REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on November 1, 2014, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason, along with his wife Jessica, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
“You have a LOT to learn.” Would you be insulted if I said that to you?
I became a Christian during my senior year of high school. But about a year later, one of the brothers in the college ministry, finding out that I was a new Christian, said those very words to me. He didn’t mean it as an insult, but was just stating a fact.
Yet, at the time I was offended. So within that year, I read more Christian books than most people who had grown up in the church and studied a certain amount of apologetics. Though these studies were important, it didn’t change the fact that what that brother said was right.
The purpose of Proverbs is to enable the reader to understand words of insight (v. 2) and to provide instruction in wise dealing (v.3). This instruction is not just about becoming efficient or shrewd, but also to teach the way of righteousness, justice, and equity. Wisdom is a moral issue. It’s about choosing between good and evil. Not just the simple, but also the wise and understanding ought to continue to increase in learning and obtaining guidance (v. 5).
We naturally assume that such things are good, but that someone else needs knowledge, instruction, and guidance far more than we do. We’re doing all right on our own, aren’t we? The Proverbs remind us simply that “fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Regardless of our age, experience, or success, the Word of God tells us, “You have a LOT to learn.” The question is, are we eager to have the Lord instruct us? Are we aware of our need for greater wisdom? Is our lack of knowledge apparent not only to our friends and family but also to ourselves? When we come to the Scriptures, are we skeptical that we have anything new to learn?
Tomorrow is the Sabbath. Take some time now to prepare your heart. Ask that you would come ready, not to critique the message or other people, but to humbly sit under the Word of God and let Him teach you the way to life. Invite the Lord to instill a proper fear of Him in your heart.
Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are the God of all wisdom. It’s so easy for me to go my own way, but Lord, I don’t want to be simple, skeptical, or foolish. Grant me humility to seek out wisdom in Your Word and with Your people. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 11-12