Series in Proverbs - What God Treasures: Common Sense

 

What God Treasures: Common Sense

Prov. 2:7-11

As I wrote last week’s lesson on “What do you treasure?” The answers to the question were proposed to me on what many people treasure most: life, family, money, home, and material possessions. Jesus was very clear in the gospels on treasures, he spoke of the kingdom of God and of heaven as a treasure, He also spoke against the things that people considered treasures, things of great value: life (If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Matt.:16:25 simplistic meaning eternal life), family (“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matt.:10:37 simplistic meaning God must be number one), Money ( “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matt. 6:24 meaning self-evident), Homes and Material possessions (“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matt.:6:19-21 meaning self-evident)

God’s treasures are divine things that cannot be destroyed, stolen, or lost. He wants us to seek His treasure, His Word “I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure.” (Ps.119:162), His Son and His people  “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world….so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (jn. 17:24b,26b), and faith in Christ “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2Cor.4:7), love and obedience “We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:2-3)  These are the treasures we should want and seek.  Leave me a comment.

Now onto the next lesson, Solomon had learned an incredible amount from God and His father, David through the Holy Scriptures as they were then in the Torah, the five books of Moses and the Psalms written by his dad. He understood that God’s Word is eternal! As the Psalmist stated, “Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.” (Ps. 119:89 NLT) and later the Prophet Isaiah said, "The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isa. 40:8). And as Jesus said “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt. 24:35 NIV) 

So let's read the first portion of the text from Proverbs two, “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. NLT”

Even in Israel during Solomon’s reign as king, there was a lack of common sense, but to anyone who was honest and would seek God, “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.” God had provided a list of laws and rules to govern society at all levels if the people would follow them and take them to heart. In the Hebrew language the word common sense is ‘Higayon’ literally meaning logic, reasoning, rationality, and in the slang horse sense.

In the Hebrew context, the word used for grants is ‘tuwshiyah’ ; it gives the concept of storing up common sense given from God, but His qualifier was honest. Integrity, fairness, and genuineness were also the synonyms of honesty. They are personal traits that God looked for before He handed over His treasure of common sense. 

Second, God used common sense and gave it as a shield against the corruption, wickedness, and personal defamation by the world. One who walked in integrity, obtained and used the treasure of God’s common sense; they were guarded by God against the enemy’s flaming darts. All who walked in the paths of God’s righteousness and justness were guarded by God and they walked in a life of faithfulness to Him.

Application - In my house, as probably true of over 90 percent of people, we have stored up valuable items we have treasured. In churches, these things have been called the “golden calves” and may take up large rooms.

We hoard the treasured golden cows for later usage or for prosperity or also for sentimentality. God wants to grant us things that don’t take up a storage shed or 40 ft. long container. God’s treasures are to be used and cherished not coveted and covered over with a tarp. The real clincher for me is the qualifier, honesty. God who knows our hearts, thoughts, and our words before we think or speak, knows our motives and our personal traits. Are we really honest or as Jeremiah said about the heart, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9 KJV) or are we delusive and duplicitous?

It is also interesting that Common Sense has been a catchword today. It seems common sense has been lost in our society, culture, and political system according to the publications and social media. I would also like to add the religious realm in the world. I don’t have to name names, or point out cultural mores, for history has proven that yesterday's deviances have become today’s mores. 

I heard Tony Perkins state, “The internal problem today in our societies isn’t the corruption of the political or the depravity of the immoral culture, these are the outward manifestations of inward problem, the real problem(lack of common sense) lies at the heart of the church and its religious leaders, for the health of a nation is directly linked to the vitality of the pulpit.”

God has set christians to be ‘holy’ to be set apart from the world. And one of the personal traits that we should treasure is honesty, for common sense comes to the honest, which has been stated “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.”

So what treasure are you seeking? Your answer  will tell alot about your life.

Next, Solomon appealed to his children to get understanding as well as wisdom to go with common sense. So let’s read the last portion of the text.  “Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”

For without these treasured quality traits, wisdom and understanding in the lives the children of Solomon wouldn’t and couldn’t assist them to comprehend the righteousness, fairness, and justice that would be needed in walking in the right way, God’s way of living and interacting with life. For God’s wisdom had to be more than in the mind, it had to be in the heart, and then knowledge would fill and lead in the mind of the one who walks in common sense, integrity, righteousness, and justice. 

And it was with the knowledge of God, not only who He is, but the abiding presence of God in every matter of life and knowledge, for the Psalmist said “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Ps.119:105; 9:10; Prov.9:10 ESV)

Common sense was the joy that Solomon knew in his heart, mind, soul, and spirit. And it was these wise decisions and counsel of and from God that Solomon told his children would watch over their lives, the wisdom, understanding, discernment, insight and instruction from God that would keep them safe from folly, ignorance, and the waywardness of the life of the world.

Application - I am still in awe of God’s wisdom and knowledge of His Word, and how I need them every moment of the day. I have written a phrase to remind me to thank God at the beginning of the day, “Every morning Lord, I want to thank you Jesus. You’re my strength, my joy, my peace, my hope, and my God, Lord and Saviour.” I need to start my day with asking for Wisdom, Understanding, Discernment, Insight and Instruction from His Word. WUDII

We can’t understand or act upon what is right, just, and fair with the things happening in our lives or around us in the world without common sense. Isaiah the prophet spoke a word of wisdom from God, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isa. 30:21 NIV)

We must let the treasure of common sense and the golden nuggets of wisdom and understanding guide our hearts and minds in the right way to go. For whether we are being led by a cloud by day or fire by night (God’s glorious presence) like the Israelites, or  we are walking in step with the Light of God’s word and in His Holy Spirit’s guidance. It all begins with the first step, seeking God first. He will give us common sense and wisdom; they will abide in our hearts, and the knowledge from God will fill us with joy knowing we are on the right path. 

Have you ever been lost? My wife and I were looking for the Old Spaghetti factory in Portland Oregon. We used to go there when we dated, but it had moved to another location, and twenty some years later the way there changed. I  was getting frustrated driving around in circles (before cell phones and GPS), so I asked God for a sign. Just down the highway we found a sign, saying this way. So I followed it, and wonder of wonders, it led us right past the new location of the Old Spaghetti factory. Seeking God, even when it seems ridiculous or frustrating, He hears and gives directions to those who truly and honestly seek.

Everyone will need to make wise choices in their lives, and how blessed it is to have God watching over us, and understanding that he is keeping us safe and sound.

To conclude with this lesson, Do you need to seek what God considers treasure? Do you need to know the way and to walk in it, He will meet you if you seek him wholeheartedly and honestly. “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” (Jer.29:13 MSG)

As always, I want to end with presenting the gospel in the form of the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com