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My Favorite Pericope: James 1:5-8

Today, let us summarize a pericope from James 1:5-8.

Did I catch your attention with the word “pericope”? It is not a common word used outside of theological studies, but I will share my new vocabulary with you since I recently learned its meaning. Oxford Lexico defines a pericope as “an extract from a text, especially a passage from the Bible.” ¹

So, let’s move on!

JAMES 1:5 SAYS

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

We all encounter trials! That is why we need wisdom. We must ask God for wisdom. Why? Because He gives it to us liberally and without reproach. Reproach means “disapproval or disappointment.”

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. GreenePastures.org/my-favorite-pericope-james-1:5-8
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SOLOMON’S PRAYER FOR WISDOM

In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you?”

And Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”

God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,

wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you. (2 Chron 1:7-12 NASB).

JAMES 1:6 STATES

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

If we do not believe God will give His wisdom to us, James compares us to a wave of the sea tossed by the wind. We need to be solid and firm, not insipid about our faith.

JAMES 1:7-8 CONTINUES

For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James calls the one who does not believe he will receive wisdom from God a “double-minded man.” Some scholars call him a “double-souled man.” James also says that such a person should not expect anything from the Lord. What a tragedy when God wants to give us the best life possible by emulating Himself!

SOLOMON AND THE BABIES

In 1 Kings 3:16-28 (CEV), Solomon, a man of wisdom, had to make a difficult decision.

Two women came to him, and the first woman told him that she lived alone in the same house with another woman. This woman had a baby boy, and three days later, the second woman also had a baby boy. While they were sleeping, the second lady rolled over her baby, and he died. Then, she got up and took the first woman’s son out of her bed and put the dead baby next to her.

As you can imagine, the first woman saw the dead baby in the morning and knew it was not her son. In front of King Solomon, they continued arguing back and forth.

The king said, “Someone bring me a sword.” When a sword was brought to Solomon, he ordered that the living baby be cut in half, so each woman could have a part of the baby.

The real mother screamed, “Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just do not kill him.” The second woman shouted, “Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”

With all his godly wisdom, Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.” Pointing to the first woman, he declared, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.” And all Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon wisely made his decision.

This kind of wisdom is possible for us as well. I experienced God’s wisdom when I asked Him for it early in my spiritual walk.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH PRAYING FOR WISDOM

Back in the 1970s I was an elementary-grade teacher in the Fort Worth, Texas school system. Each spring, teachers selected by the district to be retained had to decide whether to sign a new contract, confirm their agreement to stay for the upcoming school year, or not sign and seek opportunities elsewhere.

Before me was the question of whether to stay in Fort Worth, or move to Houston. It was my first encounter with genuinely seeking God’s wisdom.

On April 1, 1977, our principal walked into my classroom while I was teaching and, in front of everyone, handed me my contract for the upcoming year. “I need it back by 4:00 p.m. today,” he said.

I was struck with fear of being forced to make such a consequential decision so quickly! I gave my students some busy work and consulted my Bible. I prayed, then searched the Scripture for the Lord’s direction.

I eventually came upon Ecclesiastes 11:5:

Just as you do not know the path of the wind, and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes everything.

While it does not make sense to anyone else but me, that verse might as well have said, “Patti, move to Houston.” That very day, I told my principal I was moving and never looked back.

I can say that following James 1:5 in asking for God’s wisdom, He answers. It might not be the way one might envision or in the timeline preferred, but God loves us so much and has so much compassion on us that He always answers at just the right time.

HOW TO ATTAIN WISDOM

  1. Ask for wisdom—not human understanding, but divine wisdom from God’s Holy Spirit.
  2. Make it a habit to cleanse yourself from all known sins.
  3. Trust in God’s word to guide you as you seek His wisdom, then
  4. Trust that God’s wisdom will change your life.

God makes wisdom attainable to us. My charge is for you to follow the steps above and always recall this Godly pericope from James 1:5-8.

PRAYER

My dear Lord, when I am fearful to ask You for help, understanding, or wisdom, guide me by Your Holy Spirit, to You—to trust You and have faith. I want to live my life fully attuned to Your will and ways, but sometimes I fail. Please give me the courage to ask for wisdom in faith to be stable in all my ways. Amen.

BIBLE VERSES

  1. Wisdom and Understanding—King David said, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His Commandments; His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111:10).
  2. Faith—Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to” (Matthew 17:20b).
  3. Stability—Paul said, “For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:5).
  4. Freely Given–Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Timothy 2:7)

God Bless,

¹”Pericope.” Dictionary. Accessed December 12th, 2021. https://www.lexico.com/definition/pericope.

Edited by E. Johnson.

Linked Bible verses come from the New American Standard Bible.

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Solomon’s Wisdom: Bring Me a Sword

Wisdom

The Elementary Bible Truths Handbook defines wisdom as “the ability to use one’s knowledge and experience to make good judgments.”¹

While this is a good general definition, it does not differentiate between secular wisdom and godly wisdom. The late Pastor Adrian Rogers bridged this gap when he said that, “Godly wisdom is wisdom seeing life from God’s point of view. Secular wisdom (also known as knowledge) comes from looking around; [while godly] wisdom comes from looking up.”²

Days of Our Lives

1 Kings 3:16-28 puts godly wisdom in the forefront. King Solomon is tasked to solve a dispute between two women. If there ever was a story to grab someone’s attention, the story of Solomon and his wisdom is it. It has all the drama, including two bickering prostitutes, a “she said, she said” scenario, no witnesses and two babies—one dead and one alive. If this does not sound like a Days of Our Lives soap opera, it will.

As a child, I had a Bible storybook titled A Small Child’s Bible by Pelagie Doane that I read over and over and over. For hours I would ruminate on the stories and stare at the illustrations of two special Old Testament stories: King Solomon and the Baby and [Jonah] Jonas and the Great Fish. To read my story about Jonah, click here.

Below is the story from my childhood book, which still sits in my bookshelf to this day.

A Paraphrased Story Version of 1 Kings 3:16-28

Solomon sat upon the throne of David, his father. David had died and now Solomon was king. He was a good king and wise.

One day two women came to him. They had a baby with them. One woman said, “We live in the same house. We each had a baby born to us. This woman’s baby died one night, and she came and took my baby. She put her dead baby in my bed.”

The other woman said, “It is my child who is alive and hers who is dead.”

The first woman said, “No. The dead is your son and the living is my son.”

And so, they argued.

The king said to one of his men, “Bring me a sword.”

The sword was brought, and the king said, “Divide this child in half and give half to each of these women.”

One woman said, “Oh, do not kill the baby! Give him to the other woman but let him live!”

The other woman said,” No. Let neither of us have him. Divide him.”

Then King Solomon knew which was the mother of the child.

He said, “Give the child to the woman who does not want the child divided. She loves it and wants it to live.”

When the people heard how wise King Solomon had been, they said, “He knows what is true. He has thoughts of God.”³

Guiding Light: The Search for Wisdom

Solomon was King David’s son from his wife Bathsheba. His upbringing in an extremely wealthy household allowed him to have just about every privilege a child raised by a rich godly king could expect—fine food, a good education, religious training, little conflict, and more.

Solomon’s life was most likely free of conflict until it was time for him to ascend to the throne of Israel. His brother Adonijah tried to force a coup, doing all he could to get the kingship for himself that David already promised to Solomon. Fortunately, he did overthrow Adonijah’s attempt to rule Israel and became king.

Solomon knew he needed God’s wisdom if he were to enlarge the kingdom and construct the temple his father David had already prepared for him to erect.

Solomon loved God, and as a young ruler, he wanted the wisdom to rule this vast kingdom fittingly. Knowing he needed to dedicate himself totally to the Lord, he sought wisdom and guidance, and in a dream at Gibeon, not far from Jerusalem, he offered multiple sacrifices to the Lord. Then, God came to him in a dream and asked Solomon to ask Him for anything he desired.

God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.” Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 1 Kings 3:5b-9

It was at Gibeon Solomon asked for WISDOM. He wanted to administer justice and judgment using true godly discernment. It was normal in those days for the common people to have access to the king, and he took his job seriously. Shortly after his asking for wisdom, Solomon was introduced to these two prostitutes—both seeking to resolve a dispute between them and a living baby.

Solomon asked for wisdom because he wanted to administer justice and judgment using true godly discernment. GreenePastures.org
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One Life to Live: Mothers

These two temple prostitutes stood before their ruler and king, waiting for his judgment as to which woman should be allowed to keep the live baby.

Sidebar: I believe most mothers can recognize their own child, especially after three days of caring for and loving them.

But, the disagreement over the baby’s “ownership” continued all the way up to the top court. King Solomon, not being privy to DNA testing, listened to both women’s side of the story. He gathered facts and information. Although Solomon had many responsibilities, as kings do, such as peacemaker, builder, worshiper, administrator, and scholar, this was his opportunity to be a discerner, noted Warren Wiersbe.⁴ Solomon was looking for the real mother. Most Bibles and commentaries refer to the first woman mentioned in the story as the real mother and the second woman mentioned as the untruthful mother.

Both mothers were distressed—one because she knew she might lose her baby, and the other one because she lost her baby; and her maternal instincts were so strong, she was willing to lie and deceive to have any baby.

We see this kind of behavior even today. In February 2020, Juliette Parker, former Colorado Springs mayoral candidate, posed as a “friendly” baby photographer in an attempt to steal Elysia Miller’s newborn child. Meeting Miller on a Facebook newborn baby site, they connected. Parker met under the guise of taking free baby pictures to build up her portfolio and administered GHB—the date rape drug—to try to steal Miller’s baby. Fortunately, Miller called 911 after feeling drowsy and the plot was averted.⁵

In the original story, Solomon, using his divine wisdom, called for a sword. His solution was to cut the baby in half and give half to each woman. He was wise and I feel sure his intent was never to follow through on dividing the baby. Solomon was looking to see which woman had the most compassion towards the child to find the real mother.

“And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other, the first woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, ‘Oh, my Lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.’ But the other said, ‘He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!’” Then the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.” When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.” (1 Kings 3:25-28)

God is a God who works out the most magnificent things and coordinates situations in His timing to be used for the glory of God. In this case, God took two prostitutes: they lived in the same house, allowed them to get pregnant at the same time, and had them deliver their babies three days apart—to be used as a very early catalyst for the people of Israel to see his wisdom. Warren Wiersbe says, “for weeks, this even was the main topic of conversation in all Israel displaying to all that King Solomon was truly a wise king.”

As the World Turns: How to Gain Wisdom

We live in a culture not much different than Solomon did in the 900s BC. Today we encounter obstacles just like the people did back in Solomon’s day. Many times, we need wise people to arbitrate our difficulties and problems.

Right now, we might be like the first woman in this story desperately needing advice, the second woman who lied and deceived, or we might be like Solomon—the one to whom people come for leadership or arbitration.

Know that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, by repenting and choosing to live a life honorable to our Lord and Savior, we can gain God’s wisdom. By following King Solomon’s steps, let us do what He did first and then commit to following whatever He says in His Word.

How to Gain Wisdom

First Solomon ASKED FOR GOD’S WISDOM. (1 Kings 3:9; James 1:5) So should we, then we can work on:

Wherever we are on this pendulum called life, let us remember that we are loved by a holy and just God. He is there to give us direction.

Look to Him for divine strength. Look at people through His eyes.

It can be difficult after we have been lied to, deceived, humiliated, criticized, or disregarded, but God has a purpose for every one of us. Striving to live a life fully dedicated to Him is costly, but wisdom is supreme. Therefore, get wisdom. Ask for wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get [His] wisdom and His understanding.

It is then that we can look at life correctly as we Search for Tomorrow.

Bible Verses

For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding, He established the heavens. Proverbs 3:19

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiastes 9:18

They said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. John 8:4-9

All verses are from the New American Standard Version (NASB).

Prayer

My heavenly Father. We need Your wisdom. We cry out to You for it. As King Solomon prayed, so we pray and ask You to give “Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil.” For it is only when You and Your Word is ingrained upon our hearts that we can begin to fully follow You. Give us a deeper walk from now until we reach Your heavenly kingdom. In the Name of Your precious son Jesus. Amen.

God Bless,

greenenpastures.org

Edited by E. Johnson

Works Cited

¹ Elementary Bible Truths Handbook. Greeneville: Bob Jones University Press, 1981.

² Adrianisms: The Collected Wit and Wisdom of Adrian Rogers. Collierville: Innovo Publishing, 2015.

³ Doane, Pelagie. A Small Child’s Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1945.

⁴ Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary Old Testament: Joshua—Esther. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2008.

⁵ Benzel, Lance. “Former Colorado Springs mayoral candidate allegedly duped local man before baby abduction plot.” The Gazette. Feb 18 2020; Updated Feb 25 2020. Gazette.com.

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Wisdom: Winning With Proverbs

Wisdom fills the pages of the Book of Proverbs. It is here we find some of the most profound phrases from the entire Bible. Some scholars believe King Solomon wrote all the proverbs while others acknowledge multiple participants, such as King Solomon as the most prominent author, Agur son of Jakeh, King Lemeul, and various wise men. Difficulty in pinpointing the date of origin of Proverbs is prevalent, but many historians date these words between the 6th and 10th century BC. The source and/or date are not actually important points to stress over. What is important is that God’s wisdom fills the thirty-one chapters with knowledge and instruction designed to give us a guideline for godly living.
Recently I read the Book of Proverbs. Choosing one special verse from each chapter was difficult, but I did. The verses are below, and I pray that they will guide you as you encounter this new year.

Proverbs

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. (Proverbs 1:5 NLT)

Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5 ESV)

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6 NASB)

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (Proverbs 4:5 KJV)

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18 NIV)

My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. (Proverbs 6:20 NLT)

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teachings as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend. (Proverbs 7:1-4 ESV)

I love those who love me, And those who diligently seek me will find me. (Proverbs 8:17 NASB)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 KJV)

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11 ASV)

A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. (Proverbs 11:13 NLT)

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:25 ESV)

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. (Proverbs 13:3 KJV)

Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! (Proverbs 14:23 NLT)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 NASB)

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Proverbs 16:3-4 KJV)

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Proverbs 17:27-28 NIV)

It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. (Proverbs 18:5 ESV)

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. (Proverbs 19:1 ESV)

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. (Proverbs 20:19 KJV)

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered. (Proverbs 21:13 NASB)

Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. (Proverbs 22:24-25 NLT)

Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. (Proverbs 23:4 KJV)

Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers. (Proverbs 24:6 NIV)

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2 NASB)

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. (Proverbs 26:11 ESV)

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:1-2 ESV)

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all [things]. (Proverbs 28:5 KJV)

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. (Proverbs 29:23 NIV)

If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame. (Proverbs 30:32 NLT)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, [But] a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30 NASB)

Conclusion on The Wisdom in Proverbs

May God bless and keep you safe from all harm. May His power and strength keep you on the straight and narrow path because it is only when we follow His path that we encounter true joy, peace, and contentment in our lives.

Think about making a commitment to read the entire Book of Proverbs. Since there are thirty-one chapters in the book, you can finish the entire book in approximately 1 month by reading only one chapter each day.

In this blog, I just shared a “sprinkling of God’s wisdom” with you. Why not get a “downpour of His wisdom” by starting today with a Proverbs reading plan!

God Bless,

GreenePastures.org
GreenePastures.org

Member Inspirational Writers Alive; Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member

Works Cited

Swindoll, Chuck. (n.d.) Proverbs Overview. Retrieved from HTTP://bereanbibleclass.tv. 8 Jan 2018.

Books by Patti Greene

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Bible Study, Christian Living

Surprising Proverbs

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 Surprising Proverbs

As a teenager, I had a healthy, holy regard for the Bible from afar. But, once I began to read the Bible at the age of 16 years old, I was awed that this HOLY BOOK contained some of the funniest and most profound things I had ever seen. One of the funniest proverbs I read as a new believer was about how it was better to live in the corner of an attic than with a crabby woman in lovely home. [Proverbs 21:9] I pictured my future husband hanging out in an attic because he couldn’t stand to be around me. Of course, it was funny because I wasn’t married at the time. Then, I read about a dog who returns to his vomit, just like a fool repeats his folly. [Proverbs 16:31] Finally, I read about how white hair is a crown of glory and is seen most among the godly. [Proverbs 26:11] — It made me think of my Grammy! Once I read verses like those, I was hooked into reading more of these surprising Proverbs. Believe it or not, those verses were what God used to get me interested in reading more of the Bible!

I love the word “PITHY.” My definition of a proverb is, “a brief, pithy statement voicing a wise truth regarding how we should live or how we should not live.”

The Book of Proverbs is an Old Testament book. Many of the proverbs come from King Solomon who spoke these words in the 10 century B.C. Solomon’s 3,000 wise sayings and 1,005 contains wisdom sayings for everyone — from the very young to the aged. God wants to instruct us on how to be a better person. He does this through this little instruction book by discussing the fear of God, reckoning, human speech, human sexuality, and more.

‘The purposes of the book of Proverbs are stated in the prologue to the wisdom collections in Proverbs 1:2-7.” They include:

  • Know wisdom and instruction
  • To receive teaching in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity
  • To help the simple gain prudence and the youth to gain knowledge and discretion
  • To increase learning and to acquire skill in understanding
  • To understand proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles, and
  • To learn the fear of the Lord.¹

I can’t help but encourage all of you to read this awesome book. Reading the Book of Proverbs will make you laugh, cry, inspire, and convict you. Today, let’s look at one proverb or phrase from each of the 31 chapters of Proverbs. Hopefully, these will excite and motivate you to read the entire chapter. Determine to read one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month. What a wonderful way to study this outstanding book. And, for all you women reading this blog, check out Proverbs 31 – It’s written just for you!!!

Determine to read one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month. #GreenePastures.org
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Surprising Proverbs: Verses from The Living Bible

Proverbs 1:7-9 How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! Only fools refuse to be taught. Listen to your father and mother. What you learn from them will stand you in good stead; it will gain you many honors.

Proverbs  2:1-5 Every young man who listens to me and obeys my instructions will be given wisdom and good sense. Yes, if you want better insight and discernment, and are searching for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure, then wisdom will be given you and knowledge of God himself; you will soon learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

Proverbs 4:24 Spurn the careless kiss of a prostitute. Stay far from her.

Proverbs 5:18 Be happy, yes, rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 6:10-11 “Let me sleep a little longer!” Sure, just a little more!  And as you sleep, poverty creeps upon you like a robber and destroys you; want attacks you in full armor.

Proverbs 7:1-3 Follow my advice, my son; always keep it in mind and stick to it. Obey me and live! Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart.

Proverbs 8:33-34 “Listen to my counsel—oh, don’t refuse it—and be wise. Happy is the man who is so anxious to be with me that he watches for me daily at my gates, or waits for me outside my home!

Proverbs 9:6 Leave behind your foolishness and begin to live; learn how to be wise.

Proverbs 10:4 Lazy men are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

Proverbs 11:13 A gossip goes around spreading rumors, while a trustworthy man tries to quiet them.

Proverbs 12:20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting for evil; joy fills hearts that are planning for good!

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.

Proverbs 14:17 A short-tempered man is a fool. He hates the man who is patient.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels.

Proverbs 16:3-4 Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed. The Lord has made everything for his own purposes—even the wicked for punishment.

Proverbs 17:27-28 The man of few words and settled mind is wise; therefore, even a fool is thought to be wise when he is silent. It pays him to keep his mouth shut.

Proverbs 18:17 Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.

Proverbs 19:21 Man proposes, but God disposes.

Proverbs 20:13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Stay awake, work hard, and there will be plenty to eat!

Proverbs 21:14 An angry man is silenced by giving him a gift!

Proverbs 22:1 If you must choose, take a good name rather than great riches; for to be held in loving esteem is better than silver and gold.

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father’s advice and don’t despise an old mother’s experience.

Proverbs 24:17-18 Do not rejoice when your enemy meets trouble. Let there be no gladness when he falls— for the Lord may be displeased with you and stop punishing him!

Proverbs 25:2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things, and the king’s privilege to discover and invent. You cannot understand the height of heaven, the size of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!

Proverbs 26:17 Yanking a dog’s ears is no more foolish than interfering in an argument that isn’t any of your business.

Proverbs 27:1-2 Don’t brag about your plans for tomorrow—wait and see what happens. Don’t praise yourself; let others do it!

Proverbs 28:5 Evil men don’t understand the importance of justice, but those who follow the Lord are much concerned about it.

Proverbs 29:20 There is more hope for a fool than for a man of quick temper.

Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Proverbs 31:10-12 If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! Her husband can trust her, and she will richly satisfy his needs. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life.

I hope you enjoyed this little trip through the Proverbs.

If you have a favorite proverb, I would love to hear it in the comment section!

God Bless.

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Bible Verses:

See above.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I want to be a wise person. Please show me what I need to do and what I need to learn to be more like you. Help me to read through your Holy Scriptures with an understanding given from the Holy Spirit. I need you in my life and I need to be constantly close to you. Give me power to be committed in Bible study and prayer. If I don’t have you by my side, my life will spiral out of control and I don’t want that. Thank you for who you are and how you are going to lead my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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¹ Hill, Andrew and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2000.

Christian Living, Life Issues

Compromising

We live in an age where compromise is all around us. Compromises are made daily in the areas of values, morals, ethics, relationships, and belief systems. Compromising in areas God has warned us about can, and most often does, lead to disastrous consequences in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

In The Danger of Compromise, Pastor Greg Laurie says, “Have you ever heard the story of the guy who could not decide what side he wanted to fight for during the Civil War? He put on the coat of the North and the trousers of the South, and guess what? He got shot from both sides. This is what happens to the compromiser, the person who tries to live in two worlds. It is one miserable life.”

Bernie Madoff, founder of the Wall Street firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was convicted of fraud and of operating a Ponzi scheme that is well-known as one of the largest investment scandals in the history of the United States. He defrauded many investors of billions of dollars. Madoff was convicted and sentenced to 150 years in prison. His small compromises, which eventually became huge compromises, led to investors losing their entire life-time savings. But on a personal level, the consequences were even higher. His wife left him. His son Andrew died of cancer while blaming his cancer relapse on the stress caused by his father’s fraud. His other son, Mark, committed suicide by hanging himself on the second anniversary of his father’s arrest. Madoff lives with the regret that both sons never forgave him for his corruption. We would be wise to recognize that our compromises/sin will always affect other people – even our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

It is imperative that we be attentive to the Lord in all areas of our lives and strive to be consistent and mature in our actions. We can see in the Bible how some believers led impeccable lives and were devoted to God until small compromises/sin affected the life that God intended for them to have.

Solomon was a righteous and Godly King until his later years when corruption overtook him. Solomon even asked God for wisdom above worldly possessions. He went from fully trusting God for his life and kingdom to worshipping idols in the form of wealth and power in his latter days. Notice that Solomon continued worshipping God while loving many foreign Gods and burning incense to paganism. This led to God’s anger against him. Solomon is known today as the godly king who compromised. He did not keep God’s commandments and the Bible states that Solomon did turn away from the Lord.

In 1 Kings 11:1-13, the Bible says:
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lordcommanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen. And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite.”

If compromising can affect Solomon, a king who was originally so devoted to God, it can happen to us also. Even good Christians can compromise. Usually it occurs very subtly. We get wrapped up and ensnared – unaware until our compromising goes from a little compromising to continual compromising. However, it can be avoided by being attentive to the Lord in all areas of life. By daily giving Him our lives, we can avoid compromising/sinning. This is where daily praying and daily Bible reading come into play. But, we aren’t perfect. Jesus knows that, so when we do find ourselves in little lies or little compromises, we need to ask for forgiveness and for help to change our ways immediately.

Our friendship with the world can take the form of materialism, popularity, sex, and more. Compromising can affect our marriage, our spiritual life, our relationships with our children, and our business relationships. Unfortunately, we are sometimes the recipient of someone else’s compromises. Even then, we need move forward structuring our life around God and His provisions for us. He will rescue us and sustain us during these times.

In the Old Testament, Daniel, and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are examples of those whose strong beliefs did not allow compromise in their lives. They refused to bow down to the gold statue set up by Nebuchadnezzar even with the threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace. [Daniel 3:1-15] They trusted in the God who was sufficient for all their needs and a God who rescued them.

Let’s ask for God’s help this week to be believers that walk in Biblical standards. Let’s not be believers who only want to get into Heaven and be thought of as good people. Let’s truly get our relationship with Christ on solid ground, so we can live daily in His presence trusting that God will help us when we are weak.

Bible Verses:

Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”Jeremiah 6:16 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness.2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

Prayer:

Lord, give us power to praise and love you always – to the end of our days. When we compromise, show us immediately, so we can get back on track quickly. Prevent us from causing damage to others through our actions. Help us not to damage our Christian witness through our actions. Let us walk with you daily through our prayers and Bible study. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Patti

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