A friend recently asked me for my thoughts on spiritual gifts and particulary, on spiritual gift assessments. I had taken these assessments in the past and, though I found them interesting, found they had little impact on my life. I found that they just discovered the obvious (yes, I like to teach and no, I generally do not visit the elderly and widows). I had to admit, to my shame, that I had never taken time to study spiritual gifts and form a belief on what they are, how they are dispensed, and so on. In my defense, I had never even heard the term “spiritual gifts” until a couple of years ago because the Reformed churches I grew up in placed no emphasis on them.

As I began to research them I found one strange thing: it seems no one can agree about these gifts. It seems everyone has a different list of the gifts and even a different idea of how and when they are dispensed. One thing they all agree on is that these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to believers after they become Christians. Some argue the gifts are given immediately and others believe they are given at baptism. The Bible lists only a few gifts (see 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and 12:1-11) and some assessments list far more. The following is a typical list:

Administration: the gift that enables a believer to formulate, direct, and carry out plans necessary to fulfill a purpose. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Acts 14:23.

Artistry:  the gift that gives the believer the skill of creating artistic expressions that produce a spiritual response of strength and inspiration. Biblical References: Exodus 31:1-11, Psalm 149:3a.

Discernment:  the gift that motivates a believer to seek God’s will and purpose and apply that understanding to individual and congregational situations. Biblical References: John 16:6-15, Romans 9:1, I Corinthians 2:9-16.

Evangelism:  the gift that moves believers to reach nonbelievers in such a way that they are baptized and become active members of the Christian community. Biblical References: Matthew 28:16-20, Ephesians 4:11- 16, Acts 2:36-40.

Exhortation:  the gift that moves the believer to reach out with Christian love and presence to people in personal conflict of facing a spiritual void. Biblical References: John 14:1, II Timothy 1:16-18, III John 5-8.

Faith:  the gift that gives a believer the eyes to see the Spirit at work and the ability to trust the Spirit’s leading without indication of where it all might lead. Biblical References: Genesis 12:1-4a, Mark 5:25-34, I Thessalonians 1:8-10.

Giving: the gift that enables a believer to recognize God’s blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously and sacrificially giving of one’s resources (time, talent, and treasure). Biblical References: II Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 21:1-4.

Hospitality: the gift that causes a believer to joyfully welcome and receive guests and those in need of food and lodging. Biblical References: Romans 12:13, Romans 16:23a, Luke 10:38.

Intercession:  the gift that enables a believer to pray with the certainty that prayer is heard and when requests are made, answers will come. Biblical References: Matthew 6:6-15, Luke 11:1-10, Ephesians 6:18.

Knowledge: the gift that drives a person to learn, analyze and uncover new insights with regard to the Bible and faith. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:8; I Corinthians 14:6, Romans 12:2.

Leadership:  the gift that gives a believer the confidence to step forward, give direction and provide motivation to fulfill a dream or complete a task. Biblical References: Romans 12:8, John 21:15-17, II Timothy 4:1-5.

Mercy:  the gift that motivates a believer to feel deeply for those in physical, spiritual, or emotional need and then act to meet that need. Biblical References: Luke 7:12-15, Luke 10:30-37, Matthew 25:34-36. 

Music—Vocal:  the gift that gives a believer the capability and opportunity to present personal witness and inspiration to others through singing. Biblical References: Psalm 96:1-9, Psalm 100:1-2, Psalm 149:1-2.

Music—Instrumental:  the gift that inspires a believer to express personal faith and provide inspiration and comfort through the playing of a musical instrument. Biblical References: Psalm 33:1-5, Psalm 150, I Samuel 16:14-23.

Pastoring (Shepherding):   the gift that gives a believer the confidence, capability and compassion to provide spiritual leadership and direction for individuals or groups of believers. Biblical References: I Timothy 4:12-16, I Timothy 3:1-13, II Timothy 4:1-2.

Service (Helps):  the gift that enables a believer to work gladly behind the scenes in order that God’s work is fulfilled. Biblical References: Luke 23:50-54, Romans 16:1-16, Philippians 2:19-23.

Skilled Craft:   the gift that enables a believer to create, build, maintain or repair items used within the church. Biblical References: Exodus 30:1-6, Exodus 31:3-5, Ezekiel 27:4-11.

Teaching:   the gift that enables a believer to communicate a personal understanding of the Bible and faith in such a way that it becomes clear and understood by others. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Matthew 5:1-12, Acts 18:24-48.

Wisdom:   the gift that allows the believer to sort through opinions, facts and thoughts in order to determine what solution would be best for the individual believer or the community of believers. Biblical References: I Corinthians 2:6-13, James 3:13-18, II Chronicles 1:7-11.

Writing:   the gift that gives a believer the ability to express truth in a written form; a form that can edify, instruct and strengthen the community of believers. Biblical References: I John 2:1-6, 12-14, I Timothy 3:14-15,
Jude 3.

This list was taken from this assessment. I found it interesting that several of the gifts are only proof-texted by the Old Testament which was written before the Spirit was given to believers.

I took a couple of the surveys that are available online and found them quite similar to ones I have taken in the past. The general format is between 30 to 50 multiple choice questions, most of which can be answered on a scale of 1 to 4 (1 meaning the description does not fit me at all and 4 meaning it is exactly like me). For example, I took this test which tells me my primary spiritual gift is knowledge which it describes as follows:

The gift of knowledge allows people to automatically convert facts, data, and information into useful and important knowledge. People possessing this gift can learn in a variety of ways, retain what they learn, and understand how learning can be applied in meaningful and productive ways. Those gifted with knowledge have a voracious and insatiable desire to learn more, and they seek multiple avenues for deepening their understanding of God's world, God's will, and God's people.

[For an example of this gift in popular media] See the good, the bad, and the ugly side of knowledge in Matt Damon's character in the film Good Will Hunting.

Though I digress, I would like to point out an obvious conflict between gifts of the spirit and a movie like Good Will Hunting which, being full of swearing and sex, is hardly compatible with the Spirit.

A question I had to ask myself is this: Is there any Biblical model for searching for spiritual gifts? James Sundquist researched this and discovered the following:

I can’t find one single Scripture that says finding our gift was EVER a problem for the Church.

I can’t find one single Scripture that instructs us how to find our gift.

I can’t find any historical account that finding our gift was a problem for the Church.

I can’t find any historical account that finding our gift was a problem for Church Fathers.

Anything we do in Christ is not through our strengths, but is perfected in weakness.

I can’t find one single Scripture which uses a subjective balance of weighing our strengths and weaknesses to determine our Gift(s) of the Holy Spirit.

I can’t find one single Scripture that uses personality or personality theory to determine our course in Christ or in the Church.

I can’t find one single Scripture that instructs us to come up with a numerical value or rating system for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

He also found that the vast majority of spiritual surveys are drawn from the teachings of Carl Jung who was about as anti-Christian as a person can be. This in itself should be cause for concern. Combined with the lack of Biblical model, this should be sufficient to raise a warning flag.

In the end, though, I think my greatest worry is that these tests can be completed successfully by both believers and unbelievers. If a spiritual gift assessment is truly assessing gifts given by the Holy Spirit, someone who is not a Christian should necessarily achieve a score of 0. However, this is simply not the case. There may be questions related to spiritual matters that an unbeliever can not answer, but many of the questions are generic in nature. For example “I enjoy pitching in on service projects in the church” could be as easily answered by an unbeliever as a believer. The same holds true for “People seem to respect me and follow my lead.” We need to ask, then, if these tests are truly measuring spiritual gifts or if they are simply examining personality. Or perhaps we are only given spiritual gifts that compliment our personalities so personality and gifts are one in the same. That would be completely unsatisfying, because I believe God can work through gifts that may contradict our personalities. Think of Moses and how God used him despite his obvious shyness and lack of eloquence. Had God only used Moses’ existing talents and personality He would not have had much to work with!

Am I ready to write-off spiritual gift assessments as a waste of time? No, I think that would be a kneejerk reaction. I see little basis, though, to believe that these truly measure the gifts of the Spirit. I am sure these tests can be valuable in assessing my talents and personality traits and can cause people to look more thoroughly at where they should use their talents to honor God. But unless gifts and personality are one and the same, I do not understand how these tests measure spiritual gifts.

This is part twenty five in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn wisdom and discernment from God's Word. Yesterday I learned that wise people surround themselves with trusted, godly counselors and then heed the counsel of these people during tough times. I also saw that I am to show equal love to both friends and enemies and never rejoice in anyone's trouble.

Chapter twenty five is prefaced with the words "These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied." Hezekiah was a godly king who lived long after Solomon. During his reign there was a return to the Law of Moses and it seems that there was also a return to emphasis on wisdom. The proverbs were copied, either from existing documents or from oral tradition, so they could be widely distributed.

Verses 6 to 7 read "Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen." The meaning of these verses is clear and speaks of a continual theme in Proverbs. I am to be humble, lest I bring myself to shame. If I artificially assume a position of great honor but am not worthy of that position, I will have to suffer the humiliation of being rebuked and brought down to my rightful place. However, if I act with humility and place myself in a fitting position, I may receive a promotion to a greater place. It is far better to be exalted than demoted.

"Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined." I am almost ashamed to admit it, but I enjoy those "real-life court shows" such as Judge Judy. I am continually amazed at the cases that get brought before the courts and I'm sure this goes a long way to explaining why the judges are always so grouchy. I cannot imagine going to court over a small, almost insignificant debt that a member of my family owes me, yet people continue to present their cases before these judges who then draw out the shameful stories that led to a the injury or accident for which plaintiff now wants restitution. As this proverb says, their secrets are disclosed to the masses, families are torn apart, and their shame is exposed, all for the sake of a few hundred dollars. How much better it is to settle things quietly with wisdom and humility!

Verse 14 speaks of the importance of following through with promises. "Whoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and wind without rain." This verse made me think of a time when my father was without work and a friend stepped forward and offered him a job. When my father showed up at the man's business he explained that he no longer had any work for him. Just as clouds that bring rain to water the ground and bring relief from heat provide promise, yet often blow right on by, so this man's job offer just left my father disappointed and disheartened. Humans love to boast about what they can and might do, but to boast about giving without actually committing to giving is folly.

"Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you." Though different proverbs, these two follow the same theme: know your limits. Know when to stop. Even something as good as honey can be nauseating when eaten in large quantities. Having friendly relationships with neighbours is wonderful, but continually abusing their hospitality will make them turn on me. A wise person will be able to avoid excess.

Some people always know what to do and say in difficult times while others do not seem to have this ability. I believe I fall squarely into the latter category. Verse 20 speaks about this. "Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart." Making light of someone else's pain is often an embarrassed reaction people make when they do not know how to react in times of trouble. Yet this passage shows that to do that is like taking away someone's garment when it is cold. It is like mixing soda and vinegar (which does two things - it makes a neat chemical reaction that fizzes up for a few moments, but it also renders the soda and vinegar useless). As one seeking to be wise, I need to be careful in times of sorrow, remembering that it is better to say nothing at all and have people believe I'm a fool than to open my mouth and prove it.

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

• It is better to start humble and be exalted than to start proud and be brought to shame.
• It is better to settle disputes quietly than to take matters to court where they will become public knowledge.
• Moderation is a fruit of wisdom. I need to know when to stop.
• Thoughtlessly expressing joy during times of sorrow is foolish and only serves to hurt the sorrowful.

This is part twenty four in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn wisdom and discernment from God's Word. Yesterday I learned that riches are fleeting, so to work myself to exhaustion in order to acquire them is foolish. I also learned that sin is addictive and though initially it provides joy, it always ends up bringing sorrowful consequences. I should avoid sin, trusting that with God's power I can overcome it.

Verses 5 and 6 raise a theme that we have seen before in Proverbs. "A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety." Several times the author has stressed the value of heeding the wise counsel of friends or advisors. As I read this today I was reminded of a story Bill Perkins relates in his book "Six Battles Every Man Must Win." He says that when he speaks at men's conferences he always calls the four biggest men in the audience up to the stage. He'll walk up to these huge men one-by-one and give them a soft shove on the chest. Each one of them will stumble backwards, for it takes only a small push on the chest to knock a man off-balance. But then he will instruct the men to form a circle and link arms. When they do this he can push them as hard as he wants and they will not budge. There is strength in numbers and security in "linking arms." I need to surround myself with trusted, wise people with whom I can link arms, trusting them to support me when I need their counsel.

Verse 7 reads "Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate." A foolish man is out of his league when around wise men. When wise men gather (as they used to gather at the city gate) the foolish man will have nothing to offer, for anything he says will only prove his folly. Evidently the opposite must be a true - a wise man will be trusted for his wise counsel.

"He who plots to do evil will be called a schemer. The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men." When I read these verses I thought of a friend of mine, who derived great pleasure from "plotting evil." Though he never intended to carry out any of his schemes, he used to enjoy figuring out how he could rob casinos without getting caught or how he could avoid having to pay taxes. One day he realized that all of his plotting was just giving his mind over to evil thoughts and he made a conscious effort to avoid thinking about such things. I did not really think much about it, but after reading these verses I can see that he showed wisdom in doing so. This passage also made me ponder television and movies. If I am not to ponder evil schemes, why should I watch them unfold on the screen?

God tests our faith through times of adversity. After reading the tenth verse, it seems wisdom is also proven during times of trial. "If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small." Though I may display wisdom during times of "smooth-sailing" it is when facing difficulty that I will really see whether I not only have wisdom but can apply it as well.

Verses 11 and 12 say "Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?" These verses seem to say that God regards helping other people as one of my foremost responsibilities. He places such emphasis on this that even ignorance on my part is not a valid excuse. I may say "surely I did not know this" but God may still hold me responsible. Now evidently God will not punish me for not helping in matters I could not possibly know about, but the point is clear - I need to not just wait for opportunities to serve others, but actively seek them out. This clearly foreshadows Jesus' teaching that I am to love my neighbor as myself.

I will close with verses 17 and 18. They read "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him." Though my natural reaction is to rejoice at the afflictions of my enemy, God tells me not to do this. If I truly am to love others as myself then I should never derive pleasure from another man's pain. I can never entirely remove compassion from him. God looks at this with such disfavor that it may cause Him to turn from punishing my enemy and instead chasten me. Truly God's standards are so different from our flawed, human standards! When I read this passage I am reminded of Jesus' words. As His was nailed to the cross He asked for His Father to forgive those who were causing Him such pain. What an example of the way we ought to treat our enemies!

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

• If I am to be wise I need to surround myself with other wise people who can provide me with godly counsel.
• Just as I should not commit evil acts, so I should not waste my time pondering evils acts, even if I have no intention of carrying them out.
• I am to exhibit love and concern for all men and actively seek out those I can help. I am to show concern for my enemy as much as my friend.

This is part twenty three in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn wisdom and discernment from God's Word. Yesterday I learned that God makes no partiality based on wealth - all men are equal in His eyes and will be judged by the same standards, regardless of their riches in this world. I also saw that if I train my children in the way of wisdom, they will learn to love it and not turn from it when they grow older.

"Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven." This passage shows the folly of working myself to death for the sake of wealth. If I am wise I will realize that riches are only fleeting and seem to have a way of disappearing. To work myself to the point of exhaustion or illness simply to acquire wealth is a ridiculous waste. As I have noted several times in previous chapters, this passage passes no judgment on wealth, except to say that it is not work overworking for.

Many times through this book I have seen that fools are foolish by their own choice. Verse 9 speaks to this saying "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words." Foolish men hate wisdom, so when they hear it they will turn against the one who speaks it. It is better to share wisdom with those who are seeking to be wise than those who are content with their folly.

There are several verses in this chapter that speak of a parent's pride in having a child who proceeds down the path of wisdom. Verses 15 to 16 read "My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; Yes, my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak right things." As a parent, I know that my heart will rejoice when I see my children choosing wisdom over folly. I know there will be many times in life where they will forsake wisdom and choose evil, but I trust that generally they will proceed in the way of wisdom. When I hear wisdom from their lips I trust that "my inmost being will rejoice." Verses 24 and 25 continue "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice." When my children were born I was as proud as any father could be, rejoicing in the wonderful gift God had seen fit to grant myself and my wife. I trust that as they grow older I will be able to rejoice in their wisdom when they make right choices as much as I did in their birth. I know I will weep with joy when they show their intention to follow the One who gave them life.

What a challenge this is to raise children that love wisdom! If I raise my children poorly and send them down folly's path, I will be laying up sorrows for myself. Rather, I need to teach them wisdom so they can bless, encourage and cheer me throughout their lives.

The overwhelming theme of chapter 23 is drunkenness. The final seven verses contain an extended instruction regarding the love of drink. The author begins by showing some of the effects of alcoholism: "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?" Certainly these are the foremost results of living a life of drunkenness. The author answers his own questions by stating that these symptoms afflict "Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine." Though alcohol may taste wonderful and provide momentary pleasure, overconsumption causes it to bite like a serpent and sting like a viper. After several verses describing what it is like to be drunk, the passage closes with these words: "When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?" The irony of alcoholism is that despite the terrible consequences - sorrow, woe, contention, complaints, and physical ailments - the drunkard continues to desire drink. The moment he awakes he desires it anew.

That is quite a description of sin in general, for every sin follows a similar pattern. All of us are afflicted by various types of sin and all sin has consequences. The consequences may be greater or smaller than those for alcoholism, but no sin is free from some type of result. At the very least, every sin causes us to scorn our God and pulls us away from Him. Yet we continue to return to our sinful behavior (as the Bible says, like a dog returns to its vomit). May we have the wisdom to desire correction, the discernment to see where sin is in our lives, and the faith to trust that with God's help we can overcome our sin!

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

• Riches are only fleeting. To work myself to exhaustion simply to gain wealth is a waste of my time and effort.
• I need to raise my children to be wise so I can look forward to rejoicing in their wisdom later in life.
• Sin, despite the terrible consequences, is addictive. Sin becomes something I will love for a while, and then hate; but I will continue to turn back to it. I know that with God's help I can break free from my sin!

This is part twenty two in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn wisdom and discernment from God's Word. Yesterday I learned that God is in complete control - Every person, whether great or small, believing or unbelieving, must do God's will, whether he realizes he is doing it or not. I also saw that the path to destruction begins with greedily desiring things but not having the motivation to acquire them. I need to set my sites on godly goals and do all I can to reach them.

The chapter opens with the following statement: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold." A good reputation in society is a natural consequence of living a life of wisdom. This is far more important than gaining a reputation based on my wealth. While wealth itself is not wrong, I should not be drawn to it above wisdom.

The seventh verse contains a statement with no moral judgment attached, something we have seen several times in Proverbs. It reads "The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender." The author merely states an observation about this world - the rich generally rule over the poor. Wealth most often serves as the basis for power. Verse two, though, provides an important perspective. "The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all." Despite the inequality in their social status, God created everyone as equals. They will both stand before Him for judgment for the same reason and will be judged on the same basis. Though wealth may determine one's standing in this world, God will determine standing for eternity.

As verses 2 and 7 follow a theme, so do verses 6 and 15. "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." The author has continually emphasized the importance of raising a child in the ways of wisdom. The Hebrew expression translated "in the way he should go" means "setting a child along the path" or words similar to that. The point is that if I set my child walking along the path of wisdom, he will continue in it until he is old enough to understand himself. The fifteenth verse provides insight on how to train a child. "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him." The rod of correction does not apply only to corporal discipline but indicates a range of disciplinary techniques. Discipline is an important aspect of wisdom, for if I take the time to consistently and lovingly discipline my child, I will be setting his feet on the way to wisdom.

"The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!”" This verse provides a humorous statement on lazy people. Willing to do anything to keep himself from having to work, the lazy man will come up with any excuse, however absurd. In this proverb he insists there is a lion in the street and leaving the house would lead to his death.

Since chapter 10 the proverbs have followed a similar structure. Most have been two lines and often the second line contrasts the first, most often using the word "but." Suddenly, halfway through this chapter, this changes. We are introduced to the "sayings of the wise" which will fill the next three chapters. There is evidence to suggest that these instructions are based on Egyptian wisdom literature, particularly the teachings of Amenemope. Though this may seem strange, we know that wisdom flows from God, so He can use this material that already existed to teach us His wisdom. The instructions are most often in the form of several verses which hold to a certain theme.

Verses 17 through 21 provide an introduction to this section. It exhorts me as the reader to listen to the words of the wise and not just that, but to apply this wisdom to my heart as well. Benefits to doing this are many: It is pleasant, it will help me trust in the Lord, I will know what is true and will be able to answer intelligently to other's questions.

"Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul." This passage teaches that I should avoid making friends with people who are foolish, especially those who express their foolishness in constant anger and strife. If I admire him and spend too much time with him, I will begin to learn his ways and thus set a trap for my own soul. I will lead myself to my own destruction by assuming his behavior.

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

• Though people with wealth tend to be powerful in this world, God judges all men by the same standards. There is no partiality with Him.
• If I train my children in wisdom's ways, loving and consistently disciplining them while teaching them God's wisdom, they will continue to follow Him as they grow older.
• I am to choose friends carefully, paying special attention to avoiding those who are continually angry and filled with strife.

This is part twenty one in my 31-day study through the book of Proverbs. The purpose of this study is to learn wisdom and discernment from God's Word. Yesterday I learned that though any fool can begin an argument it takes a wise man to know when and how to apologize and cease fighting. I also learned that discipline, though it may be painful, should serve to force me to examine my life and see where I am not following God's will.

Today, since it is Sunday, I will take only an abbreviated look at chapter 21.

The chapter begins with an expression of the Lord's omnipotence. "The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." Everyone is under God's control, even kings and rulers who may not acknowledge Him. God's sovereignty extends to all people of all times and they must do his bidding whether they realize it or not. At the same time we know that God will not force anyone into doing wrong since we are wholly responsible for our own sin. So though God may use our evil for His purposes, it does not excuse our sin. We are still responsible for carefully discerning right from wrong.

The next verse is similar to one found in chapter 16. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts." I can attempt to justify my behavior before God, but ultimately He is the judge of what is right and wrong. It is easy to make myself believe that my behavior is morally correct, but God, who sees and knows everything, may disagree. I ought to be thankful to God that He has given His Word which instructs me in His ways. Through the Bible I have all the knowledge I need to be able to discern right from wrong and can rest assured that if my behavior is consistent with the Bible, the Lord will weigh my heart and see my obedience.

"The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare." I found this passage very intriguing. The author attributes wrong desires for killing a lazy man rather than his refusal to labor. Obviously the refusal to work stems from wrong desires, for the lazy man spends all his time dreaming about what he would like to have rather than laboring diligently to acquire it. An obvious application is that I need to set my desires on things that are attainable and please God and then go out and do it. Dreaming about what I would like to accomplish cannot make anything happen! The second part of the verse states that while this lazy mans spends his time in greedily desiring what he cannot have, the righteous man, having labored and acquired, is able to generously share his wealth.

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

• Every person, whether great or small, believing or unbelieving, must do God's will, whether he realizes it or not.
• I may attempt to excuse my behavior, but God is the ultimate judge of wrong from right.
• The path to destruction begins with greedily desiring things but not having the motivation to acquire them. I need to set my sites on godly goals and do all I can to reach them.

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.