Monday, February 9, 2015

February 10, 2015

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

Solomon, who wrote these words, was the wisest man who ever lived who was not named Jesus.

For the past six weeks we have been learning from him about making wise decisions. The question I have been trying to burn into you mind at every invitation, every impulse, every opportunity and every decision point is: "what is the wise thing for me to do?"

But Solomon reminds us that asking that question just brings you to the edge of wisdom. Gaining wisdom begins with "fearing God". What does it mean to "fear" God? To fear God means that you "give Him recognition and reverence by submitting to His will and His ways".

Fearing the Lord means waking up in the morning and declaring "You are God, I'm not!"

Fearing the Lord means confessing, "You are Holy and I am sinful!"

Fearing the Lord acknowledges, "You are wise and I am a fool!"

Until you submit yourself to God, you have not properly recognized Him or given Him reverence.

If you remember, this is how Solomon became wise in the first place!

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings."  I Kings 3:7-13

How can you ask, "What is the wise thing for me to do?" and not submit yourself to God?  If Solomon couldn't get wisdom until he submitted to God, how do you think you have a chance at it?

Just as it is dangerous and destructive to spend your life living on the edge of sexual immorality, so it is futile to live on the edge of wisdom without submitting to the fear of God.

Will you wisely submit to God today?