Blessings, Counsel, Guidance, Judgement, Obedience, Repentance, Restoration, Salvation, Sin, Wisdom

The Wisdom of Proverbs

This month we will be looking at the wisdom that can be found in the book of Proverbs. The book of Proverbs was written by David’s son, Solomon.  When Solomon became king after David died, he asked God for wisdom and God granted him wisdom beyond anything anyone could imagine. Our verse today shows that Solomon recognized who was directing his steps. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3 ESV)

Solomon started well, but eventually, he fell into the trap that many of the kings of Israel fell into. Solomon was known as the wisest man in all the world at that time. The Our Daily Bread website states this about Solomon. “Solomon’s wisdom did not keep him from playing the fool.  In spite of all the insight God gave Solomon, he ended up doing precisely what the kings of Israel were forbidden to do (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). In outrageously self-indulgent ways, he multiplied personal wealth, wives, and sexual partners.”  He went further by indulging his foreign wives and building altars to their pagan gods.  Solomon didn’t use the wisdom that God gave him.

We can also find ourselves in similar predicaments when we don’t heed the guidance that God gives us.  When we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, it can take us into some very unpleasant pathways that lead far from God.  Our verse tells us that we are to “commit your work to the Lord.”  In his commentary on Proverbs, J. Vernon McGee says, “The word commit is literally “roll.” You just roll your affairs over upon the Lord, and He will take charge.” Everything we do, think, say, our attitudes…everything…must run through the filter of God’s guidance and wisdom. Then God will “establish” our every step, plan, and thought.

Solomon forgot that principle after a while. God blessed him in so many ways, but eventually, Solomon failed to recognize where those blessings came from and found himself far from where he had started because he didn’t follow his father, David’s example, and turn to God first before acting or deciding the next step.  Solomon got so tied up with all the blessings from God, the wisdom, the wealth, etc. that he veered from God’s guidance.  He was close to the end of his life before he finally realized that he had taken the wrong steps and now he was far from God.  When Solomon finally came to that realization, the book of Ecclesiastes is his conclusion that everything is vanity without God’s guidance and that life ends up in futility when we don’t surrender our will to the Lord.  At the end of the book, Solomon states, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV)

Solomon is a good example of what happens when we don’t commit our ways to the Lord.  If today, you find yourself far from God because you haven’t let God guide you and establish your steps, it isn’t too late.  Ask God for forgiveness, take a 180 degree turn, and head back to the Father.  He is waiting to welcome you back.

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Donna Knuth Rice

I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes. I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request. I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure. I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me. We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations. Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly. Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time. I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog! Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post. I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am. I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".

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