The Indwelling Presence of God.

2 Chronicles 5

The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: "He is so good! His faithful love endures forever!" At that moment a cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. ­– 2 Chronicles 5:13 NLT

The Temple was complete. The construction crews had gone home. It was now time to make the house Solomon had built for God ready for God. So he sent for the Ark of the Covenant. It had been in a temporary location since the time of David. A procession of priests and people accompanied the Ark from the city of David all the way to the Temple, which was located a spot that was at a higher elevation. Along the way, the priests made sacrifices to God – so many in fact, nobody was able to keep an accurate count. "King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed sheep and oxen before the Ark in such numbers that no one could keep count!" (2 Chronicles 5:6 NLT). There was music, instruments, singing and praises lifted up all along the way. It was a celebration of the highest order. And when they finally were able to place the Ark inside the Holy of Holies, the glorious presence of God filled the place. His shekinah glory, in the form of a cloud, descended onto the Ark and filled the Temple – making it impossible for the priests to continue their work.

The cloud, signifying God's presence, filled the Temple. This was the same cloud that had led the people of God from Egypt all the way to the Promised Land. It was a sign of God's favor, blessing, leading, and yes, His presence. When they saw the cloud, they knew that God was there. The invisible one had become visible. God did a similar thing when He sent His Son to earth – the invisible became visible. God came and dwelt among men in the form of a man. God's Son walked and lived among us. He was the living, breathing presence of God. Then when Jesus died, rose again, and ascended back into heaven, God sent another proof of His presence – the Holy Spirit – who lives within us, filling us with the very presence of God. We are the temple of God and He indwells us just like He did that day when Solomon placed the Ark in the Tabernacle. And the very fact that the presence of God is among us and inside us, should cause us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), and lift up a constant flow of praise to Him. We should sing, shout, rejoice, and celebrate the presence of God among us each and every day of our lives.

Father, Your Spirit inhabits me just as it did the Temple that day. You fill me with Your presence every day of my life. Yet I take it for granted. I sometimes allow my "temple" to become less than holy. I fail to keep my "temple" separated for Your use only. I use it for my own pleasure and benefit. I forget that You are there. Give me a more constant awareness of Your presence. Help me not forget that You are there, right inside of me; guiding, directing, comforting, convicting, and loving me. What an incredible thing to consider. Amen





A Glimpse of God.

2 Chronicles 4

I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God. ­– 2 Chronicles 2:4 NLT

How would you describe God? What words would you use? How many adjectives would you have to string together until you came up with a suitable description of a God who is indescribable? The fact is, describing God is an impossible task for mere man to take on. We don't even have the capacity tocomprehend God, let alone describe him. So we are left at a loss for words. Which is part of the reason why I think God gave Moses the plans for the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Just think about it. God was VERY specific about how He wanted the Tabernacle to be constructed, right down to theexact materials and measurements. Nothing was left to chance or the imagination. Now when it comes to the Temple that Solomon built, the plans were not from God, but they seem to be patterned after the Tabernacle. You might want to think of the Temple as the Tabernacle on steroids. It was a bigger, better version of the same thing. And I think it was Solomon's attempt to describe the indescribable – God Himself. He made it clear that he was building the Temple in order to honor the name of the Lord. This building was an earthly representation or symbol for a heavenly being.

When you read this portion of the book of 2 Chronicles, it's easy to let your eyes glaze over and your mind drift as you work your way through the endless details and descriptions of basins and bowls, cherubim and chains, lampstands and ladles, courtyards and curtains. But if you slow down long enough to think about what this building and all its elements must have looked like when completed, it begins to give you an idea of what I think Solomon was trying to do – honor the glory of his God with a building that was truly glorious and spectacular. The Temple contained elements and attributes that correlate with God Himself. The Temple was filled with expensive and hard-to-come-by metals. In fact, there was so much bronze used, that they couldn't determine its weight. There were precious stones and exotic woods. Only the finest fabrics were used, handwoven with painstakingly dyed thread and containing intricate designs of incredible beauty. Everything seems to be over-sized and out of proportion. The basin could hold 11,000 gallons of water. There were hand-carved and cast versions of pomegranates everywhere – symbolic of fruitfulness and abundance. Gold glistened everywhere. Lamps filled with the finest olive oil shed a shimmering light on everything. Light, beauty, abundance, immensity, quality, craftsmanship, creativity, order, peace – all these things speak of God. They reflect who He is. This building was not only a dwelling for God, it was a telling place. It told of His goodness, greatness, power, creativity, holiness, righteousness, order, and beauty. Our God is great. Our God is good. Our God is indescribable. But the good news is – He is knowable. I may not be able to describe Him, but I can know Him and be known by Him.

Father, I have no idea what the Temple really looked like, but I can imagine it was an incredible sight to behold. But even in all its glory, it couldn't hold a candle to You. Open my eyes and let me somehow perceive just how great and good You are. You reveal Yourself around me each and every day, but I have grown blind to Your presence. Open my eyes and let me see. May the glory of Solomon's Temple give me a little glimpse of just how great You really are. Amen





All to the Glory of God.

1 Kings 7

Huram set the pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one toward the south and one toward the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz. ­– 1 Kings 7:21 NLT

What an amazing description of Solomon's palace. At first reading it gave me the impression that Solomon was more obsessed with his own palace than he was for the Temple of his God. After all, he took longer to build his palace, it was much larger and contained even more objects of beauty and symbols of his wealth. But in the cultures of his day the size of the king's palace and its proximity to the temple of their god, were signs of the power and glory of that god. Solomon's palace was a direct reflection of the blessings of God and was designed to honor the one who made Solomon's reign possible. The entire complex must have been a sight to behold. It was massive, beautiful and filled with treasures of all kinds. But it was not just a monument to extravagance. Everything had a purpose. Even the two pillars that Solomon had erected within the Temple. You can recognize it in the names he gave them. These were probably not functional pillars. In other words, they were not being used to hold up the roof of the Temple. They were decorative, but also highly symbolic. Their real purpose seems to have been to remind the Israelites that Yahweh had established them as a nation and was the source of their strength. The first pillar was named "Jachin" which means "He shall establish," and the second was named "Boaz" which means "In Him is strength."

God was the one who had created the nation of Israel. He had called Abraham out of Ur of the Caldees hundreds of years earlier. God had blessed Abraham and fulfilled His promise to make him a great nation – even though he was old and married to a barren wife. God was the one who had prospered Israel during their time in Egypt and multiplied them from just a handful to a great multitude. He had set them free from their captivity in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. He had delivered the land into their hands – giving them victories over their more powerful enemies. Even when Israel rejected God as their king and demanded a human leader, God did not give up on them, but eventually gave them David – a man after His own heart. Through David, God completed the conquering of the land and made Israel a great and powerful nation. David's son, Solomon, took over the kingdom and enjoyed a time of great power, prominence and peace – all because of the sustaining hand of God. And as long as Israel worshiped, honored, and obeyed God, their nation would continue to be established and upheld by God. He was their strength. He was the source of their power. It was not their great king and his mighty armies. It was not his vast wealth and incredible wisdom. The people of Israel must never forget that God was the one they were to rely on. His power alone made their existence possible. But they would soon forget that. They would become complacent, cocky, and turn away from God. They would turn to other sources for their strength. They would doubt the very one who had established them and gave them strength. And the beauty of the Temple and the grandeur of Solomon's palace would not be able to protect them from what was to come. Both would be destroyed, and Israel would end up in captivity.

God is the one who establishes and He is the one who provides strength. The same is true for us as believers today. I am nothing without Him. He chose me. I did not choose Him. He saved me when I could not have saved myself. He is my source of strength. I have no power on my own. But how easy it is to forget those two facts. I can quickly fall into the delusion that I established myself. I am a self-made man. I can begin to rely on my power and intelligence, forgetting that God is the source of my strength. Solomon didn't want the people to forget the reality of God's role in their existence, so he had two huge pillars erected as reminders. What do we need to do to keep this same message burned into our own memories? The psalmist gives us a clue. "We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did" (Psalm 78:4 NLT). Rather than erect monuments to God's greatness and goodness, we should talk about all that He has done. We should brag about His provision for us. We should tell others of His grace and mercy toward us. We should constantly talk about our dependence on Him and the strength He provides for us. Tell of the Lord's greatness. Speak about His power. And never forget.

Father, You alone have established us and You alone provide the power necessary to protect and provide for us. Yet it is so easy for us to take credit for where we are and falsely believe that we can somehow take care of ourselves. May we learn to remind one another daily about just how great You really are. May we learn to recall just where we were without You. You established us. You are our strength. Amen





The Lord Will See To It.

2 Chronicles 3

So Solomon began to build the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to Solomon's father, King David. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected. ­– 2 Chronicles 3:1 NLT

I am always amazed at those who see some great gulf existing between the Old and New Testaments. They love reading the New Testament and seem to believe that because it contains the revelation of Jesus, it somehow trumps the Old Testament. The Old Testament to them is … well, old. It is antiquated, out of touch with modern day life and full of hard-to-understand images of sacrifice, war, and an angry, vengeful God. But the entire Bible is the revelation of God. It reveals God Himself, and His redemptive plan for mankind, which culminates in the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. If you look carefully, you will see this redemptive message all throughout the Bible. It is what is sometimes referred to as the Scarlet Thread. Pictures of God's redemption of mankind can be seen throughout the Old Testament and our chapter for today is no different. At first glance, it appears to be just another description of Solomon's Temple. There are measurements of pillars and foundations, descriptions of the various rooms and courtyards. There appears to be no real purpose behind these detail, unless you begin at verse 1. Hidden within these two sentences is a wonderful picture of God's redemptive plan.

It tells us that Solomon was building the Temple on Mount Moriah. What is significant about that? Well, to begin with, it was on Mount Moriah that God commanded Abraham to offer up his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). Here was Abraham being told by God to sacrifice the one son he had waited so long for. He was the one through whom all the promises of God were to be fulfilled. And now Abraham was being told to end his life. Which Abraham was willing to do – out of faith in God and his belief that God would raise him up again. Abraham was willing to die to his dream in order to be obedient to God. And because of that, God told Abraham, "Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me" (Genesis 22:12 NLT). Instead of Abraham having to sacrifice Isaac, God provided a substitute, a stand-in. "Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering on the altar in place of his son" (Genesis 22:13 NLT). Abraham ended up calling the place on which this entire event took place, "Yahweh Yireh" or "The Lord will provide," or literally, "The Lord will see to it."

Fast-forward to the time of David. There came a time in David's life when he sinned against God by refusing to trust Him. Instead, he placed his trust in his own military might and took an ill-advised census of the people in order to determine just how many able-bodied soldiers he had. David's sin was in putting his faith in numbers rather than God. As a result, God punished Israel and 70,000 men died. God was going to destroy all of Jerusalem, and sent an angel to meet with David. The place where they met was the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite – the very same place where Abraham was commanded to offer up Isaac. David looked up and saw the angel standing before him with his sword drawn and stretched out over Jerusalem. At that point, David confesses that the sin was his and his alone. He takes ownership for what has happened and offers his own life in exchange for that of the people of Israel. "I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are innocent -- what have they done? O LORD my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people" (1 Chronicles 21:17 NLT). God commanded David to build an altar on the very same spot where Abraham had built his altar. There David offered up sacrifices and offerings to God, and God spared the people.

Now years later, Solomon is erecting the Temple on the very same ground. He is building a house place for God where His presence can dwell and where the people can bring their sacrifices. Each year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would offer a substitute sacrifice for Israel just as Abraham had done for Isaac. It would be a constant reminder that "The Lord Will Provide." He will see to it. He has a plan for the sin of mankind. And while the sacrifices offered in the Temple could never completely forgive or wipe out the sins of men, it foreshadows God's ultimate plan of substitionary sacrifice – the death of His own Son in our place. Jesus became the Lamb who was slain. He became our sin substitute. He was the one who would pay the ultimate price for the sins of mankind by giving His own life to satisfy the justice of God. God saw to it. He provided. And those of us in Christ have benefited greatly from that grand redemptive plan.

Father, thank You for providing a way for me to be made right with You. I could never have done it on my own. I could never have done enough to pay for my sin or earn Your good favor. But You mercifully and graciously provided a way. You saw to it. And I am eternally grateful. Amen





What Does God Want?

1 Kings 6

Then the LORD gave this message to Solomon: "Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my laws and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David. I will live among the people of Israel and never forsake my people." ­– 1 Kings 6:11-13 NLT

At some point along the way, while Solomon was constructing the Temple for God, he received a word from God. And God basically told him that obedience was still going to be the main criteria for assuring His abiding presence among the people of Israel. Building a house or dwelling place for God was NOT going to be enough to guarantee His presence. They were still going to be required to keep all of his laws and regulations – including those tied to the sacrificial system that was going to be linked to the Temple.

The Temple was an amazing structure, ornately furnished, covered in gold, meticulous in its details, and an incredible feat of construction. It took Solomon seven years to complete, and cost him a fortune to build. But as beautiful and impressive as it was, without the willing obedience of the people, it would become just another structure. God didn't need a building in which to live. He wanted a people who were willing to live for Him. The Temple was to be a reminder of God's presence. It was to be a focal point for the nation of Israel. It was there that all their religious activities culminated and came together. But without obedience, it became just a well-constructed combination of stone, wood, and precious metals. In Jesus's day the Temple that Herod built to replace Solomon's Temple was an equally beautiful structure. It was the pride of the Jewish nation. Even the disciples of Jesus admired it. One day while walking in the Temple grounds, Jesus and His disciples had an interesting and somewhat disturbing conversation about the Temple. "Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, 'The time is coming when all these things will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another'" (Luke 21:5-6 NLT). The disciples were admiring the beauty of the structure, but Jesus was aware of the hearts of the people. They had turned away from obeying God. They were no longer keeping the commands and decrees of God. Sure, they were going through the rituals and the religious duties associated with the Temple worship, but their hearts were not in it. And the religious leaders of Jesus' day were the greatest offenders.

Over in the book of John, we read the words of Jesus: "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you" (John 14:15-17 NLT). Paul reminds us, "For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: 'I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NLT). We are the dwelling place of God. We are where He has chosen to place His presence among men in these days. But God calls us to a life of obedience. He calls us to a life of separateness, holiness. We are assured that He will never leave us or forsake us, but we can quench the Spirit of God living within us. We can stifle His efforts to guide and direct us through disobedience. Solomon's Temple was going to be a magnificent structure, but it would not be enough to satisfy God and keep Him living among the people of Israel. He required obedience to His laws, submission to His will, and devotion to His way. Solomon's Temple would end up being destroyed and the people sent into exile – all for their disobedience. Herod's Temple would end up being destroyed and the people left without a place to make their sacrifices for sin – and it remains to to this day. Obedience is what God desires. Willing, submissive, joyful obedience, because we know that He loves us and has our best in mind. Listen to the words of Peter: "Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God -- who chose you to be his children -- is holy. For he himself has said, ;You must be holy because I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:14-16 NLT).

Father, You have placed Your Spirit within me and given me all that I need to live an obedient life. I have the power to do so, but I must choose to do it. I must desire to obey You. All my sacrifices and efforts at doing good things mean nothing if I am not going to listen to what You say and do what You call me to do. Thank You for the assurance that You will never leave me, but never let me forget that I can lose out on all that You want to do in my life just through disobedience. Amen





Going To Great Lengths For A Great God.

2 Chronicles 2

This will be a magnificent Temple because our God is an awesome God, greater than any other. ­– 2 Chronicles 2:5 NLT

Solomon was going to fulfill the dream of his father David and build a temple dedicated to the worship of God. And even though this was not Solomon's personal vision, he was not going to treat it as insignificant or give it a second-rate effort. This was going to be a huge undertaking for Solomon that would require the expenditure of a huge sum of money, the coordination of tens of thousands of workmen, the purchase and shipment of vast quantities of material from all over the Middle East, and countless hours of project oversight on the part of Solomon. And Solomon jumped in with both feet. He was as dedicated to this project as his father had been; applying all his God-given wisdom to accomplish the task at hand. Solomon knew that there was no way that he or anyone else could build a structure worthy of the God of the universe. "But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?" (2 Chronicles 2:8 NLT). He knew that this building was really going to be a place for men to show their honor and respect to God by offering the sacrifices He had commanded them to make. But rather than take a utilitarian approach and build a simple structure, functional and basic; Solomon determined to build a building like no other in the known world at that time. He would spare no expense. Why? Because it would be a reflection of the greatness and glory of the God of Israel. Solomon told King Hiram, "the Temple I am going to build will be very large and magnificent" (2 Chronicles 2:9 NLT). Today, there would be those who would say, "What a waste of money! Couldn't you have taken all that gold, silver, and bronze and given it to the poor!" They would have bemoaned the fact that the Israelites were building a monument to their on glory, not God's. They would have complained about the expense involved, the waste of manpower, the extravagance of the furnishings, and the overall distraction the construction process had become to the kingdom. But Solomon had his focus on one thing – to honor God. Even the pagan king, Hiram understood what Solomon was doing. "It is because the LORD loves his people that he has made you their king! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself" (2 Chronicles 2:11-12 NLT).

Solomon was motivated by God's grandeur, not a desire to impress men. He was determined to honor God and make His name great. If anything, he wanted the other nations to know that His God was the greatest god – the only true God. And the way he chose to do that was by building a structure that was worthy of His greatness. Solomon knew that men could not see God Himself, but they would be able to see His dwelling place – the Temple. So he was going to make it large, impressive, and awe-inspiring. Because it would be a reflection of the character and nature of God. This makes me wonder how much thought, time, effort and energy we are willing to put into the things we do for God. Do we give half-effort or do just enough to get by or are we willing to do all that we do with a level of excellence that gives an indication of how much we think of our God. Let's move beyond buildings and think about the Sunday School lessons or Bible studies we prepare. Do we give them the time God deserves? Do they reflect our understanding of His greatness? Does the way we run our homes and manage our families reflect back on God in a positive way? Are we willing spare no expense and sacrifice great effort in whatever we do so that God gets the glory? Paul put it this way, "So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you - you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God's glory" (2 Corinthians 10:31 MSG). Do everything heartily and freely to God's glory. Do it with excellence. Give it your best effort. Think about Him when you do it. Make His name great. Honor Him at all times in all that you. Why? Because He deserves it.

Father, so much of what I do is not done well. It is not done with You in mind. I give half-hearted effort too often, just to get by and get it done. Give an attitude like Solomon had. Help me to understand Your greatness and in turn, have the desire to give You glory in all I do. Amen





Practical Wisdom.

1 Kings 5

When the ways of people please the LORD, he makes even their enemies live at peace with them. ­– Proverbs 16:7 NLT

Solomon wasn't all talk, no action. He didn't just spend all his time writing pithy proverbs and spouting quotable tidbits of truth like some oracle. No, he put his God-given wisdom to use in everyday life. And 1 Kings 5 gives us a glimpse of just what wisdom in practice looks like. Solomon is following through on his father's request that he build a dwelling place for God. David had come up with the idea, but God did not allow him to accomplish it. Instead, God had told David that his son, Solomon, would build the Temple. Now David is gone and Solomon is beginning the formidable task of building a house suitable for God.

A building project of this magnitude was going to require a great deal of materials, and much of it was not readily available in the land of Israel. So Solomon was going to have to deal with the surrounding nations in order to barter for the goods required to complete the Temple. One of the primary resources Solomon was going to need was lumber, and the greatest source of lumber in the region was from the forests of Lebanon. The only problem was that Lebanon was under the control of the pagan Phoenicians. So Solomon was required to do business with King Hiram of Tyre in order to get his hands on the wood he would need to complete the Temple. And here is where wisdom comes into play. Because Solomon had wisely sought God and lived according to His standards, God gave Solomon a peaceful relationship with his surrounding neighbors. Solomon had a good reputation with the pagan kings whose lands surrounded Israel. Solomon was living out the reality of the truth of the Proverbs he wrote.

• Good people are guided by their honesty (Proverbs 11:3 NLT).
• Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3 NLT).
• When the ways of people please the LORD, he makes even their enemies live at peace with them (Proverbs 16:7 NLT).
• The LORD demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard (Proverbs 16:11 NLT).
• The godly walk with integrity (Proverbs 20:7 NLT).
• The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases (Proverbs 21:1 NLT).

Because Solomon lived wisely, God gave him a healthy relationship with a pagan king. And because Solomon lived wisely, he knew how to deal faithfully and with integrity with King Hiram. Solomon was going to deal wisely with Hiram. He would pay him well for the services he rendered. He would deal fairly in his business dealings with him. He would not take advantage of him, but pay him exactly what he deserved. Solomon would use wisdom to build God's house, and God would be pleased. Wisdom is practical, not ethereal. It is not some esoteric pursuit reserved for the mentally gifted or academic elite. It is a readily available resource available to any and all who seek it – as long as they seek it from the right source: God Himself.

When a person's ways please the Lord, even his enemies will be at peace with him. Those are not just empty words. They're a promise. And Solomon knew it first-hand.

Father, I want to enjoy the benefits of practical wisdom. I don't want just a bunch of head knowledge that sounds impressive when you quote it to others – like some kind of Yoda or guru. I want to take what you teach me and try it out in real life and see it work. The truth is, I've already seen Your wisdom work itself out in my life in so many beneficial ways. I just want to see it more. Give me the strength and determination to seek for Your wisdom and apply it to my everyday life. Amen





Words of Wisdom – Part II.

Proverbs 24

A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man. ­– Proverbs 24:5 NLT

In chapter 24 we have the remainder of the 30 wise sayings from the pen of Solomon – and inspired by the Holy Spirit. These simple truths or maximsseem so logical and obvious that we may read and ignore them. But they are about far more than wealth and worldly wisdom, the wicked and the lazy. They give us a glimpse of the life of the righteous – those who live their lives according to God's standards. The wisdom Solomon speaks of is not of this world, but it dramatically impacts the quality of life on this world – for us and all those around us.

1. Don't be jealous of the ungodly and long to be like them. They may be attractive on the outside, but their hearts are bad.
2. The wisdom, good sense, and knowledge that come from God are the keys to having a home that is a joy to live in.
3. Physical strength has its limits, but wisdom doesn't. Which is why it's better to be increasing in wisdom. It's the key to success, even in battle.
4. Fools can't handle wise conversation. When they find themselves in the middle of it, they have nothing to say.
5. Anyone who spends all his time causing trouble will end up with a lousy reputation and no friends.  Their sinful lifestyles will cause them to be despised.
6. Desperate times have a way of revealing the strength of our resolve. Be ready to help those who are suffering injustice and don't say, "I didn't know!" God is watching and He knows the truth.
7. You know how good honey tastes when you eat it? That's the way wisdom is. Great tasting, but good for you too. And its benefits last a whole lot longer.
8. Don't ever try to take advantage of or harm the righteous. You may succeed, but they will bounce back time after time. While they survive, you'll ultimately fail.
9. Don't get all excited when bad things happen to those you don't like. God is watching and may just decide to show them mercy instead.
10. Don't get all bent out of shape over what appears to be the success of those who don't know or love God. Their blessings is short-term. Yours are eternal.
11. Have a healthy fear and respect for those in authority, including God. Don't throw in your lot with those prone to plot rebellion. God will use those He has placed in authority to punish the rebellious.
12. It's very dangerous to judge falsely – to excuse the actions of those who do wrong. Show justice to all without partiality and it will go well with you.

Father, these wise saying are great, but help me to live them out in my daily life. Help me to make them a part of who I am. May I listen to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit throughout each day and respond obediently. Bring these wise words to mind as I encounter various situations and circumstances, and help me to obey them. Amen





Words of Wisdom – Part I.

Proverbs 22-23

I am teaching you today -- yes, you -- so you will trust in the LORD. 20 I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge. ­– Proverbs 22:19-20 NLT

In chapters 22-24 we are given a series of wise saying – 30 of them to be exact. These are short, memorable, and highly practical truths that are timeless and priceless. They could make great teaching material for middle school or high school age kids, but they also apply to those of us in the upper age brackets. Following the wisdom in these sayings will not make you a righteous person, but they should reflect the behavior of someone who is a child of God. They are the characteristics of Christ-likeness. In fact, the only way you can successfully follow the advice in these 30 sayings is with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. A quick review of what they have to say may be a great indicator of just how much we are under the Spirit's control. Check out the first few of these timeless truths from chapters 22-23.

1. Don't take advantage of the helpless or exploit those who can't defend themselves.
2. If you hang around with angry people, you'll end up becoming just like them.
3. Don't put yourself at risk by co-signing on a loan for someone else. Your guarantee could come back to bite you.
4. Don't use deception to try and get an advantage.
5. Follow the example of those who work hard and well. They'll be in high demand from the best employers.
6. When you have dinner with a person of power and influence, don't talk too much, eat too much, or show yourself to have no restraint.
7. Don't spend all your time, energy, and resources trying to get rich. Wealth doesn't last and it can't deliver.
8. Learn to recognize the motives of the stingy host who shows you hospitality, but doesn't mean it.
9. Don't waste your time trying to get a fool to understand, he'll only laugh at your words.
10. Don't try to steal someone's inheritance or means of livelihood from someone who's lost their dad, because God is their protector.
11. Learn to love godly instruction and to listen to knowledge that comes from experience.
12. Don't be afraid to spank your kids. It won't kill, but in reality, may save their life in the long run.
13. A wise child makes a parent happy. A child who speaks truth makes the hearts of his parents glad.
14. Instead of being jealous of what sinners have, be zealous in your awe and fear of God. That's where your true hope is.
15. Don't hang around with those who can't control their appetites, physically or sexually. All their wanting will leave them wanting.
16. Respect your parents and listen to them. Do you want to make them proud of you? Then spend all your resources to acquire truth, wisdom, instruction and insight.
17. Stay away from a promiscuous woman or an unfaithful wife. Both seem to offer a lot, but will only lead to disappointment and disaster.
18. Anyone who can't control their alcohol will end up suffering emotionally, physically and psychologically. The alcohol that started out as so appealing will leave them staggering, hallucinating, numb, forgetful, and addicted.

Father, some of these are really easy for me. But others are hard. Some I have had to learn the hard way – because of my stubbornness and hardheadedness. They all make so much sense, yet we seem to struggle with obeying them. Make these more than just sayings. Allow them to become characteristics of my life. May I live out the truths they portray each day of my life. Amen





Let Justice Reign and Rain.

Proverbs 21

The LORD is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices. ­– Proverbs 21:3 NLT

This verse jumped out at me this morning. It fit in with a lot I had been reading the last few days. And it ended up convicting me of an area of weakness in my life. That of doing the just and right thing. Don't get me wrong. I try to live my life according to God's will and in step with His Word, but this verse has to do with my relationship with those who are suffering – those who are weak and defenseless. All throughout the Bible God talks about His care for widows and orphans, two of the most abused and neglected people groups during both the Old and New Testament periods. Listen to what He says, "The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. You, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 10:17-19 NLT). Psalm 68:5 says God is a "Father to the fatherless, defender of widows." He cares for those who can't care for themselves. There is something about God's character as a just and righteous sovereign that drives Him to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. He cannot and will not tolerate the mistreatment of the defenseless, the poor, the downtrodden, the powerless and the weak. And He expects us to do the same thing. This is where I think I am weak. Do I really care for those around me who can't take care of themselves? Do I have a heart of compassion for those who find themselves in a tough spot, unable to meet their own needs or dig themselves out of the hole in which they find themselves. The truth is, I can find myself judging them and rationalizing that they are where they are because they deserve it. I end up judging them unjustly. I don't know their story, but I draw conclusions anyway.

In this verse in Proverbs the writer uses a word that is translated "justice." It is the Hebrew word tsĕdaqah. As is true with most Hebrew words, its meaning is far greater and deeper than one English word can convey. We tend to think of justice as a response or punishment to some negative action. We want justice to be done. But in the Hebrew it can also mean righteousness or charity. In his book, The Gospel According to Jesus, Chris Seay puts it this way, "Justice – righteousness – is about putting yourself and the societal values to one side and trying hard to live in the God values that the prophets and Jesus have revealed, about the healing of the world."  He goes on to say, "God wants us to be righteous – which means God wants us to be holy, healing, gathering, defending, and rescuing." God wants us to do what is right and just – in regards to those around us. In fact, God prefers that over our sacrifices. Which might include our quiet times, prayers, and other Christian activities. It is not that those things are wrong or shouldn't be done. But if we go through the religious motions and leave out showing justice to those in need, it becomes empty. James said it well. "Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us" (James 1:27 NLT). Justice and righteousness. They go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other.

Solomon goes on to warn us, "Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need" (Proverbs 21:13 NLT). But he also encourages us, "Justice is a joy to the godly" (Proverbs 21:15 NLT). We should love doing the right thing. We should find joy in helping the helpless and giving hope to the hopeless. Because that is the heart of God Himself.

Father, give me a heart for the hopeless and helpless. Forgive me for all the times I have ignored them and walked right by them, unaware that they were even there. They are everywhere in our society. They are preyed upon, taking advantage of, abused, and neglected. And You have called us as Your people to express Your love and compassion to them. We are to care for them. Show me how. Open my eyes. Let Your justice reign through me and rain down all around me. Amen





Protect Yourself With Love.

Proverbs 19-20

Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love. ­– Proverbs 20:28 NLT

As you read through the Proverbs, most of them seem pretty logical and make perfect common sense. For instance, if you don't work, you don't eat. If you lie, it's going to catch up to you. If you're rich, you've got more friends than you know what to do with. If you're poor, friends are few and far between. If you live with a nagging wife, it's like listening to the constant drip of a faucet you can't stop – ultimately, it will drive you crazy. These are like maxims or truisms that when you read them, you find yourself nodding your head in agreement. But then occasionally you'll stumble across one that seems more like a riddle than a proverb. It seems to make no sense. It's meaning either escapes you or it appears illogical. It goes against common sense. In fact, it seems to make no sense at all. Proverbs 20:28 falls into that category for me. Right in the middle of all the talk of fools, sluggards, unfaithful friends, liars, swindlers, and mockers there appears this surprising bit of advice for kings. Now you have to understand that the king audience did not represent a large market segment for Solomon. Among the people of Israel there were no other kings. So he is writing this to his son – the king to be. In fact, most of what we are reading as we work our way through the Proverbs was written for Solomon's son. Over and over again, he says, "My son, listen when your father corrects you," "My son, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them," "My son, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands."  So this note about kings was written for one person and one person only – Solomon's son – the heir to the throne of Israel. And he gives his young son some really interesting advice. "Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love."

Love and faithfulness? Really? Are you telling me that if a king wants to keep his throne secure, all it takes is love? That sounds so naive, so simplistic and out of touch with reality. What about strong armies, alliances, impenetrable walls, the latest advances in military technology, offensive strategies and spy networks? Can you imagine the President of the United States giving this advice to his successor? But what is Solomon trying to say? What's his point? That a king who loves his people will be loved in return. A king who provides protection for his people because he loves them will be a lot less likely to face a coup or potential takeover of his government. As I write this blog, things in Egypt are heating up. Riots are taking place in the streets of Cairo. The people are demanding the resignation of their president, Hosni Mubarak. According to a recent New York Times article, conditions under President Mubarek's 30-year rule have been less than loving. "The police are brutal. Elections are rigged. Corruption is rampant. Life gets harder for the masses as the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer. Even as Egypt’s economy enjoyed record growth in recent years, the number of people living in poverty actually grew."

Mr. Mubarek could have learned from Solomon's advice. If he had loved his people, he would have made sure that they were well-fed, well-cared-for, and protected. His love would have been practical and measurable. People know when they are being used and will not tolerate being abused. At least not for long. But Solomon's advice is not just for kings and presidents. It applies to parents, employers, supervisors, teachers, pastors and elders. In fact, Paul shared similar advice to his fellow elders, "…this is my appeal to you: Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly -- not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example" (1 Peter 5:1-3 NLT). God had a stern warning for the religious leadership in Ezekiel's day. "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn't shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the broken bones. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with force and cruelty. So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd. They are easy prey for any wild animal. They have wandered through the mountains and hills, across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them" (Ezekiel 34:2-6 NLT). Paul warns fathers, "Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4 NLT).

Love really is the best protection against rebellion. Weapons, walls, power and might are no match for unfailing love and faithfulness. Our children will excuse and overlook a lot of our shortcomings as parents when they know we love them. They will tolerate our inconsistencies and inadequacies as long as they feel like we are doing the best we can – out of love for them. Demanding compliance, defending our rights as parents, shouting "Because I said so," and expecting our kids to keep in step with our wishes, while failing to show them love is a recipe for rebellion. Remember the words of Paul? "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT). That kind of love is the best protection we can provide ourselves against rejection and rebellion. No, it's not a guarantee. Because even Jesus ended up being rejected when He showed us how much He loved us by dying on the cross. But love is still the best defense. In fact, I wonder what things would be like in Egypt had President Mubarek taken the advice of Solomon. I wonder what our homes, businesses, churches and marriages would be like if we did the same thing.

Father, what a timely reminder of the power of love. It is the best offense and the best defense. Love really is the answer to all of life's problems. But not the sentimental, sappy kind of love we see portrayed in movies and on Hallmark cards. We're talking the selfless, sacrificial, lay-it-all-on-the-line kind of love that You showed toward us on Calvary. Your Son gave His life out of love for us. He loved us selflessly and sacrificially. He gave, expecting nothing in return. May we learn to love one another that way. Amen





A Word to the Wise and the Not-So-Wise.

Proverbs 17-18

"he name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. The rich think of their wealth as an impregnable defense; they imagine it is a high wall of safety. ­– Proverbs 18:10-11 NLT

These two chapters address the fool, those who take bribes, evildoers, gossips, mockers, parents, children, the unfriendly, quarrelers, the wicked, the wealthy, the discerning, the lazy, the eloquent, the talkative, the prudent, and, of course, the wise. It is a gallery hung with the portraits of a wide range of characters. Some are flattering. Some are not. But all are extremely life-like. In fact, as you read these two chapters, images of someone you know probably come into your mind. You may even see a reflection of your own face. Or that of a child or loved one. These are realistic portrayals of real life. But even as Solomon paints the portraits of the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the unrighteous, he is contrasting two ways of life. This has little to do with wealth and poverty, power and weakness, intelligence and stupidity. It has to do with godliness and a fear of the Lord. This is all about living a God-centered, God-focused life where His will and His way are primary. What makes someone wise is not their position in life or the number of degrees on their wall. It is their relationship with the living God. It is whether they are willing to live in submission to and dependence on the God of the universe.

Wisdom is not related to the well-educated or wealthy. It is just as easily accessible to the poor. God's wisdom is non-discriminatory – available to all who will seek it from the hand of the one who offers it – God Himself. But so much of what Solomon has to say is in regards to what happens when we refuse to turn to God for wisdom, help, direction, provision, protection, insight and, ultimately, salvation. We turn to our wealth. We rely on our own resources. And we end up becoming gossips, quarrelers, revengeful, mockers, spiritually lazy, and moral paupers. We act like fools and we find ourselves raising fools. We end up surrounded by fools. All because we refuse to submit ourselves to God. Rather than turn to God, we seek for comfort, wisdom, help, and happiness elsewhere. We live as if there is no God or we attempt to make our own gods. We find substitutes for God. And we end up as fools. Solomon puts it so simply, yet profoundly is verses 10-11 of chapter 18: "The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. The rich think of their wealth as an impregnable defense; they imagine it is a high wall of safety." The godly learn to trust in God and in Him only. They discover that He alone is reliable. He alone delivers what He promises. The wealthy, just like the poor and the middle class, turn to something else. The rich just happen to have more to turn to. They have more resources and so are more tempted to lean on their abundance for sustenance. But the poor can end up finding substitutes for God just as easily. Whether it's the comfort and security of a welfare state, the tantalizing hope of a lottery prize, or the mind-numbing pleasure of a television set, those who have little have a lot of choices for stand-ins for God. It's not that any of these things are inherently evil or wrong, it's just that they were never to act as replacements for God. They can't measure up. They can't deliver. They always disappoint. But because mankind can't seem to keep from turning to anything and everything but God, we see a growing gallery of portraits featuring foolish, angry, argumentative, self-focused, addictive, lazy, quarrelsome, naive, and unhappy individuals. Yet, there is a room filled with those who have learned to turn to God. Their portraits feature faces filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and a surprising sense of calmness and contentment, in spite of all that is going on around them.

Where do you run in times of trouble? Where do you turn when times are tough? What are the God-substitutes in your life? The godly run to one place and one place only for safety and security – God Himself. Is He your strong fortress today?

Father, forgive me for all the God-substitutes I have had in my life over the years. They never deliver, but I keep turning to them. They always disappoint, but they continue to sucker me into believing it will be different this time. You have never let me down. You have never failed to deliver on a single one of Your promises. May I grow increasingly more dependent on You. Amen





Older and Wiser.

Proverbs 16

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life. ­– Proverbs 16:31 NLT

I love this verse. And if you've seen me lately, you understand why. What hair I have that has not turned gray has simply turned loose. But I still have plenty left and any hint that it used to be brown is long gone. So when I read this verse I am comforted. I sometimes blame my gray hair on my kids. But now I know that it is because of godly living! Wow! Why in the world would I even consider covering it up with Grecian Formula? I should wear it proudly like a badge of honor. Go ahead, you young whipper snappers, fling your full head of amber-colored locks in my face, but just don't forget that my gray head is proof of my godliness! And godliness trumps good looks any day.

Don't I wish it was that easy? Wouldn't it be nice if I could just rest on the fact that growing old was a guarantee for growing in godliness? But we all know it's not. We know plenty of gray-haired men and women who are anything but icons of virtue and fountains of faith. No, Solomon is not telling us that gray-headedness is proof of godliness. He is letting us know that a life of godliness can lead to long life. It is not a guarantee, but it can help prolong our life through wise living and the blessings of God. All the way back in Proverbs 3 he tells us that living a wise and righteous life will "give you a long and satisfying life" (Proverbs 3:2 NLT). Elsewhere he tells us that "Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life" (Proverbs 9:11 NLT). "Fear of the LORD lengthens one's life…" (Proverbs 10:27 NLT). So gray hair is not proof of our godliness, but we are a whole lot more likely to live long enough to experience it if we choose to live our life according to God's terms and not our own.

The truth is, the longer we live the more we should realize just how blessed we are. We should learn from life's experiences and recognize just how true God's Word is. Living life should prove to us once and for all just how ill-equipped we are to live it righteously. The older I get, the more easily I admit that I can't defeat sin or discover contentment on my own. I am not smart enough, strong enough, brave enough, or determined enough to make this thing called life work. I need God. Learning to depend on Him seems to get easier with age. Oh, don't get me wrong. I still have plenty of strength to say no to His callings and promptings, but I seem to be learning from my mistakes quicker than before. I may stray off His path just like when I was younger, but I don't seem to go as far as I used to. Experience is a great teacher. I sometimes joke that I am in God's remedial school for slow learners. He keeps taking me through the same lessons over and over again, but I am starting to learn. Repetition makes the brain grow stronger!

I have a full head of gray hair. Sometimes I miss the brown ones. Sometimes I wish I had that full head of long flowing locks again. But I would not trade where I am for anything. I have made it to where I am because of the grace and mercy of God. I am wiser than I used to be. Not because I am older, but because God has been my constant companion over the years and I have tried to seek Him and listen to Him. No, I have not done so perfectly, but I have tried to do so persistently. God is not calling me to be perfect, but to have purity of purpose. He wants my intent to be a life of godliness. He knows I will never be completely godly this side of heaven. Until He glorifies me, I will continue to struggle with my sin nature. But as I grow older I am growing more willing to submit to His will for my life.

Father, thank You for my gray hairs. May they always remind me of You. They are a crown of righteousness. They help me remember that I would never have made it this far without Your help. Amen





I Did It My Way!

Proverbs 14-15

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. ­– Proverbs 14:12 NLT

There is a way that seems right to a man. There are choices in life that seem to make all the sense in the world – at the time. Each day we are faced with options to go one way or another. And as Christians, we have the choice to live our lives God's way or our own. We can wisely follow His directions or foolishly choose to listen to our own counsel. And so often, our way seems like the right one. Everything seems to indicate that if we do what we want to do, it will all turn out for the best. But Solomon warns us that nothing could be farther from the truth. All throughout the Proverbs, he has been contrasting wisdom and folly. He has been showing us the difference between living a life according to God's terms or our own. The fool is that individual who has determined that his way is best. He rejects direction and despises discipline. He never seeks counsel, or if he does, he ignores it and listens to his own advice. But living our lives apart from the wisdom of God never turns out well. That way is never the right way. No matter how good it may look or profitable it may appear to be. Yet just think how often we choose our way over God's. For most of us it's a daily occurance. It could be something as simple as what we watch on TV. Do we stop and consider whether or not the show we are about to watch is something God would find redeeming and profitable for promoting righteousness in our lives? No, we watch it because we think it's entertaining. It will make us laugh. It will distract us from the cares of the day. It brings us pleasure. So it MUST be good. Our way seems right to us. Maybe it's the choice to sit and watch 2-3 hours of sports on TV after a hard day at the office, rather than interact with our wife or children. Do we check with God? Do we ask Him what would be best? Or do we go with our own will in the matter, determining that we deserve a break. We give and give all day long, now it's our turn to kick back and relax.

From our choices in friends to the way we dress, how we use our time to the way we treat others, if we're not careful, we could end up living our lives our way and choosing the wrong way. And Solomon says that way does not end well. According to Solomon, the wise person seeks counsel, asks for wisdom, considers his steps carefully, deliberates before he decides, considers the will of God and tries to follow it. This doesn't mean that the foolish person is miserable and never enjoys life. No, when they live life on their own terms, they actually seem to benefit from their choices. Solomon even admits it. "Foolishness brings joy to those who have no sense…" But then he reminds us that in spite of this, "a sensible person stays on the right path" (Proverbs 15:21 NLT). The wise person doesn't look at the short-term gain, but the long-term rewards. In the end, the life of the fool is a dangerous pursuit. It ends in death and destruction. The life of the wise or the righteous ends in life. It reminds me of the Israelites wandering through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. All throughout that journey, they wanted to stop, turn around, go home, or basically, live life on their own terms. They complained about everything. They were driven by their desires and gave in to them. They were looking for short-term fixes and quick solutions. But God was attempting to lead them to a place of promise. He had something far greater in store for them. He wanted to bless them, but they kept coming up with ways that seemed right to them. But as Solomon warns, their way was going to lead to destruction. Their lack of fear for God and refusal to follow His leading would end up in their deaths in the wilderness. When they arrived at the boundaries of the Promised Land, they refused to go in because they didn't trust God to deliver them from the people who occupied the land. They feared and chose to go with their own way instead of God's. And every one of them would spend the next 40 years wandering in the wilderness, dying off one at a time, never seeing the land that God had promised.

Could you be missing out on the promises of God? Could your stubborn will be standing in the way of God's blessings for your life? Choose wisely and choose well. Listen to His voice and choose His path. You won't be disappointed. "The path of the wise leads to life above…" (Proverbs 15:24 NLT).

Father, forgive me for choosing my own way so often. I am so prone to go with the quick fix, the solution that seems to offer the most immediate benefits, rather than trusting You for what is best for my life. I have so many of the characteristics of the fool in my life. But I want to live the life of the wise. I want righteousness to characterize my life. Give me the strength to seek Your path and stay on it – for the long haul. Amen





Godliness Pays.

Proverbs 13

Godliness helps people all through life… ­– Proverbs 13:6 NLT

To a certain degree, we have bought into the idea that the life of godliness is costly. That the kind of discipline that is necessary for us to live a godly life can require extreme sacrifice. And all that is true. But if we're not careful we can end up viewing the godly life as a one-side affair. We can find ourselves viewing it is as all "give" and no "get." Oh sure, we get eternal life in the end, but in the mean time we just have to give up all our favorite habits and vices, we have to give up all our dreams and die to our desires. We have to give God all our time, money and talents. It can all end up sounding and feeling so lopsided, as if it's an investment with no real return for our money. Kind of like buying life insurance. You keep paying the premiums, but you never really get to enjoy the benefits of your investment.

But the truth is, while godliness can be costly, it is far from stingy in terms of its payback. The Proverbs remind us over and over again that those who choose to live godly lives find themselves greatly rewarded – in this life, not just the one to come. As we have seen before, the godly, or those who seek to live righteous lives receive wisdom, discernment, fruitfulness, protection, provision, direction, and so much more. They have a resource and reservoir of power available to them that others know nothing about. It's kind of like insider trading – but fully legal. God makes available His wisdom. He gives complete access to His power. He lets us tap into His vast bank of limitless resources. They are complete at our disposal, 24-7, 365. God is like a bank that never closes, and His assets never run out.

Godliness really does pay. Sure, it may cost us a little time to seek to know God by reading His Word. It may require a little sacrifice as we give up some of the trinkets and trash this world offers in order to give all our time and attention to Him. But God gives a great return on our investment. He makes it worth our while. There is the old adage, "You can't out-give God." That is so true. There is nothing He might require of me that is more costly than what He has already given me. He gave me the life of His own Son in my place on the cross. He sacrificed that which was most precious to Him in order that I might have life – abundant life – not just in heaven, but right here on earth. He has given me His Holy Spirit as a constant companion. He has given me His inheritance – undeserved and without limits. This all reminds me of the old hymn I grew up singing in my father's church on Long Island: "He Giveth More Grace." Read the lyrics, then reconsider just how much a life of godliness pays.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength as our labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Father, You just keep giving. And while I may complain sometimes about how hard this life of godliness seems to be, the truth is, I get back far more than I give. I have already received more than I deserve and far more than I could ever repay. The wisdom, understanding, discernment, peace, provision, and protection I get is simply icing on the cake. If You never gave me anything more than the salvation I have already received, it would be more than enough. But as the song says, You giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. Thank You. Amen





The Righteous Vs the Wicked.

Proverbs 11-12

In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. ­– Proverbs 12:28 NIV

In a later Proverb Solomon says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12 NIV). In another one of his Proverbs, he tells us, "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day" (Proverbs 4:18 NIV). Along the same lines, the prophet Isaiah said, "The way of the righteous is level, the path of the righteous that You make is straight" (Isaiah 26:7 NIV). There is a path that each of us must take. Actually, there are two paths. One leads to disappointment, destruction and ultimately, death. The other leads to blessing and life. And it's not just the final destination these paths lead to that is important. It's the journey itself. The path so often referred to in the Old Testament carries with it the idea of a journey or way. It often refers to a manner of life. The manner in which one conducts his life. It is the day-to-day act of living out our lives as we follow the path before us. Throughout these two Proverbs Solomon contrasts the "way" of the righteous and the "way" of the wicked. He compares and contrasts them, using simple illustrations to set apart these two approaches to life. Solomon gives us unmistakable characteristics of each, easily recognized in daily life. The righteous are characterized by honesty, integrity, discretion, diligence, compassion, humility, trustworthiness, and generosity. The wicked are selfish, self-centered, deceptive, lazy, prideful, arrogant, unfaithful, hateful, cruel, lacking in discretion, corrupt, and foolish.

The promises offered to those who choose the way of righteousness are many. And they aren't just waiting out there somewhere in the future. Solomon talks of blessings to be had in this life for those who choose to walk the way that God has established. His way is the way of righteousness or right living. It is the way that leads to joy and fulfillment, blessing and abundance, peace and prosperity. But this is where we have to be careful. Solomon is not saying and God is not promising that His way is all health, wealth, and prosperity. He is offering us so much more than money and material things. He is promising so much more than just a long life free from sickness. He is offering an antidote for anxiety, a rest in the midst of the pressures of life, a peace right in the middle of chaos, a joy in spite of sorrow. God is offering us direction when we find ourselves lost, comfort when we find ourselves sad, community when we feel like we are all alone, rescue when we find ourselves in trouble. God is offering us a relationship. He is offering to light the path on which we walk and give us companionship for the journey. He is not just telling where we need to go, He is walking alongside us the entire way, teaching us, encouraging us, providing for us, and protecting us. It reminds me of the journey the Israelites took through the wilderness. God was with them every step of the way. He led them. He fed them. He protected them. He provided for them. He talked to them. He gave them rules to live by. He did miracles for them. He revealed Himself to them. Yes, they were headed to the Promised Land, but a big part of God's plan for them was the journey on which they found themselves. He could have easily transported them right to the land of Canaan the minute He delivered them out of Egypt. But He had another plan. He had a journey in store for them. They were going to learn just who God was as they walked with Him day by day. They were going to see His power on display. They were going to learn about His holiness and hatred of sin. They were going to see His deliverance first-hand. This was their opportunity to see their God at work in their lives – each and every day. But many of them chose to take the path of the wicked. They wanted to return to Egypt. They complained. They whined. They refused to listen to God. They let their desires rule their decisions. They gave in to their urges. And they sinned. The result was death. They turned their backs on God's way and chose their own. And the results were devastating and deadly.

What about us? What path are we choosing? Even as believers who are walking the path that God has established for us, we can choose to turn around or take detour. We can refuse to follow His path and take our own. And before we know it, we find ourselves in the high weeds. Oh sure, it may go well for a while. We may find ourselves living the high life and enjoying all the pleasures we were seeking, but that path will never get us where we really need to go. The way of the righteous is God's way. It is a narrow way. It is not the popular way. But it is the only way that leads to life. I love the way The Message paraphrases the words of Jesus: "Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires total attention" (Matthew 7:13-14 MSG).

Father, Your way is best. But sometimes it is so tempting to take another way, to follow another path. But keep me on the path of righteousness. Help me to see You as I walk each and every day. I know that there will be difficult days, but that is where I can see Your power on display and Your compassion first-hand. Walking Your path requires trust and faith. It requires diligence and determination. But You make the journey well worth the effort. Amen





The Folly of Fools.

Proverbs 10

Doing wrong is fun for a fool, while wise conduct is a pleasure to the wise. ­– Proverbs 10:23 NLT

"I pity the fool…!" Those are the memorable words of "Clubber" Lang, the character played by Mr. T in the film classic, Rocky III. Okay, so I'm being a tad bit sarcastic. Any movie that features Mr. T in a starring role is destined for a life in the discount bins at the video rental store. But the line itself is a classic. And I think Solomon himself would have thoroughly agreed with it. In fact, Solomon did pity the fool and spent a great deal of time and energy addressing this particular individual. What he had to say about the fool was far from flattering, but it was driven by a concern for his well-being. It seems that Solomon understood that each and every one of us comes into this world a full-blow, card-carrying fool. The problem is, many of us never grow out of it. Our children, like us, are born fools. They lack wisdom, insight, understanding, and knowledge. So we spend countless hours trying to fill them with all four. And according to Solomon, we have our work cut out for us. Listen to how he describes the average fool:

… a foolish child brings grief to a mother – Vs 1

… babbling fools fall flat on their faces – Vs 8

… fools will be punished with a rod – Vs 13

… the babbling of a fool invites trouble – Vs 14

… to slander is to be a fool – Vs 18

… the heart of a fool is worthless – Vs 20

… fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense – Vs 21

… Doing wrong is fun for a fool – Vs 23

Fools are directly associated with the wicked, the evil and the lazy. The Proverbs tell us that the person who denies, ignores, or neglects God is not only acting foolishly, but is characterized by a kind of godlessness. They act as if God does not exist – even while claiming to believe in Him. The fool has certain unmistakable characteristics:

He is thoughtless: not applying his thoughts about God; not thinking through the truth about God

He is dull: not being sharp in his thoughts about God. He is being sleepy-minded, slow, and sluggish toward God.

He is senseless: not using good common sense about God. He is acting contrary to good common sense. He is deficient in his thoughts about God.

He is without understanding: he does not grasp or comprehend God; he does not have the right ideas or thoughts about God.

He is ignorant of God: he does not know God. He has not learned God – has not looked at, thought about, studied, nor met, walked and fellowshipped with God.

He is unwise: he is acting contrary to wisdom; he is acting dangerously and foolishly.

But how do you know if you are a fool? How do we recognize the characteristics of a fool in the lives of our children, friends, work associates? Here are a few probing questions that might give us some insight. If the answers to any of these is "Yes," then they may be pointing to someone who is exhibiting fool-like symptoms. Go ahead, take the test yourself. And remember, if you score high, the solution is to seek wisdom. And you can find it right in the Word of God.

1.  Do you feel like your life is characterized more by righteousness or unrighteousness?

2.  Do you feel your life has been characterized by wisdom or a lack of wisdom?

3.  Do you feel you are realistic…about yourself?…about business?…about life?…about relationships?

4.  Do you consider yourself as highly disciplined or undisciplined?

5.  Do you have a temper?

6.  How does your temper manifest itself?

7.  Are you reliable…in your work?…with your words?

8.  Are you teachable?

9.  Do you struggle with any sexual sins?

10.  Would you say you are truthful?

11.  Do you tend to repeat past mistakes?

Father, sometimes we laugh at the foolishness we see around us. Rather than pity the fool, we smile about their behavior. Give us a desire to see our children move from foolishness to wisdom. Help us to recognize the characteristics of foolishness in our own lives, then come to You for wisdom. Father, foolishness is no laughing matter to You. Give us the same soberness of mind so that we might take it seriously and deal with it soberly. Amen





Wise Enough To Know Better.

Proverbs 8-9

All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech. ­– Proverbs 8:13 NLT

Do you hate what God hates? Do the things that cause Him to become angry stir you up as well? Solomon says that the wisdom that God offers us causes us to despise the things that God despises. As we gain wisdom from God, it provides us with insight and discernment, and diminishes the foolishness and gullibility that plagues most of mankind. We end up seeing more clearly the truth about God's plan and the lies of the enemy. We begin to understand that our own pride, arrogance and self-absorption are actually evil. Our constant focus on us is wrong. It keeps us from loving God because we are too busy loving ourselves. Only wisdom gives us the ability to see that. Without the wisdom of God, we are blinded to the destructive nature of our own pride, instead thinking that our self-interest is some kind of self-preservation. Wisdom helps us see the truth. It shows us that the way of evil is the wrong way. The New Living Translation renders this phrase into a single word, "corruption." But in the Hebrew is it actually two words and they can be translated "the evil way," "the wrong way of life," "evil behavior," or "a life marked by wrong choices." Wisdom helps us learn to despise the kind of life that the world offers up as normal. We are able to see that what the world tries to convince us of as good and acceptable behavior is actually wrong and destructive. It leads to no good. It offers up pleasure, but delivers misery. It sounds and looks so good, but in the end only disappoints. Wisdom alone can help us see this. Otherwise we end up buying the lie and experiencing the pain and suffering that comes from a life marked by wrong choices. Wisdom says, "those who miss me have injured themselves" (Proverbs 8:36 NLT).

Wisdom also gives us a healthy hatred for "perverted speech." The word rendered "perverted" here comes from another Hebrew word that conveys the idea of twisted or turned around. It is convoluted, backwards, confusing, saying what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right. It is not just referring to inappropriate speech or using bad words. This has more to do with words that confuse the truth and cause us to go against the Word of God. They allows us to justify our behavior and rationalize our actions. The prophet Isaiah described it this way, "Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter" (Isaiah 5:20 NLT). The Psalmist put it this way, "You love evil more than good, you call black white" (Psalm 52:3 MSG). Wisdom gives us the ability to see the twisted words and upside down thinking that pervades our culture, bombarding us with lies from the radio and TV, through music, movies and the media. We learn to discern that it is really twisting the truth of God and rejecting His way for another one. And we learn to hate it.

Wisdom hates all these things, because wisdom is of God. As we grow closer in our relationship to God, we see what He sees, we hate what He hates, we see truth more clearly with each passing day. The wisdom God offers cries out to me. It pleads with me to "Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise" (Proverbs 9:6 NLT). It's calling to you too. Do you hear it?

Father, I want to really live. I want to see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, understand with Your mind. Give me Your wisdom Father. Help me to seek it like a lost treasure, to value it more than anything else in the world. I know that it is available to me if I search for it in Your Word. You will not just hand it to me. I must pursue it. Give me the determination and discipline to do so. Amen





The Complexities of Simplemindedness.

Proverbs 7

I was looking out the window of my house one day and saw a simpleminded young man who lacked common sense. ­– Proverbs 7:6-7 NLT

The character described in this Proverb is a familiar one. We can all think of someone just like him. Naive and simple, unaware of the danger that lurks around him, highly gullible and easily tempted to give in to the temptations of life. He's like the character you watch in a movie that is about to open a door, behind which lurks certain death, but he is oblivious that any danger exists. You want to scream at the TV, warning him to run. You wonder how he could be so unaware of what is really going on, when you see it so clearly.

But if the truth were known, there are times in every day where we take on the same characteristics. We become simpleminded. Open-minded. Naive. Gullible. The word used by Solomon to describe this young man is from a root word that means "spacious, open, wide." You might say it means "empty-headed" – someone lacking in sense, or to use a more up-to-date term, an airhead. He is easily enticed into danger, because he is oblivious to the danger surrounding him. He lacks the discernment to see that what looks so tempting and enticing is really deadly. Like a fish drawn to a tempting lure, this young man is drawn to the seductive appeal of a woman. She paints a highly attractive picture of the pleasure he can have if he will only give in to her message. Everything sounds so attractive. She appeals to his senses. She takes advantage of his unbridled sexual drive. She calls to his base, animal instincts. She is an expert at what she does. She knows exactly how to get to this young man. But her offer is all pleasure with no pain. Like Satan, she only presents the promise of satisfaction and enjoyment. She fails to give the young man the bad news. But Solomon knows the other side to this story. "He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a trapped stag, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:22-23 NLT). This was not going to turn out well. Sin seldom does. The lies of the enemy never deliver what they promise. They disappoint and destroy. They damage lives, reputations, and relationships. They leave behind a wake of regrets, guilt, and shame. They harden the heart and soften the resolve of men so that it becomes increasingly harder to say no the next time.

So Solomon calls out. He cries out. He warns this young man and generations of other men to come, that this danger is a reality. It is out there for all of us. We face it every day of our lives. And it is so easy to approach life in the same simpleminded manner. We reject the warnings of Scripture. We ignore the reality of an enemy who is out to destroy us. We think we can handle the temptations of life on our own. We listen to the seductive calls of the enemy and the world, hearing only what we want to hear – the tempting offers of pleasure with no pain, satisfaction at no cost. And in the end, we pay the price. Simplemindedness is costly and wisdom is the cure. The wisdom that God offers through His Word. Discernment comes from one source – God. And He makes it available to each and every one of us through the pages of the Bible.

Father, drive me to Your Word so that I am not so easily driven by my desires. Give me discernment so that I am not so easily susceptible to the temptations of life. Help me reject the life of the simpleminded and live the life of the wise. Amen





Lessons Learned the Hard Way.

Proverbs 5-6

How I hated discipline! If only I had not demanded my own way! ­– Proverbs 5:12 NLT

They say hindsight is 20-20. There is something powerful about the ability to look back at our mistakes and learn from them. Those lessons can be extremely clear in retrospect. As we look back on decisions we have made and see the trail of consequences, we tend to learn valuable lessons. We see our mistakes with greater clarity than we did living them out in real time. In the heat of the moment, we thought our decisions made sense. They felt right at the moment we made them. Our plan sounded so good. We just knew that everything was going to turn out well. Then given enough time, distance and pain, we discover the reality of blunder. "How I hated discipline! If only I had not demanded my own way!" It's in looking back that we see just how stubborn we had been. We refused to do things God's way, and instead determined that our way was better. We demanded to follow our own counsel and rejected God's. And the results were less than perfect.

So Solomon warns his son, and us, to learn from his mistakes. He begs us to listen to his counsel and not go through the same painful lessons. Yet those of us who have kids know that our children have this unique ability to refuse our advice. What we say seems to go in one ear and out the other. They roll their eyes and shake their heads, patiently putting up with our sage wisdom, but rejecting it in the end as antiquated, illogical, and out-of-touch with reality. They determine that they know better. They don't need our advice. And so they refuse to listen to our counsel, making their own decisions, living life on their own terms. And they learn the hard way.

As I read these Proverbs again, I can't help but hear the voice of God calling to me, begging me to listen to Him, to heed His counsel. He wants me to seek His wisdom and to pursue His understanding like a priceless treasure. But I refuse to listen. Like a stubborn teenager, I convince myself that I know best. My way is better than God's. And it is only in hindsight that I learn the folly of my ways. God patiently and lovingly allows me to reject His will for my own. He lets me learn from my mistakes. And as I grow older, the lessons finally begin to sink in. I start to learn that obedience is a lot less painful. Doing it His way really does work better. Learning doesn't have to hurt! God's way is the best way. I can trust Him on that.

Father, thank You for all the times You have patiently allowed me to do things my way. You have let me make my decisions and reap the results. But You have always been there to pick me up and set me back on my feet. You have never walked away from me in disgust, but have continue to patiently love me and instruct me, waiting for me to wake up and realize that Your way really is the best way. May I grow increasingly more aware of the truth of that reality. Amen