This is part twenty in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn what God has to say in this book about wisdom and discernment. Yesterday I learned that family relationships offer not only the greatest opportunities for blessing, but also the greatest opportunities for pain. I have to be a wise father to ensure that my children are raised in wisdom so they do not prove shameful later in life. I also learned about the natural inclination to blame God for our own sins.

"It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel." Any old fool can start a fight but it takes a real man to apologize. A mark of wisdom is having the humility and good sense to admit blame and be the one to apologize first. When I read this proverb I thought of my relationship with my wife. Both of us are as stubborn as can be and when we quarrel we both have a very difficult time being the one to take the first step towards peace. So often it seems easier to continue fighting than to humble myself and ask for forgiveness. Yet if I want to be a man of wisdom I will need to learn to do this! What a reminder that wisdom is the exactly opposite of what humans would do on their own.

Verse 9 expresses a great truth without giving any advice or comparison. It simply states "Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?" Obviously the implication is that none of us can claim to be free from sin. And perhaps it is for the best that the author chose to say nothing more about this; for it leaves it open for my contemplation. Rather than depending upon Solomon to tell me what I should do with this information, I need to meditate upon it and discern how it applies to my life.

The twelfth verse likewise eschews a "but" or "therefore" as it also simply states a fact. "The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both." The ear and the eye are two of the primary conduits of information into our hearts. By stating that God created both of these means, it shows that they are a trusted and reliable means of gaining information. We are able to trust what we see and hear. The application for this is that we should guard what we see and hear so we do not misuse these means of gathering information.

"It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts." This proverb would have rung true in a society where bargaining was a part of every transaction. In our society we rarely bargain, taking the sticker price as law. When I read this verse I recalled a discussion I overheard a few years ago when I was at a music store. A man was asking the owner of the store what the difference is between a fiddle and a violin. The shopkeeper answered "when I sell it to you it's a violin, but when I buy it from you it's a fiddle." That seemed a perfect illustration for this verse. The author passes no judgment on this custom of haggling. If we went searching for an application we could see that it is dishonest for me to try to make something seem less valuable and purchase it for a ridiculously low price, knowing that it has greater value.

"Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war." This verse stresses the importance of seeking counsel before making important decisions. I need to count the cost of my actions and ensure that I have properly weighed the various possibilities before proceeding with a plan. The greater the potential cost, the more effort I need to dedicate to ensuring that I am making a wise plan. If I refuse to seek and heed counsel I am likely to make poor decisions.

The twenty fifth verse caught my attention. It says "It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows." The obvious Old Testament meaning would tell us that people in that time were being warned to think carefully before dedicating something to God. To dedicate something and then have second thoughts and even try to take that item back would be to make light of the offering. As I considered a modern-day application I thought of commitments made to God and how so many people make commitments to Him and quickly fall away. Churches love to gauge success by the number of people who make commitments after evangelistic outreach programs, but certainly we need to ensure that people know what they are committing to and do not make a mockery of God by quickly renouncing their profession of faith.

I thought also how we are quick to make promises but so often do not hold to them. Whether it is a congregational promise before a baptism or dedication or a promise before a group of teens that has just expressed a commitment to purity, we so often walk out of church and forget the promises we have made. We need to take such commitments with sufficient seriousness that we follow through with what we have promised.

The final verse in this chapter reads "Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart." Punishing the body can have the good effect of making a man conscious of sin buried in the depths of his heart. While this verse speaks specifically of corporal punishment, certainly other forms of punishment can have the same effect. That is the very reason God sometimes chooses to discipline us. Through difficult times we need to open our hearts to see if God may be extending His hand in discipline.

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the twentieth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• It takes only a fool to begin an argument but a man of wisdom to apologize and make peace.
• I am to deal honestly in all my financial affairs.
• Discipline, though it may be painful, should make me examine my heart and discern where I am not following God's will.

This is part nineteen in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn what God has to say in this book about wisdom and discernment. Yesterday I continued to learn one of the predominant themes of this book - I need to guard my lips and choose my words carefully, whether I am in a position of judgment or simply listening in order to give advice. Also, I am to put my trust in the Lord and find my refuge in Him rather than in material possessions.

One emphasis in chapter nineteen is family relationships. Verse 13 reads "A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping." A son who despises wisdom will bring grief to his family. Perhaps the most obvious Biblical example of this is Jesus' later parable about the prodigal son. At a young age the foolish son demanded his share of the inheritance, left his family, and squandered all he had in wild, godless living. His actions caused his father untold grief.

Where a son brings his father to ruin, a wife who nags unceasingly is like a continual dripping. There are few things more annoying than the constant drip, drip, drip of water and the author uses this as an illustration to emphasize how he feels about nagging.

The purpose of these proverbs is not as much to make a statement about the son and wife as it is to show that family relationships cause greater joy or pain than distant relationships. There is much greater potential for me to be hurt (or blessed) by those who are close to me.

Continuing with the family theme, verse 14 reads "Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD." Though I may inherit wealth and all sorts of material possessions from my father, a good wife is a gift from God. A wise, godly wife is a precious gift and one I ought to be thankful for every day. How much more valuable is a gift from God than an earthly inheritance!

"He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach." Defying the fifth commandment, which instructs me to honor my parents, will bring me shame and reproach. I am to honor my parents throughout my life, being willing to sacrifice for them as they did for me. This proverb stands in stark contrast to the way parents are regarded in our society and helps me remember to honor God's will rather than society's.

Verse 27 serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding the wisdom in these proverbs. "Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge." I need to heed God's wisdom which is displayed throughout this book. If I do not, I will be leading myself away from the way of wisdom and down the road that leads to destruction.

Not all the proverbs in this chapter have to do with family. The third verse says "The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD." A man's own foolishness "twists his way." He ends up turning himself around and heading in the wrong direction. When he does this, how does he react? He frets against God! He brings sin upon himself and then blames God for it. I can certainly testify to having done this in my life and I scarcely think there is a believer in the world who has not done this at one time or another. How the human heart hates God that we would blame him for our own misfortune!

"Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend." This is an interesting proverb for it states a fact without any moral judgment. Though our hearts recoil at the thought that those with wealth attract friends while the poor do not, it is an undeniable fact. The author simply points out this fact, leaving it for our meditation, rather than commenting on it.

"He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given." This verse stresses what a privilege it is to be able to use my wealth to serve the Lord. When I use what God has given me to help those in need, it is like I am lending it directly to Him. God rewards me for this, though it does not say whether the reward is here or on earth. We know from elsewhere in Scripture that the reward is both temporal and eternal. I am rewarded on earth by the knowledge that as I use my wealth wisely God will continue to provide for my needs. At the same time, as I give away treasures on earth I am storing up treasures in heaven.

I will end today with the eighteenth verse. "Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction." This harkens back to what I learned several days ago. To hold back the discipline that my son deserves is to hate him. I need to discipline him wisely, justly and immediately, lest I wait too long and find that it is too late. Eventually an undisciplined son will go beyond the point of no return and I will have lost him. When I refuse to discipline him, I show contempt for his soul, for I am sending him down the path of foolishness rather than training him to walk the path of wisdom.

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the nineteenth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• Family relationships offer the greatest opportunities for both joy and pain. I need to invest in those relationships and ensure that they bring me joy!
• When I turn from God's ways my natural inclination is to blame God for the consequences that are sure to arise. I know, though, that I will have no one to blame but myself.
• To give my wealth for God's purposes is to give directly to God. It is a privilege and should be a joy to give to the Lord's work.
• I need to be a wise father, proving my love through diligently disciplining my children and setting their feet on the path to wisdom.

This is part eighteen in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn what God has to say in this book about wisdom and discernment. Yesterday I learned that God uses difficult times in my life to shape and mould my character and that during these times I need to have a peaceful soul and restrain my tongue. I also learned the value of avoiding strife at all costs.

The predominant theme of chapter eighteen is the dangerous nature of words. Verses 6 through 8 read "A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body." A foolish man will allow his mouth to get him into trouble. He does not restrain his lips and soon says something he should not have. This leads him into contention and even to exchanging blows. His words eventually lead to his downfall, for they lay a trap for his soul.

We see also that as humans we have a natural taste for gossip. We love listen to the talebearer and the words he says are like tasty trifles to our souls. Words penetrate to the core of our being, so how much better it is to allow only good words to enter our ears and our hearts than evil words.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem."

The ancient Hebrews understood the name of the LORD to mean far more than just His name. The name of the LORD spoke of His character as a loving God who was faithful to the covenant He made with them. So by running to the name of the LORD, we are to run to Him and to rest in the knowledge that He loves us and will do all that He has promised. We can and should take refuge in His love.

Where the wise man takes refuge in the Lord, a foolish man seeks to find refuge in his wealth. He views his wealth as being a strong city and a high wall that can defend Him from whatever may come his way in life. The wise man, though, knows that God is the controller of wealth and depends on Him.

There are two verses that speak of the value of being attentive and careful listeners. Verse 13 reads "He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him." A foolish man gives his opinion or judgment on a matter before he has fully heard the situation. The lesson for me is to listen attentively and hear a matter out before rendering judgment. The seventeenth verse continues this theme. "The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him." This passage stresses the value of hearing both sides of a dispute before rendering judgment or forming an opinion. When I have heard only one side I will likely have little reason to doubt the validity of what I have heard. However, to judge the matter based on only one person's testimony would be foolish, for an examination of the person's words may prove him to be a liar.

I will close with words from verse 19 which reads "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle." Using metaphor, the author shows us the value of avoiding contention, for he says it is easier to win a battle against a great, fortified city than it is to win back a brother I have offended. Contention is like strong bars keeping myself away from the one I have offended.

As an aside, and I do not mean to offend any women who may be reading this, but my first thought when I saw this verse was "if a brother is harder to win than a strong city, how much more a sister?" It seems to me women are much harder to win back after being offended than men! Growing up in a household with three sisters I can testify that this is often the case. Where men will often just throw a couple of punches, call it even and then sit down to watch a game of football, women will often carry these offenses for a lifetime.

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the eighteenth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• Guard my lips! The author of Proverbs places such emphasis on this that I would be more than foolish to ignore it. No matter the cost I need to be careful with my words.
• I am to find strength and refuge in the Lord rather than trusting in material wealth.
• I need to be an attentive listener, hearing a matter in its entirety rather than forming premature judgments and opinions.

Jesus knew when and how He was going to die.

The day before He was to die was the Passover. The Lord spent the evening with his disciples honoring the Old Testament laws pertaining to the final celebration of the first and greatest of the feast days. When they had eaten their meal and shared in the first celebration of the new feast, the Lord’s Supper, Jesus led them to the Garden of Gethsemane, a place it seems they often visited to spend time in quietness and prayer away from the crowds of followers. Leaving eight of the disciples near the gate He led the three who were His closest friends deeper into the Garden. The gospel of Mark recounts this event.

He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 16:33-13)

Luke also relates this story but adds “His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.” As Jesus awaited the final hours of His life, He was in agony of spirit. His agony reached such great levels that His capillaries began to burst, mixing blood with His sweat. He began to bleed before anyone had laid a hand on Him. Such was His agony that He called out to His Father that if it was possible, He would remove this cup from Him.

Did Jesus fear those He knew were coming to lead Him to the cross? Did He fear whips, chains, thorns and spikes? Perhaps his humanity recoiled at the thought of having a spike driven through His wrist or at being beaten with ruthless brutality, yet at the beginning of His earthly ministry Jesus had spoken to His disciples about just such an event. In Matthew 10:28 we read “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” In the Garden He prayed to God, asking if He might “take this cup away from [Him].”

To understand what Jesus’ words mean, we must turn to the Old Testament. Through out the Old Testament a cup is used to symbolize God’s judgment. Consider the following passages:

You are filled with shame instead of glory.
You also—drink!
And be exposed as uncircumcised!
The cup of the LORD’s right hand will be turned against you,
And utter shame will be on your glory (Habakkuk 2:16)

You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will put her cup in your hand.’ “Thus says the Lord GOD:
“You shall drink of your sister’s cup,
The deep and wide one;
You shall be laughed to scorn
And held in derision;
It contains much.
You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.
You shall drink and drain it,
You shall break its shards,
And tear at your own breasts;
For I have spoken,’
Says the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 23:31-24)

Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shall be the portion of their cup (Psalm 11:4)

Time and again the Bible speaks of a cup of God’s wrath which will be poured out against sinners. It is a cup of horror, desolation, shame and destruction. It is a cup filled to the brim with the perfect wrath of a perfectly just God.

Before the world was created, Jesus had agreed to drink this cup to save the ones He loves. He would not just take a sip of it, but would drink to the bottom of the cup, until there was nothing left. How His spirit must have assailed Him as our Lord, as fully human as He was fully God, waited to drink this cup.

When Jesus considered the events that were to come, what was it He feared? He did not fear men, but rather feared His own Father! As He waited, He looked not to the beatings or the spikes, but to the cup of wrath His own Father was going to pour out upon Him. He feared the punishment He would have to face for my sin!

Just a few short hours later Jesus’ battered body was nailed to the wooden cross. As He hung there, alone and naked before God, He began to drink that cup. He faced God’s judgment and drank in the horror, desolation, shame and destruction that are rightfully mine. How the Father must have felt, having to punish His own Son with every bit of the wrath of His righteous anger against sin. At the time His Son needed Him most, He was unable to comfort Him. The Father poured out punishment against His Son that human minds can never comprehend. Hour after hour God’s wrath poured in, on and through Jesus.

Finally, hours after He began, Jesus did what no other person ever could do - He emptied that cup, drinking down the last drops of God’s wrath, until there was no more. The wrath that deserved to be poured out against me was consumed by the One who loves me more than I can ever know. Having swallowed the last drops, Jesus shouted out in triumph “It is finished!” The work had been done. Knowing that His task was complete, Jesus turned His gaze to heaven and said “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.” At that moment He yielded up His spirit and returned to fellowship with His Father.

There are those who would say that having seen the events of Jesus’ life portrayed in film they are better equipped to understand Jesus’ sacrifice. Make no mistake: this can never be! Though you may have greater appreciation for the physical abuse and torture Jesus endured, you can never begin to know the depths of His sacrifice. Seeing the drama of a spike being driven through the arms of a man tells you no more about the sacrifice of Jesus than seeing a thimble-full of water helps a child understand the power, depths and vastness of the oceans. Do not presume to understand what you can never comprehend!

A thousand songs, a thousand books, a thousand words cannot express adequate thanks for the sacrifice Jesus made. What we can do, though, is:

Fear! Fear, as Jesus did, the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Turn! Turn to Him who drank the cup, acknowledging that He drank the cup of wrath that was meant for you. Turn to Jesus, praising Him for the completeness of the sacrifice that is too great for us to comprehend.

Rejoice! Be thankful that Christ drank the cup to the bottom. Be thankful, knowing that all of eternity would not be enough time for you to drink that cup. Jesus’ sacrifice was so great, so complete, that what He drank in several hours, you could not drink if you had the rest of time to do so. Look not to the time of His suffering, but to the intensity.

Rest! Rest in Him and in His infinite, complete, awesome love. Rejoice that your cup is empty, consumed in the greatest act of love the world will ever know.

This is part seventeen in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn what God has to say in this book about wisdom and discernment. Yesterday I learned about God's omnipotence - that He has full and complete control over this world and all that happens in it. I learned again the great value in having a humble, teachable spirit, for pride leads only to destruction. Finally, I learned the value of treasuring and honoring the elderly, appreciating them for their wisdom.

"The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts."

Silver and gold are of little value or beauty before they go through the process of refining. During this time they are heated to great temperatures so the valuable metals can melt away from the worthless rock. The metaphor of refining fire is used many times in the Bible to show to us that God uses tough times in life to refine our character. Though these times may be painful and devoid of joy, so often we can look back at them as the times when God shaped us more and more into His image. As one seeking wisdom, I need to look for God's work in the midst of times of sorrow.

"Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father."

Does not every elderly man want to have grandchildren? If this is true today, it was even truer in ancient Israel, for the Israelites were people of the covenant. God had promised to them that the blessings of the covenant would pass from generation to generation. The promises and blessings would be possessed by their children's children. What a blessing it was, then, for these people to live to see God's promises extend that far. And what a blessing grandchildren should be to us even today!

At the same time that we look to the future to see God's blessings continue to future generations, we ought to look back at our parents and see them as great blessings. As a child I remember sitting with my parents and learning from this very book (Proverbs). I remember them teaching me about God and about correct doctrine. My parents were the most influential teachers in my life and I rejoice that God saw fit to have me raised by such godly people.

"He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends."

It is far better to forgive and forget sin than to gossip about it. This proverb does not tell us to overlook sin as if it is not important, but it does say that we are not to dwell on it. When we have forgiven people who sin against us we need to forget their sin and not tell others about it. Similarly, if we see a person sinning we should correct them, and if they accept the correction, forget that it ever happened. To tell others about it is to sin along with the person.

"Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool."

As I have noted previously, the value of rebuke is an ongoing theme in Proverbs. This verse, rather than only repeating what has been said before, expands on the folly of foolishness. Wise people will turn from their sin when they are rebuked and this may help them stop sinning before they come to a point where their sin requires punishment. A foolish man, however, can be severely punished and still be no closer to understanding that he has been sinful. This stresses the importance of attempting to correct others before they have to face punishment for their sin. It also shows the value of accepting rebuke before I need to face punishment.

"The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts."

I have mentioned many times how much I enjoy the imagery used in Proverbs. In this verse the author compares the beginning of contention to releasing water. I am reminded of my youth when I used to play at the beach. As the tide came in we would build sand walls to try to hold back the water along a certain strip of the beach. We would build these walls up and make them as strong as we could and then wait for the water to rise. Soon the waves would begin to lap at the bottom of the wall and would start to pull away some of the sand at the base. We would try to fortify the wall but inevitably the water would rise and continue to beat against it until there was nothing left and all the sand was swept out to sea.

Contention is just like that water. What starts as just a gentle trickle soon becomes a pounding wave that will destroy anything in its path. Wisdom tells us to guard our tongues!

"He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."

In earlier chapters the author stressed the point that wisdom is sometimes best expressed through silence. In this verse we see again that a wise man knows when to speak and when it is better not to speak. When he keeps his emotions in check he is able to hold his speech and, when opportunity arises, to render wise judgment. Even a fool who realizes the value of holding his tongue may show some potential for wisdom, for he displays at least a degree of discernment.

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the seventeenth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• God uses the tough times in life to refine my character. During these times I need to watch for His work in my life.
• I need to forgive others for their sin and then refrain from gossiping about it.
• Strife is to be avoided at all costs, for it reaps destruction.
• I need to restrain my tongue and have a calm spirit, holding my peace during difficult times.

In the days leading up to the release of The Passion of the Christ we heard time and again how this movie was going to provide the best outreach opportunity in the past 2000 years. We heard church leaders telling Christians to support this movie to ensure that Gibson did not lose his $30 million investment. Thousands of churches bought blocks of tickets, hundreds or even thousands of them, and gave them away to their members and communities.

It has been three weeks since the movie released and I have seen little in the way of results. We know that Mel Gibson recovered his investment ten-fold as he is expected to personally pocket approximately $400 million from this movie. However, I have yet to see an article in the Christian press that tells a great success story of a church experiencing explosive growth or overwhelming interest in God based on this movie. I realize that three weeks is not an adequate measure of the results, but I would expect to see something by now. I have heard many Christians say how this movie has impacted them as individuals, but am just not seeing it having that effect with unbelievers.

Is there someone who can tell me about the results this movie has had in their church? Can someone point me in the direction of articles showing the positive effects this movie has had on unbelievers?

This is part sixteen in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of the study is to learn wisdom and discernment from this portion of God's Word. Yesterday I learned of God's omniscience, that He sees and knows everything, and I saw what a comfort this is to those who love Him. This passage also reinforced the value of having a humble spirit so I can learn to accept rebuke and correction from both men and God.

A predominant theme in the sixteenth chapter of Proverbs is God's omnipotence. Where in the previous chapter the author stressed the fact that God sees and knows everything, in this chapter he stresses the fact that God also controls everything. The first verse says "The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD." Though I may make preparations for the future and even diligently pray about it, ultimately it is God who is going to control what happens. Whatever He speaks is going to come to pass. This is reinforced in the ninth verse which reads "A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." The obvious application of this knowledge is to submit my life to God, giving Him control over it. I need to seek His will so I can prepare my way for His purposes.

The fourth verse continues this theme. "The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom." Though wicked men are ultimately responsible for their own sin and destruction, the fact remains that they are part of God's plans just as much as believers are. God will and must use them to accomplish His purposes since He has ultimate control over this world and everything in it.

The final verse in the chapter reads "The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD." As God has control over both believers and unbelievers, so He controls everything else. The lot, when used as God willed, was a means of obtaining an answer from Him and was not mere chance. This shows that God controls every aspect of His Creation. Everything must bow to His will.

"How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."

Another popular theme in Proverbs, this verse shows again that wisdom is to be valued above everything else. It does not downplay the importance of material possessions, but shows that they are to be obtained and understood only through wisdom. When I am wise I will be able to obtain money through honest means and use it wisely. I will realize that this money is a blessing from God and not merely a means to enjoy what the world has to offer.

"Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud."

One of the themes of the last chapter was the value of humility in a life of wisdom as it allows me to open my heart to reproof and correction. This chapter shows that there are grave consequences to forsaking humility, for pride and a haughty spirit will lead me to my destruction. If I will not humble myself to teaching and correction, I am guaranteed to follow my pride to my own death. It is far better to be humble and considered lowly in society than to be proud and considered great. A teachable spirit is far superior to any amount of wealth or social prestige, for it is a key to attaining wisdom.

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

Wisdom without application in a life is meaningless. The pursuit of wisdom should teach me to control my emotions, and most notably my temper. The author attaches great importance to being slow to anger for when I am in control of my spirit I will be able to calmly and rationally apply wisdom to whatever situation may arise. The alternative, of course, is to lose my temper and immediately lose the respect of those around me.

"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness."

Before my wife and I moved to Oakville we were members of a church that placed great value on the elderly in the congregation. They were regarded with respect and sources of godly wisdom. In a society where the elderly are continually mocked and made objects of derision, it was refreshing to see them valued. Their grey hair really was considered a mark of honor. Many times my wife and I, young and newly married, turned to them for guidance and advice. So often they were able to relate the godly wisdom that they had accumulated through their years. These elderly people remain an inspiration to me and will always allow me to appreciate the value of those who have far greater experience in life than I do. Rather than being a burden these people can and should be a wonderful blessing.

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the sixteenth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• God is omnipotent. He has full, unlimited control over this world and everything in it. How much better it is, then, to submit to His control rather than fight against it!
• Humility is of great value, for an inevitable result of pride is destruction. I need to have a teachable spirit so God can continue to instill wisdom in me.
• I need to apply wisdom to my life so I control my emotions.
• Honor the elderly! Wisdom contradicts what our society believes about the elderly. We need to treasure them and value their wisdom and experience.

This is part fifteen in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of the study is to learn wisdom and discernment from this portion of God's Word. Yesterday I learned the importance of heeding wisdom's call as soon as I hear it, for after a while she will forsake me forever. I also saw how contentment in my heart is important to every area of my life - my physical health, my spiritual health and to my character.

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good."

There is so much truth contained in this one small verse! This verse speaks of a doctrine we know as God's omniscience which says that God sees and knows everything. He knows everything about every person and every event that has occurred in the past or will occur in the future. He knows the possibilities arising from those events that will never take place as much as He knows the results that will, in fact, occur. He watches over the godly as much as the ungodly.

This serves as a great encouragement to believers, for we know that God is always watching over us. We know that nothing can happen outside of His control. We have assurance that nothing that happens to us will surprise God.

This knowledge must terrify the unbeliever who really understands it, for he must realize that God's eyes are continually upon him, seeing his sin and taking note of all he does. He will have to realize that he cannot hide himself and his unworthiness from the God who sees and knows everything about him.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness."

Only a true believer can offer God praise and worship that He loves and accepts. When an unbeliever, one with a wicked heart, seeks to bring honor to God, God sees this as an abomination for the wicked are themselves an abomination to God for they have continually rejected their Maker. It is for this reason that God is required to send them to hell. It is only when we have been reconciled to God that we can delight Him. When we have had our hearts transformed we can express our love to Him by bringing him praise. Though our praise is still flawed, God sees it as beautiful and delights in it.

"Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred."Joy is not found in possessions or material matters. It is better to have little and to be content than to have lots and have a troubled heart. It is better to be part of a family where the meals are small than to feast with a family filled with hatred. The quality of a family is determined not by wealth but by the relationships the family enjoys. I have seen many families that have so little money and so few possessions, yet have great joy and their families share a bond of deep love and affection. How much better this is than having all the world can offer but not loving one another!

"Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established."

A mark of wisdom is the understanding that we still have so much to learn. A wise man knows that his knowledge is limited and thus values correction and counsel. This proverb shows us that no one is capable of making all decisions himself, but should rely on wise counselors to help him. Where a man forsakes the counsel of his wise friends, he can expect his plans to awry. When he listens to his counselors and humbly acknowledges his own limitations, he can expect his plans to succeed.

"The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility."

Proverbs continually turns to the theme of accepting rebuke. Every chapter seems to contain a warning about the folly of hating correction. This chapter closes with several verses that speak to that theme.

In order to be considered wise, I need to open myself to rebuke. I need to settle in my heart that I am lacking in knowledge and that sin still dwells within me. My heart then needs to accept that I can and should consider the rebuke of those who love wisdom. Heeding this correction will allow me to increase in wisdom. If I turn my back on the knowledge that has been imparted to me through this rebuke, I prove my folly. When I hate the understanding that comes through correction I hate my own soul, for I send it towards destruction. Before I can become wise I need to become humble. Only with an attitude of humility can I learn wisdom and only through wisdom can I come to know the Lord.

Humility allows me to prepare myself to heed correction. Correction allows me to increase in instruction, which in turn allows me to grow closer to God.

Conclusions

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the fifteenth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• God is omniscient. He sees and knows everything. What a comfort this is as I can rest in the knowledge that nothing happens outside of God's knowledge.
• Only a believer can offer praise to God that He will accept and delight in.
• A wise man surrounds himself with counselors and heeds their wisdom.
• I need to be humble and allow myself to be rebuked by those who are wise. This rebuke will allow me to increase in wisdom and bring me closer to God.

This is part fourteen in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn what God has to say in this book about wisdom and discernment. Because today is Sunday, this will be an abbreviated look at a couple of key points from today's passage. Yesterday I learned that I need to labor diligently to obtain things I want rather than just waste time dreaming about them and that I need to set realistic and godly goals so my soul will be satisfied when I attain them. I also saw that s a father I need to discipline my children wisely and promptly as an act of love. Similarly I need to be prepared for God to discipline me in the same manner.

"A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands. Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, But the folly of fools is deceit."

This passage reinforces what I have already learned through earlier chapters. Each of us is faced with the decision to choose wisdom over foolishness. However, if we continually reject wisdom it seems that there is a point of no return after which wisdom will forsake us permanently. At this point a foolish man may seek out wisdom but it will be too late; he will be given over to his folly.

The last two chapters of Proverbs have stressed the importance of being careful to choose friends who are wise and love knowledge rather than foolish ones who despise wisdom. Verse 7 carries the same exhortation to leave foolish people to their folly as soon as I perceive that his lips speak no knowledge, for I am to "Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge."

The eighth verse explains the value of prudence. A prudent man is one who has shrewdness to live his life in a way that promotes life. He uses his knowledge to better understand how to live a life that is approved by God and glorifies Him. A foolish man, though, is deceitful as he leads himself and others away from living a God-glorifying life.

"The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps. A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident."

The study of wisdom allows me to understand discernment, which in turn allows me to exercise discretion. A foolish man has no basis to make sound judgments so believes everything he is told and is easily led astray. A prudent man makes good judgments about what he is told and considers his steps wisely. He can then discern evil and flee from it before blundering into it. A foolish man, though, is blinded by irrational self-confidence in his own abilities and is easily led into the way of evil.

"A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones"

Even thousands of years ago this writer knew that there is a link between mental and physical health. A heart that is continually dissatisfied will cause the entire body to lose health. However, a sound heart - one that is content with its lot in life - will cause physical as well as mental health.

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the fourteenth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• Wisdom will eventually forsake those who do not heed her call.
• Wisdom allows me to gain discernment. Discernment allows me to more fully discretion.
• Contentment in my heart is important to my whole life - my health and my character.

This is part thirteen in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn what God has to say in this book about wisdom and discernment. Yesterday I learned that I need to be willing to face correction and be willing to correct others. I also learned that I prove my character by how I treat God's creation, including animals. Finally, I need to choose my friends carefully, choosing people who are wise, for I will inevitably be influenced by people I spent time with.

"The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich."

Proverbs continually speaks of the value of being a diligent worker. This verse shows that a lazy man spends his time dreaming about what he would like to have rather than working hard to obtain it. A man who works hard will be rewarded by being able to attain the things he dreams of. God does not owe us me living; I am responsible to get it for myself. A similar verse is found at the end of the chapter. Verse 25 reads "The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want." The wise man will work hard and not only have food to eat, but have the satisfaction in his soul of having earned a living. The lazy man will not have satisfaction for his body or his soul.

"Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase."

I am to earn an honest living. To gather wealth through dishonest means is worse than being poor, for the poor can still be wise. To strive for dishonest gain is to turn my back on wisdom and I will suffer the consequences of living foolishly.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."

Setting unrealistic expectations will bring dissatisfaction. When I put my hope in attaining what is unattainable I can only bring disappointment and hopelessness upon myself. I should strive to set wise and realistic goals, knowing that when I attain my goal I will be satisfied. Good goals are those that are made within the guidelines of wisdom and godliness. Similar to this verse is verse 19 which reads "A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil." Again, accomplishing something that I desire will bring satisfaction to my soul. Foolish men, though, will not turn from their folly to pursue worthwhile goals, for wisdom is an abomination to them.

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed."

Reminiscent of yesterday's study, this verse speaks of the value of wise friends. If I walk with people who are wise I will become wise myself. If, on the other hand, I choose to spend time with the foolish, their folly will influence me. Evidently both wisdom and folly are contagious.

"He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly."

"Spare the rod, spoil the child" is the way this proverb is most often rendered in the English language. This proverb evidently speaks of discipline beyond only corporal punishment. What is surprising about it is the strength of the words Solomon uses. We might expect him to say "He who spares the rod from his son is foolish" but he uses much stronger language. He says that to fail in disciplining a child is to hate that child. Our society seems to have the opposite view, teaching that to punish a child is to hate him. The Bible, the source of God's wisdom, teaches otherwise. We are to express our love for our children even in discipline. Discipline is an act of love and concern, not of hatred. I am to discipline my child promptly, not allowing sins to pile up before in frustration I pour out days or weeks of anger upon my child.

Many times in this book the author has spoken of the value of correction and reproof. This verse shows that his concern is that I understand that correction and discipline are often necessary displays of God's love towards me. God desires that I live an ever-increasingly godly life and He may have to discipline me to mold me into His image. I have to see this as an act of love, not hatred.

The objective for this study is to learn godly wisdom and discernment. Based on the thirteenth chapter of Proverbs, here is what I have learned:

• Rather than dreaming about the things I would like to have, I need to labor diligently so I may earn them.
• God does not owe me a living. I am responsible to labor to earn one myself.
• I need to set wise, realistic and godly goals in life so that when I attain those goals my heart will be satisfied.
• As a father I need to discipline my children wisely and promptly as an act of love. Similarly I need to be prepared for God to discipline me in the same manner.