Series in Proverbs - Dare To Be Wise

 

Dare To Be Wise

Proverbs 8:32-36

The word ‘dare’ gives the sense of a challenge, and in order to succeed it will take a great amount of effort. God doesn't say I dare you to be wise, He wants you to be wise! But in our world today, it seems to be a dare to get someone to use the wisdom of God versus the wisdom of the humanist world, who believes that mankind is innately wise, and has the ability to rationalize and reason as a god and be successful. But God gives divine wisdom that was literally used in the creation and is used in the sustaining of the universe and its precise and perfect order. Here in Solomon’s epilogue to his children of this proverb, he tells them to listen attentively, to live wisely, and live godly and peaceful lives, even to the point of Solomon making it an imperative to wisely live a Godly worldview.

So, let’s read the first portion of the text. “So now listen to me, my children: those who live by my ways will find true happiness. Pay attention to my guidance, dare to be wise, and don’t disregard my teachings. The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness.” (Voice)

Solomon used the Hebrew word “esher” for the word happy or blessed. Its literal meaning is straight, to walk in the way of God’s commands then you will live a blessed (happy) life. He states that those who pursue this path will walk in true happiness (the truth), and He has been teaching his children to walk in the straight ways of God, in the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, seeking and living out God's will and purpose in their lives for it will lead them in happiness, peace, and the joy of the Lord. The dare is to not disregard the teachings and imperatives from Scripture and apply them to their lives. 

The wise child or adult will walk in the ways of God, they will listen attentively to his Word and to his voice speaking to them everyday. God even goes as far to dare them to carefully seek Him in everything, to ask for and obtain wisdom. And in the tough and challenging days, to seek Him and wait till the way is confirmed, and also not to procrastinate and put off seeking wisdom till later. For the latter time may very well be too late. Solomon said “carefully seek me in everyday things and delay action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness.”

Solomon is telling his children. Don’t go ahead of God, wait till the way is sure and apparent, and this will make you joyful and happy in the wisdom and truth that God gives generously to all who will seek Him earnestly.

Application - If there ever was a time to seek God’s wisdom it is today. People are seeking many alternatives to the wisdom that comes from God: reasoning, rationalization, street smarts, self-meditation, and social internet advice to name a few. For the alternate wisdom stems from the fleshly nature of human reason, but also from the deception of the enemy of God who is constantly supplanting wise advice and thoughts from God with a concoction of deceptions, lies, and untruth to muddle the mind, soul, and spirit on mankind “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray…” (2 Cor. 11:3 NIV), as well as blinding them to the true way of God. “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.” (2 Cor. 4:4a NLT)

So Solomon’s admonition to his children is for us today, first pay attention and listen, true happiness doesn’t come by happen chance or by creating a model or method to a blissful life. It comes from adhering to the Word of God and the wisdom of God gleaned from it. It guides us in wisdom. One of my favorite verses is Prov. 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV) or “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” (Psalms 37:7a NIV)

As stated earlier, and reaffirmed by the wisdom of God, “The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness.”

Last, Solomon continues in exhorting his children to follow in the ways of God. So let’s read the final portion of the text. “For when he recognizes and follows me, he finds a peaceful and satisfying life and receives favor from the Eternal. But heed my warning: the one who goes against me will only hurt himself, for all who despise me are playing with fire and courting death.”

Again Solomon admonishes his children to wait for the path of God to be revealed to them by seeking God’s wisdom, then the way will be a peaceful and satisfying one, and their lives will have been enriched in the blessings of God's wisdom and his divine eternal grace. 

Again Solomon has placed another dare in the form of a warning. The person who decides to go against God’s direction, leading, and wisdom will only hurt themselves and those who may be watching them and following them, like the harlot who gave no care to her ways or to those who saw her and her arranged soirees. This person will come into shame and desperation because of their lack of wisdom and their inattentiveness to listen and obeying God’s directives (His Word and wisdom). They will be playing with the fires of Hell and courting death.

Application - Again, the repetition of the directive from God should give us a sense of acknowledgement and understanding that “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.” (Isa. 30:21 NLT)

Jesus told the disciples about their current times and the future as well, for God had established the way, and it was to enter through the narrow gate onto the narrow path. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14 NIV)

It is only through the narrow way that God has ordained, that the true joy, peace and happiness is fulfilled in the life of one who believes and receives grace and the eternal promise of eternal life with God, through Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. And they will spend eternity with the myriad of angels and saints in God’s New Heaven and New Earth.

And the alternative is true as well. All who goes against God’s way, his Son and His plan of redemption to follow the broad road of the world will not only hurt themselves in this life, but will find themselves in the eternal designation God has made for those who rebel, despise, and follow the deception of the broad way of the world and human reasoning and wisdom. Hell’s fire and eternal separation from God’s presence. “They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.” (2 Thes.1:9 NLT)

So I dare you to be wise in the way and knowledge of God, His Son, and to seek the wisdom of God, for this is the only path to eternal and true blessings.

As always, I want to conclude by presenting the gospel in the form of the basic principles of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ. For Jesus, God the Son, came into this world to save all who 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 on earth has been given to him. He will answer you if you truly believe. If you haven't yet 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 just God, and a change of heart takes place: we change our minds, and God changes our hearts and regenerates us inside and 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, so we must be born spiritually 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 we have been sentenced to death—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 by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, lest anyone should boast. Secondly,

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

C - Invoke the name of the Lord. Every person who sees those who have lived since Adam will kneel and will confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, Lord of lords and King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God.” Don’t wait, do it now. Romans 10:13 - For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “O God, I am a sinner. I repent of my sin. I want to turn away from it. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son; I believe that he died on the cross for my sins, that he was buried, and that you raised him from the dead. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting in his shed blood alone as sufficient to save my soul and take me to heaven. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”

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

If you would like other lessons, please visithttp://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

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