Proverbs 2
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.
16 It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. [a]
18 For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 2:17 Or covenant of her God
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
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Wisdom is something we must actively seek from the Lord. It must be a priority. We need to humble ourselves, submit to His authority, and obey His commands.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds difficult at first to those of us with rebellious hearts. But, if we read this chapter carefully, we'll realize that the rewards are far greater than the burdens. The victory He has in store for us and the protection He offers are priceless---and, definitely worth seeking with all our hearts.
Wisdom comes from God. Too often we think wisdom---especially in business---comes from the successful "guru" who deigns to share with us...for a price. We buy his or her tapes, DVDs, books, and pay up to thousands of dollars to attend their seminars. After all, doesn't it say to seek wisdom even if it costs you all you have?
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with the search for knowledge, wisdom, and insight in general. However, we must be cautious about WHOM we turn for advice. If their words are not Bible-based and Christ-centered, then proceed with caution (if at all). We must guard against being led astray by deceptive philosophies.