Proverbs 7:1-5 Easy-to-Read Version
Wisdom Will Keep You From Adultery
7 My son, remember my words. Don’t forget what I have told you. 2 Consider my teaching as precious as your own eyes. Obey my commands, and you will have a good life. 3 Tie them around your finger. Write them on your heart. 4 Treat wisdom like the woman you love and knowledge like the one dearest to you. 5 Wisdom will save you from that other woman, the other man’s wife, who tempts you with such sweet words.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
I find it a dangerous thing to go grocery shopping when I’m hungry.
I find myself tempted to buy food that under normal circumstances would not appeal to me at all.
Reading my Bible, I am not alone, according to King Solomon: “One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet” (Proverbs 27:7).
This same principle can be applied to our pursuit of wisdom’s purity.
There is a real danger in going through our days spiritually hungry because we have not fed well upon the word of God.
If we are going to make any meaningful attempt at maintaining our purity, it is imperative that we not only read God’s word; we must also cherish it.
Solomon—the king of Israel to whom God gave wisdom that surpassed anyone else’s (1 Kings 3:3-14)—here uses language that gets directly at the notion of cherishing God’s word when he tells his son to;
“keep” his words, to “treasure” them, to keep them “as the apple of [his] eye,” to “bind” them, and to “write” them on his heart.
For us to relate to God’s word this way requires us to get beyond using the Bible merely as a textbook to study, a book of proof texts for arguments, or a promise book to which we will occasionally turn to on a Sunday morning when preached.
Our Cherishing God’s word requires us to seek the perspective of the psalmist who, far distancing himself from the proud and the scoffers of his day, says of the man who is walking with God, “His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
There is a direct correlation between our delighting in God’s word—allowing it to lead, to control and ergo, guide our lives—and maintaining a zeal for purity.
As our text clearly admonishes, If we fail to cherish Scripture, the question is not if we will stumble in the matter of purity but inevitably – when.
Every one of us can keep our way pure by hiding God’s word in our hearts (Psalm 119:9-16).
Psalm 119:9-16 The Message
9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
I won’t forget a word of it.
Do we have a plan for memorizing Scripture?
Let me challenge you to make a commitment to memorize a verse of the Bible, whether it’s every other day, every day, every week, or whatever it might be.
Make a plan, and stick with it.
Feast on God’s word and be satisfied. Cherish the Scriptures and be pure.
(Re)Discovering The Lost (?) Art Of Lifelong Learning
Proverbs 19:8 The Message
8 Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.
I love to learn something new, exciting and different!
Every day, I try my best to take advantage of opportunities God brings me to learn something new.
Those opportunities take many forms: reading books, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts when I can find them, asking people questions, going to events, traveling when I can, even my praying about the meaning of my dreams.
It’s exciting for me to discover more about all sorts of topics that interest me.
In the process, God gives me glimpses of His miraculous creative works in the world, so I have a taste for discovering God’s wonder through lifelong learning.
Proverbs 19:8 urges students and readers of all ages and all ideological bents to learn all they can and then remember what they learned so they can prosper.
We should embrace the pursuit of wisdom, since it not only enhances our spiritual growth but also edifies, equips us to navigate life’s challenges well.
Education – in all its forms – empowers us with the tools to make informed decisions, understand the world around us, deepen our relationship with God.
God calls us to be lifelong learners, continuously seeking to grow in wisdom.
Proverbs 18:15 NIV advises: “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”
Our ultimate teacher is the One who knows everything, as well as the source of everything there is to learn about: being God and His Son Jesus Christ Himself.
In Proverbs 1:7, we read “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The Bible tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” in both Proverbs 9:10 NIV and Psalm 111:10 NIV.
Proverbs 9:10 New International Version
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Psalm 111:10 New International Version
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
In Matthew 11:28-30 NIV,
Jesus urges us to learn from him and promises that the process of learning as we enjoy relationships with him will be easy and refreshing:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
God wants us to cultivate a hunger for learning.
Psalm 34:8-10 New International Version
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
We can “taste and see” by our taking advantage of the many opportunities God gives us to acquire more knowledge and wisdom. Here are some ways to do so:
-Engage in regular Bible study to gain spiritual insights.
-Pray regularly for the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.
-Read books and articles on topics that interest you.
-Listen to podcasts when we can find them and listen to audiobooks on our phones or satellite radios while we’re shopping or doing household chores.
-Watch educational videos, such as documentaries.
-when we can afford to we can travel, attend conferences and workshops to learn from experts and network with other learners.
-In times of fellowship, discuss the news and other topics with people you know, asking them what they think and learning from their perspectives.
-Travel to experience new cultures and ways of life.
-Reflect on your dreams and ask the Holy Spirit to help you learn from them.
The keys to lifelong learning are for us to be more open to new experiences and more resolved and willing to put in the effort to discipline ourselves, to truly learn and apply what we learn to our lives with holy discernment and wisdom.
Our disciplined pursuit of knowledge should align with biblical principles and contribute positively to our spiritual growth.
Through lifelong learning, we open ourselves to the thriving lives God intends us to live.
So, resolve to get excited about learning more every day God gives us to live!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Dear God, we acknowledge that you are the source of all wisdom, and we humbly seek your guidance as we commit ourselves to lifelong learning. Please give us a hunger for your Word so we can diligently study and meditate on your teachings in the Bible. Help us to immerse ourselves in the Bible and find treasures of wisdom that will transform our minds and hearts. May Your Holy Spirit constantly be our teacher, guiding us and leading us into all truth and revealing the mysteries of your kingdom.
Grant us discernment to distinguish between knowledge aligning with your will and that knowledge which leads astray. Father, we ask for a humble and teachable spirit, recognizing there is always more to learn and ways to grow. Open our minds to new perspectives, experiences, and knowledge from diverse various sources, while always keeping your truth as our foundation. Help us to apply the knowledge we gain in practical ways, living out your principles in our daily lives, interactions with others.
Creator of all life, Author of all wisdom, Master Educator, Enable us to be a blessing to those around us, using our knowledge for your good purposes. Thank you for the gift of life and lifelong learning and the opportunity to grow wiser throughout our lives. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, whose our Savior and Teacher. Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 