I hope you enjoyed the message series, The Quest For Wisdom, as much as I did. I will continue this blog till the end of the month. I hope you’ll continue checking in and adding your thoughts and questions. The series is over but the quest continues...
I always enjoy visiting a well designed, well constructed house that is filled with paintings, family pictures, and treasures from all over the world. Those sacred places are not houses, they are homes and they are not built overnight. I get the same feeling about verses 3 and 4. Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge create a synergy in a person that is awe-inspiring. They are a rare find. Like that sacred home, I just want to hang around a person like that. If for no other reason, than just to soak up some of their wisdom.
In biblical times, the men of the city would gather at the city gates to discuss politics, decisions, and issues of wisdom. The fool would have nothing to add to their conversation (v.7). That’s okay if you find yourself in the place of the fool in today’s conversations. Depending on the conversation, I find myself there occasionally. We are on a quest for wisdom, so hopefully we won’t be there forever. In the meantime, when we find ourselves in that position, it’s best to follow the advice we read in Proverbs 17:28.
You may find yourself in a difficult situation right now. Maybe you’re facing a miserable job, controversial relationship, or a negative financial situation. Verse 10 is good advice. Don’t quit just because it’s hard. There are exceptions to the rule. God has not called us to stay in abusive marriages or dishonest jobs. But as a general rule, most people quit jobs, marriages, churches, and other things at the wrong time. They reveal their lack of strength.
I hope we never face a situation in America like the Christians in WWII Germany faced. But if we do, may we live the tenants of verses 11 & 12. If you’ve never read the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, put it on your reading list. He was a German theologian and pastor who tried to rescue “those being led away to death.” If you’ve never read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, stop what you are doing, go immediately to the library, check this book out and read it over the Thanksgiving break. It is in the top 3 books I’ve ever read. It changed my life.
Monday, November 24, 2008
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2 comments:
Would you give some input on Verse 27? Plant and then build. What does that mean to you?
Thanks
This was an agrarian society so almost everyone was a farmer. "Get your fields ready" means prepare the field and plant the crop. In other words, build your business before you build your house. It is the exact opposite of what most people my age have done with their finances. They finance their house with a 30 year loan and furnish it on credit card debt. They don't wait for the harvest to come in, ie. their business and income to grow.
I also see application to us as a church. People ask me all the time when we are going to build a building. I believe we ought to build a healthy, thriving church first. When we have 1000 people coming to the Southport Campus, launch a congregation in Shallotte and Leland and have lots of money in the bank, then we'll talk about building a building. Until then, let's get the fields ready.
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