down the street. So he called the local sanitation department and got permission to follow the truck to a transfer station. Workers began sorting through hundreds of garbage bags and recovered the ring an hour later.

The writer of Proverbs urges us to search diligently for something far more precious, wisdom. This strenuous search for wisdom is actually a search for God Himself

 

There it is!

 

Wisdom comes from your relationship with God and listening to Him and looking for Him are two key factors for gaining wisdom!

 

So, I ask you, "What are you looking for?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 12, 2013

"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you,  so that you incline your ear to wisdom,"  Vv. 1-2a

One of the main themes of the Book of Proverbs is "we are foolish by nature".

To the writer of the Proverbs foolish had more to do with the moral and spiritual nature than the IQ level. Since we are born as sinners we are born fools!
 

Nowadays we might say "we are stuck on stupid".

Solomon wrote the Proverbs to remind us that we are "stuck on stupid" and gives 31 chapters of how to get "unstuck" and acquire wisdom.

Chapter 2 is especially timely for this week leading up Father's Day because it talks about a father seeking to teach his son how to gain wisdom. He shares four important keys to gaining wisdom from a wise father:

Listen!
Look!
Learn!
Live!

Wow! Those are four hard things for men to do! Especially the listening part. Men are notoriously bad listeners!

A young man was driving up a steep, winding and narrow mountain road. Going round a tight corner, he notices a woman driver who is coming in the opposite direction begin to lean out of her window. As they pass each other she yells at him - "PIG!!!!"

The man immediately leans out of his window and screams back at her, "WITCH!!!"

Each continues on their way, and as the man rounds the next bend he crashes into a pig, right in the middle of the road!
 

If only men would listen!
 

So, if you want to "wise up". If you are tired of being stuck on stupid you need to begin listening to God and to wise godly men.

"Incline your ear to wisdom" says the Proverbs writer. Lean toward wisdom with a ready ear! Listen to what your father has to say about right and wrong and listen to what your Heavenly Father has to say through His Word.

Are you listening?
 

 

June 11, 2013

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philppians 1:21-22

The barnyard animals loved their farmer. He had taken good care of them for many years and made their lives very pleasant. He loved them and in their animal way, they loved him.

One day they were discussing how blessed they were to be owned by such a kind and generous man. It was decided they would honor him to show their appreciation. They all readily agreed and began to brainstorm on the best way to communicate their appreciation for him.

Finally they came upon an idea that pleased them all. Since the farmer arose early every morning to do his chores they knew that he loved eating a good hearty breakfast. So, to thank him they thought they would prepare a breakfast in his honor.

"How shall we do it?" one of them asked.

"Well," said the hen, "I will gladly contribute a half dozen of my delicious eggs!"

"Great idea!" said the cow, "I will give milk for him to drink and cream for Him to make butter for his biscuits."

The hog was strangely silent. The hen and the cow looked at him indignantly and the hen challenged, "Hey, hog! I am giving eggs for our farmer's breakfast and the cow is gladly contributing her milk. How about if you donate some ham and bacon!"

This simple silly story about the barnyard animals illustrates the difference between involvement and commitment. The hen and the cow were willing to be involved but the hog would be committed. They would be giving from themselves but he would be giving himself. That is a big difference! That is commitment! Involvement costs you something - but commitment costs you everything!"

Paul in saying, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" is saying, "I am committed not just involved!"

How do we know that he is committed? We know because he is willing to die. He was willing to pay the cost. Paul loved God more than He loved life itself.

What about you? Are you involved or are you committed? How do you know? How would others know? How would God know? What price are you willing to pay? Do you love God more than you love your own life?

June 10, 2013

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;" Job 13:15

It is hard to question Job's commitment. In fact, he was so committed that God was boasting on Him to Satan. Wow!

That prompted Satan to put Job's commitment to the test. And, indeed he did!

We know, of course, that Job passed the test with flying colors!

I guess if you want to learn some insights on commitment, Job would be a good one to study.

What does it take to shake your commitment? Are you committed to the death as Job was?

God allowed Satan to take everything from Job except his life. All that God had blessed Job with was stolen from him. In a matter of a few hours it was all gone. Did that shake Job's commitment? No it didn't.

So, apparently Job was not committed to God for his prosperity. And Job was very prosperous!

Is your commitment to God based on how well He has blessed you? Or, are you committed to Him with the hope that He will prosper you? Job wasn't.

Satan was allowed to inflict Job with painful sores and boils. His misery was so severe that his wife urged him to curse God and die. But in the midst of his agony, Job never charged God foolishly. He remained truly committed to God.

Are you committed to God because you need a healing? Is your commitment dependent upon Him relieving you from pain or suffering? Job's wasn't.

Job was committed to the Person of God. He was not serving God out of any selfish agenda. He wanted nothing from God except God's presence. Job knew God was a personal God and wanted to know Him in person. He was not committed to what God could give him. He wasn't committed to what God could do for him. He wasn't looking for miracles. He just wanted an intimate personal relationship with God. And since that pleased God, God filled Job with His presence and gloried in him.

Commitment that honors God is commitment that hopes in God. Commitment that God desires is a commitment that desires Him. Commitment that pleases God is committed to pleasing God. Commitment that satisfies God is a commitment that seeks Him.

Job loved God more than life itself. That is what Job was committed to and it keep him faithful through several years of intense suffering and incredible loss. Job needed God and nothing more. That is what his suffering left him with - God and little else. But he found that was enough!

It is good to stop from time to time and examine you commitment to God. It is dependent on something you want Him to do for you? Are you trying to "work" God to get what you want from him?

If you are committed to Him for any other reason than loving the Person of God, you will never know the level of intimacy that Job enjoyed with His God.

June 9, 2013

Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

 

One of the misconceptions that is doing great harm to the Faith and to the Church is the idea that there are levels of commitment. You might hear someone claim in self-defense that they are "more committed" than someone else. What they should say is that they are less uncommitted than that person. The point that Jesus is making here is either you are committed or you are not.

Claiming to be "sort of" committed is like saying you are "sort of" pregnant. You either are or you are not. You can't "sort of" sky dive. You can't "sort of" get married. Peter didn't "sort of" walk on water. Jesus didn't "sort of" die on the cross.

The challenge Jesus is issuing is this - "you can't 'sort of' follow Me!" Either you are a disciple or you are not! Either you do His will or you don't. Either you walk in holiness or you don't. Either you are saved or you aren't.

I know you live in a day and a culture that wants to nuance everything into shades and degrees. That would be fine if you were the rule-maker or the arbiter of the rules - BUT YOU ARE NOT - He is! He makes the rules and you don't. So, you either obey Him or you don't. You are either following Him or you are not. That is what commitment means!

Having grown up in corn and soybean country, I appreciate what Jesus is saying to His hearers, who were also rural folks. What He was saying was, "When you go out to plow you don't 'sort of plow', you plow or you don't!" No true farmer would begin plowing and quit. No true farmer would "sort of" plow. No real farmer would plow forward while looking backward.

In rural Indiana where I was raised and in rural Illinois where I served for 22 years, there are cornfields so huge you can hardly see across them. I have always been impressed how straight those long rows or corn or beans are. Never have I seen a field with crooked rows. That is proof that the farmers who planted those rows were committed to planting.

How so?

Farmers plant straight rows by lining up their plows and there planters with a reference point at the end of that row and they stay focused and aimed at that point. Straight rows are evidence of a committed and focused farmer. Those perfectly parallel rows are proof of a committed farmer who never looked back while he plowed!

When you think about commitment think about plowing. When you measure your commitment think about focusing on a fixed point and moving straight toward that point continually. And of course, that straight point is the way of God and the will of God as outlined in the Word of God.

There are no "sort of" committed plowers. Neither are there any "sort of " committed Christians. Either you are committed or you're not. Don't buy the lie.

June 8, 2013

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:6-8

I don't know if you have ever played golf but if you have you know it is a hard game. If you haven't you can take my word for it. But I have noticed it is easier when I can fully commit to a shot. My last round I had one of those days where it seemed like every shot was from an awkward lie or an uncomfortable distance so that I was never quite sure whether to go up a club or down a club. So I really struggled to hit those shots with confidence. When there is the slightest bit of doubt as I hit the shot, it seldom turns out well.

Anytime I stand over a shot with uncertainty in my mind the result is seldom good.

In other words, it is hard to play golf when I have conflicting thoughts about the club selection or the correct distance or what sort of shot I should hit from the lie I have. When I am double-minded my game is unstable and results in double bogeys.

However, when I am facing a shot that has a comfortable distance and a good lie and I know exactly what club to hit, then I can commit to the shot and hit it with confidence and the result is much better.

In the same way, life is more difficult when I am uncommitted. Any time there is doubt or confusion or indecision life gets more difficult. When I doubt God or am not fully convinced about His Word or indecisive in regard to His will, life gets harder.

James, in these verses admonishes believers to be fully convinced about God's goodness and His grace and the truth of His Word. When I am committed to God in these ways, my life gets immediately better.

I want to be a single-minded follower of Christ. I don't want to second-guess Him nor live in confusion or doubt. I want to walk with faith and confidence in my Christian life. That is what commitment is. Commitment is being single-minded and fully convinced God is Who He says He is.

When Jesus was facing the temptations from the Devil in the wilderness, what the devil was after was getting Jesus to doubt the goodness and the holiness of God. He wanted to shake the Lord's confidence in His Father and under mind His faith. In short, the Enemy wanted to offer the Lord a "Plan B" in place of the suffering on the cross.

But the Lord would have nothing of it! He countered each time with truth from the Bible. He affirmed truth in the face of deception. He was committed to "Plan A" completely and exclusively. That is what commitment is!

Is commitment hard for you? Are you struggling with double-mindedness? Do you struggle with doubting God and/or yourself?

"A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways!" Stablilize you heart and your spirit and your mind by fully committing to Christ. Commitment is easier when there is just a Plan A!