Wisdom comes...

My son, eat honey; it is good. Honey straight from the honeycomb is the sweetest. In the same way, know that wisdom is good for you. Wisdom will give you something to hope for that will not disappoint you. (Proverbs 24:13-14)

We can turn to the internet for some "wisdom" - such as when we need help with learning a new language. We can turn to the books we have lining walls in our libraries - all divided by subject and author. We can even turn to each other - learning a great deal from what another may have learned over the years. In all these cases, we have amassed "knowledge", but maybe not wisdom. Wisdom isn't just "learned stuff" - it is "applied stuff" - going on to better our lives. Now, if I learned that foreign language to help another gain insight into the truth of the gospel message, the language would help me to "distribute" the wisdom I had attained by means of study of the Word of God, but it still would not be wisdom. I may have exercised wisdom in learning a different language as I came to realize I could not reach the other person until I could speak their tongue, but learning the language was not "getting wisdom". We get knowledge and wisdom mixed up, so it may not surprise us that our pursuit of each is a little mixed up, as well.

As a kid,  you are kind of naive and find stuff you don't know to be potential "hazards" to your well-being as kind of interesting or intriguing. I know a lot of stuff, as do you. What we put into practice most in our lives is something we might label "practical wisdom". It is the taking of things learned and making them "practical" by doing them over and over again until the knowledge becomes second nature to us. For example, we might learn that a steak cooked in too hot of a frying pan will sear nicely on the outside, but the inside of the steak will remain uncooked and almost too raw to eat. If we want both the "searing" effect of heat and the "cooking effect" of heat, we must vary what we do with the heat we place under the pan. We learn that by making a few mistakes - like overcooked meat one time, under-cooked another, and maybe one "just right" the next. Eventually, we develop a reasonably easy process of cooking our meat which we can replicate from one time to the next.

Wisdom which is practical in nature is usually the "regular" stuff we use everyday. Maybe we learn to not follow so close to vehicles when we have our first "rear-end collision", or we learn to bring laundry in off the line when we see storm clouds forming. We are certainly exercising good judgment with both - practical wisdom being highly linked to using good or "best" judgment in our decision-making. "Spiritually-based" wisdom is that which is learned by the application of God's truth in our lives. It isn't so much learned by trial and error, like cooking the steak to perfection. It is learned by obedience - choosing to do something not because we feel like it, but because we know it is the right thing to do. Knowing is the knowledge part - obedience is the wisdom part. Most of us would probably not equate wisdom with obedience, but if we really consider this carefully, obedience is applying truth even when we don't feel like it.

We can desire good things in this life, butbedesiring something less than what God knows to bebestfor us. We can desire even better things, like the "sweetness" of God's truth straight from him because we have spent time with him. Wisdom comes in choosing the latter. Just sayin!

Don't act foolishly

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

How can we 'be careful' in our living? The most important thing is to not live like the fools do. What exactly makes for 'foolish behavior'? Any behavior that reveals a total lack of sense, especially when we compare that behavior and its outcome with the scripture. Perhaps this is why God reminds us to put some thought into our behavior. We need to consider our actions - ill-considered actions usually result in poorer results. What we use to 'consider' our actions is important, though. We need the wisdom that comes from the scriptures and the guidance of God's Spirit within us - without that we are flying solo!

To understand what God wants us to do, there are some key things we must incorporate in our daily living:

1. Pray about it - don't just launch it out there and ask God to bless it, then walk away. We need to take time to consider the wisdom of the actions we are about to take and the words we are about to speak. As we pray, we need to listen. The conversation is two-way. When we cut God off, we are living like the fool.

2. Explore what the Word of God has to say - learn from the examples given to us. It is not wise to repeat mistakes others have already made! We can see so many lessons from the life stories that have been recorded for us in scripture. We need to take in God's Word, letting it roll around in our brains a while until it actually begins to assure us of the right actions to take. 

3. Use wise counsel - this is why we need close friends who are also listening intently to the voice of God. We probably don't want to take the counsel of others who are not following Christ because their wisdom is not put through the test of God's Word. We need to be cautious about the voices we listen to for our 'advice' in life - the wrong advice can have us spiraling out of control pretty quickly.

Last, but not least, we need to be sure we remain current with God. That means we need to recognize when we haven't made right choices, repent, and get back on the right track as quickly as possible. The fool will overlook the importance of allowing God to convict him. The power of conviction is often what gets us to consider our course, make the necessary corrections, and get going in the right direction once again. Just sayin! 

Divided Loyalty?

And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (I Peter 5:5-6)

Elder or younger - all relate to one another in humility - this is God's plan. Pride gets the dander up quicker than anything else and it disrupts any movement toward unity or peace faster than a speeding train. Elder isn't to "lord it over", nor is younger to challenge the authority set over them. If we'd just get this right, maybe we'd stand half a chance at changing the course of this world!

When our 'loyalty' is divided between God and this world, chaos is sure to ensue. Look at what James tells us, "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." (James 4:8) We can be caught up in this world's attractions, but they only serve to pull us away from God and each other. 

Where to humble people reside? Under the might power of the God who indwells their spirit. How do we realize this type of 'closeness' to God? We spend time with him - giving him priority in our lives. This might be why Peter reminds us that when we correctly submit to the authority placed over our lives, there seems to be a peace that permeates our gatherings. Choose to live outside of that authority and the disorder this brings is palpable.

Could it be that the disorder we feel at times in our lives is an indicator there is something wrong with where we have placed ourselves? Perhaps we are submitting to an authority who has no right to 'rule' - ourselves. We follow our own lusts and desires, then wonder why our world seems to be a little more chaotic than usual. Repent of that misplaced loyalty and we find order returns. No matter what we believe about our ability to 'live right', apart from God, we only make 'half-wise' decisions.

Worries and cares go hand-in-hand with living outside of the authority of God in our lives. When we correctly align our heart, soul, and mind with his authority, the cares we used to carry all on our own are born by him. We find our load gets a little lighter and our way a little clearer. The wise are never afraid to admit they need a leader - the proud resist every attempt to 'align' their lives under any authority other than they own. Just sayin!

Life Hack #23: Fool Me Not

Life Hack #23:

Wise conversation is way over the head of fools; in a serious discussion they haven’t a clue. (Proverbs 24:7)

In times gone by, men would gather at the gates of the city and engage in serious conversation. It was a meeting of the educated minds. Issues were settled there, and wisdom was passed down. The leaders of the city would settle disputes, pass judgments on behalf of a wronged party, and just give insight into life decisions. It was a place where "wisdom" was spoken. A fool was not to be the one engaged in the conversations of giving advice or passing on a judgment for the wronged party. Why? They were clueless as the intent of the heart, and this rendered them "useless" in making such decisions. They were to remain silent - for their "advice" would only muddle the matter. I wonder how much "foolish" conversation goes on in places of decision-making these days - especially since we don't have the "gates of the city" where wise leaders gather to hear the problems of the people?

Why is wise conversation over the heads of the fools? A fool thinks he knows truth - believing almost anything he hears and sees without really testing it to be sure it is the truth. Imagine two mothers bringing one small infant to the gates with a fool sitting in the place of making the decision of who the real mother might be. He might believe the one who is crying the hardest, making the most impassioned plea, or even caressing the small life with tender hands is the "real" mother. He judges by what he sees and hears, not by what wisdom would know. A wise person would know the true mother would rather see her child live in the hands of someone else than to have the life of the child taken all together. The true mother would not allow the child to die and would give over the child to the other woman. In turn, the heart of the true mother would be revealed. Wisdom goes beyond seeing and hearing, to examining the heart. How well does the fool examine the heart? Not so well, I am afraid!

A fool is unwilling to take the time to really listen. A fool already has an answer forming in his own head before the one speaking has a chance to finish, often missing some of the very detail which is necessary to really render any kind of a reliable or sensible decision. The fool thinks he knows the answer - often based on some previous experience, what he has been told, read somewhere. It may not be tested and true, but he believes it to be what is needed. He formulates this answer in his mind and believes he knows the solution, even without hearing the entire argument or heartfelt plea of another. In not listening, necessary details are missed. In being so determined to already know the answer, he shuts down conversation. In getting the cart before the horse, there will be a miserable journey indeed!

The wise will learn not to rely upon the foolish for their wisdom, but rather will take the time and effort to seek wise counsel. The conversation of the fool is his undoing - it reveals the truth about the lack of depth of his heart and his unwillingness to learn. The wise will not engage a fool in decision-making because they know decision based solely on what one believes because of past experience or simply because someone else did something a certain way is not the most reliable source to determine future action. Experience plays a big part in our decision-making process, doesn't it? To rely solely upon experience is dangerous - for not all experience validates truth. When engaging in conversation about important life decisions, go to the wise. Their source of wisdom comes from a deep well - not from the misplaced hopes and imaginations of the mind of a fool! Just sayin!

Wisdom Encouraged

But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living. (James 3:17-18)

I daresay we all want to act wisely, but as much as we 'want' it, we fail to always exercise the greatest of wisdom in some of our choices. How can we 'want' something so badly and still miss out on it so frequently? I don't think it is by accident because we don't always remember the 'rules of wisdom': 1) If it is wise, it will be pure; 2) If it is wise, it will be done with a peace of mind and heart; 3) If it is wise, there will be a gentleness to the action; and 4) If it is wisdom, it may not seem to be the easiest course up front, but it will definitely be the easiest on the back-end!

We are surrounded by all manner of impure options, thoughts, and examples. We need to learn to recognize the pure from the impure. There is so much presented to us with just a 'margin' of impurity that we easily embrace the whole as 'pure'. How can we develop an awareness of the 'pure'? It comes as we spend time getting to know God's Word, listening to his voice in the form of what some might call an 'unction' (a fancy word for having the impression something is right for us to pursue), and being aware of the little 'checks' that can occur when we are about to pursue something that isn't wise.

Can we use peace as a means of evaluating a 'wise' versus 'unwise' action? It is possible to use this as one of the 'tests' to evaluate our actions but remember that relying solely upon 'feelings' can be a little untrustworthy. We can think we have 'peace' about a matter but miss hearing God's voice on the matter because we are driven by our desire more than submitting that desire to his guidance. Peace about something rarely stands alone - we need to evaluate the intended action against what we know to be true of God's character, what is declared in his Word, and the 'checks & balances' we receive from the Holy Spirit within.

If we review our passage again, there is other 'evidence' of wise actions - such as the action being fair and honest. In other words, we don't seek to take the action because it will benefit us alone. We keep the needs of others in mind, as well. If we are constantly evaluating our actions through the eyes of the Spirit who resides within, we will be less likely to take actions that further impurity's inroad in society. We will be concerned not only about our welfare, but that of those around us, as well. We will be engaged in actions that produce a good crop - one that is able to reproduce wise actions in those around us. Just sayin!

Cogitate on This

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely. They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper. But for sinners, what a different story! They blow away like chaff before the wind. They are not safe on Judgment Day; they shall not stand among the godly. For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom. (Psalm 1)

God charts the road we take - are we staying on course with that charted path? Don't really know how to answer that question? Those who aren't quick to just accept whatever 'plan' or 'scheme' a man might set out before them - these are the ones who are staying the course. Those who keep company with upright and godly people who serve to spur them on in their walk - they are on course. Those who are eager in their obedience to the things of God - steady and sure. Those who listen intently and seek to learn all that God teaches - on course. How are you stacking up? On course?

Those who allow God to chart their course find themselves in a place of safety and continual renewal. While we are never without problems in this world, we can know this place of protection and 'refilling' by remaining on course with him. We might think this 'day and night meditating' thing is like some type of 'mystical trance' we must maintain, but it is merely calling him to mind as we go throughout our day - paying close attention the tiny nudges his Spirit brings - openly acknowledging we don't know what to do when we don't rather than just plotting on ahead in the darkness. Meditating is really 'ruminating' - a big word that describes the process of pondering.

Anyone who knows me will admit I am one who 'ponders'. I don't act quickly, unless life or limb is in danger. I research, ruminate a bit, research some more, ponder the things I have learned, and eventually make a move in the direction I want to go. It is a process of 'cogitation' I go through. As a matter of fact, I sometimes tell them I am going to have to 'cogitate' on it a bit - I am just admitting I need to ponder! I am going through the process of deliberating and reflecting - eventually I will have weighed the details and options before me - then I act. This isn't dragging my feet - it is me trying to be deliberate about the things I think God wants me to do, be engaged in, or leave behind.

How about you? Are you a 'cogitator' like me? Do you spend time ruminating over what God brings in your times of study with him until you see how the truth begins to affect your life? Do you find yourself seeking 'roots' instead of 'quick growth'? If this describes you - you are definitely on course! So keep going! You aren't dragging your feet - you are learning to live obediently and this may actually take some 'pondering'! Just sayin...

I pray this for you

And this is my prayer: I pray that your love will grow more and more. I pray that you will have better understanding and be wise in all things. I pray that you will know what is the very best. I pray that you will be true and without blame until the day Christ comes again. (Philippians 1:9-10)

I pray that your love will grow - we all need our love to grow just a little bit each day, don't we? How awesome would it be to know someone in your life was praying for your love to grow today? Well, consider this a little prayer from me to you - may your love grow! What does 'growing' love look like? I think it might take on the form of not always talking, but realizing you might just need to listen a little bit more. It could even mean you shut off the TV and just observe the environment around you, who is filling it, and what they are filling it with at this very moment. It could also look like that moment when you just realize someone needs a touch, a hug, or a kind smile to bolster their weariness over life's challenges. May your love grow in little ways today. Your love doesn't have to grow by leaps and bounds - it is the little things that mount up to bigger things!

I pray that you will have better understanding and be wise in all things - if you are like me, you can get confounded by things that come your way and almost come to a stand-still because you don't know what to do next. Over the past couple of years, my work with taking care of mom in her last days, while working full-time meant I left some of the household maintenance undone. The exterior needed painting and I couldn't do it myself. I found some painters and now it is done. The master bathroom was in desperate need of updating, fixtures and plumbing valves needed replacing, and the shower stall had to be torn out. That task seemed daunting to me - finding a contractor, getting all the materials, and then going through the demo and remodel work. It is now done and what a joy it is to have it all finished. These don't seem to be very 'spiritual' things, do they? Yet, their sheer magnitude was weighing on my mind, taxing my soul with unwanted burden. To finally take the steps to get this all done is hard, but God granted the wisdom, brought the understand on what needed to be done, helped me find the contractors, and even got me some good bargains to boot! I pray for God to bring you better understanding and wisdom in those areas of your life where things are 'weighing' upon you - removing those barriers and helping you to take steps forward that need to be taken in your life.

I pray that you will know what is the very best - not just the 'almost the best' in your life, but the VERY BEST. I think we settle for a lot that isn't the very best for us - just because we don't think we will ever find 'better'. I have two grandsons. Do I want them to find just 'any old wife' because 'any old wife' will do? Absolutely not! I want them to find the VERY BEST in life - not just in their choice of wife if they choose to marry, but in their choice of career, friendships, hobbies, etc. I am not the only grandmother who feels that way, I am sure. We grandparents are quiet protective of our offspring's offspring, aren't we? It is easy to pray for the 'very best' in another's life, but what about our own? Do we find ourselves settling for 'second best' or 'almost the best'? If so, I am praying we will break out of that mindset and begin to pursue the things God has provided as the 'VERY BEST' for us!

I pray that you will be true and without blame - a pretty strong prayer, huh? True - meaning that there won't be much need for adjustment in life - because we are pretty 'true' or 'level' in our thinking, actions, and attitudes. Without blame - because life will throw all kinds of things at us, trying to make the 'blame' stick on us. Others will want to find fault with our life decisions - even when they aren't all that perfect, it isn't their role in our lives to 'find fault'. If God points out an area where we are not 'true' or 'level', that is one thing. It isn't up to any of us to 'find fault' with the 'levelness' of another's life. We can pray for them, be good examples in their lives, and even offer them advice when it is sought. It isn't our job to constantly be getting out the 'level' to see if they are 'true'! Just sayin!

Time for a reset

Can you say you exercise 'good sense' the majority of the time? I know I can have moments of nonsense in my life - those times when the decisions or actions just did not make total sense. In fact, they kind of bordered on the ridiculous on occasion! The majority of the time, I exercise good sense by listening to wise counsel, heeding scriptures warnings, and not doing whatever my conscience says I should not do. These three don't always keep me out of trouble, but they go a long, long way toward helping me avoid those 'nonsense activities' that would only bring more trouble into my life.

Good sense brings blessing, but the road of the treacherous is long and rough. A clever person acquires knowledge and then acts on it; but a fool advertises his folly for all to see. (Proverbs 13:15-16)

Think of a clever person as one who is quick in their intellect, mentally bright, and quite able to handle issues as they arise. If that isn't how you'd describe yourself today, then you probably aren't alone in the mix because others will say they are a little 'dull' in their intellect, not always mentally bright, and are often unable to deal with things that come their way. Does that make any of us less likely to receive God's blessings in our lives, though? No, it just make us human!

There is a difference between being clever, or a person of good sense, from being treacherous and foolish. The treacherous is ready to betray trust at almost every drop of the hat. They aren't very faithful in their commitment to anything other than what may benefit them at the moment. The foolish things that emerge in the activities of one given to living a treacherous life are really what sets them apart. Their actions are marked with deception - so much so that there is really nothing reliable in them. 

This is why their road is long and hard. Their choices aren't reliable - their commitments are absently promised - their words are meaningless. The actions God desires are those that stem from acquiring knowledge that actually helps to bring foundation into our lives. If we haven't allowed that foundation to be built, we will be all over the board. If we want to enjoy the blessings of God in our lives, it begins by submitting to the process of learning. Scripture isn't just given to look at from time to time - it is meant to be 'grafted into' our lives much like a sprig from a tree may be grafted into the life-giving trunk of another.

I opened with the thought of three things that can help us to exercise good sense - wise counsel, scripture, and our own God-given conscience. If you won't listen to good counsel, and you don't always think about scripture when you are about to act, you can at least fall back on your conscience! When all three align, you are much better off. When two align, you are closer than you'd be with only relying upon one. We really need all three together. So, if you aren't in a place where you are regularly taking in the Word of God - get there. If you don't feel like you have those who give wise counsel in your lives - ask God to bring them into your life. If you have been a little too 'lax' in listening to the nigglings of your own conscience - perhaps it is time for a complete 'reset'! Just sayin!

Oh, so it is wisdom we need!

Teach, counsel, and instruct - these all seem like very similar words, don't they? Yet, scripture calls them out as 'uniquely different'. One thing remains consistent between all three, though, and that is the use of 'wisdom' as the governing agent over all three! Whether teaching or instructing - it is to be done with wisdom. When giving counsel, it is to be governed with the wisdom that comes from God richly inhabiting our lives. Ever try to give counsel that you didn't first check with God about when giving it? I have and let me just tell you that it didn't always work out as well as I would have hoped! We need the guidance of the Word of God in our lives, but we also need to remember we need his Spirit to richly inhabit our lives, giving us that 'access' to all wisdom whenever we need it!

Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness. Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father. (Colossians 3:16-17)

To teach, one is imparting some form of knowledge, much as a tutor would do when you are needing some 'specialized attention' to learn a certain subject or skill. I am learning some woodworking, so I explore all kinds of woodworking sites to learn the skills, but nothing makes as great of an impact in my 'skill' as when my son comes over and shows me how to use the tool I need to use. There is something about being 'tutored' through the process that makes it easier to grasp the concept of how the device is accurately and safely used. What does the tutor possess? Practical knowledge or familiarity with what is being taught - they understand and have mastered the skill or subject well enough to help us understand what is being taught. Teaching requires wisdom - the knowledge of what is both true and right, coupled with the 'good judgment' to consistently produce the same results. When I needed to learn how to make pocket holes, my son gave me some very practical advice on how to determine the depth and placement of the holes. What a difference it made to have his tutelage in consistently getting the 'right' results each time.

To instruct is just a little different because instruction is more of a step-by-step, very ordered process of learning. Teaching is more of an imparting of practical knowledge, while instruction is that idea of 'line upon line, precept upon precept' kind of education. Wisdom is critical in outlining the steps because one missed step makes for some pretty lousy outcomes. I have left important ingredients out of something I was making only to discover the biscuits didn't rise, the taste was way off from what it should have been, or something didn't set-up as it should have. I have applied wood glue, allowed something to set for a while and come back to the project to realize I have glued it together backward! Try to get that apart now! Nope - isn't happening! What happened is really quite simple - I didn't pay attention to the pattern - the step-by-step instructions that should have helped me avoid that mistake. In life, we make all kinds of 'missed steps', probably because we don't pay close enough attention to the wisdom laid out for us in those 'step-by-step' instructions we receive!

To counsel requires wisdom to the ultimate degree. Why? People are looking to you for some assistance with a dilemma or need. The most common form of counsel comes in the form of advice. Have you ever received or given some pretty lousy advice? I know I have and let me assure you that not all advice is 'right' for us to receive or embrace! This is why we need to let wisdom guide our counsel - given at the right time, in the right manner, with the right 'advice' provided. Equally as important is that we each exercise great wisdom in what it is we allow ourselves to RECEIVE in the way of 'advice' or 'opinion'. Remember, just because someone reports to you that they hold a degree, are licensed to do something, or have completed some course of study doesn't mean that they are 'wise' in the advice they offer! Just sayin!

A little wisdom in dark times

Just read a post from one of my friends about a couple who drove 1700 miles to pick up all the hand sanitizer available in every store he came across and now cannot sell it as he thought he could online! I am sorry, but I have to say that this idea of theirs was awfully stupid! I know they think people will become desperate and want this stuff, but honestly this is just one of the selfish and foolish things I have heard repeated lately with all this hype about Coronovirus. There have been lots of times when I hear people almost bragging about their escapades, but to brag about hoarding to deny others a chance to remain well hydrated, fed, or sanitized is just not something to brag about. Most of these 'hoarders' appear to have a sense of pride with acknowledging their folly! I am not one to "parade" my folly in public, but I went into a store for the first time in a long time and was amazed at how many people were acting like doomsday was coming. What warmed my heart the most was the post of a mother and child, curbside on a busy intersection, handing out one roll of toilet paper or paper towel to anyone who stopped and was in need. Now, that is something to brag about, but she won't!

Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation. (Proverbs 14:9 NLT)

What it is we do with our "guilt" when our escapades have been less than honorable reveals a lot about us. The fool makes fun of the guilt they feel. Try as we might, we cannot rid ourselves of the sense of guilt with simply laughing it away or making light of it. If we dismiss our guilt long enough, we become almost "immune" to the sense of guilt we feel about a certain behavior. We begin to justify it and form an "opinion" of it being okay - if not for others, at least for ourselves. In some circles, this is similar to something referred to as "situation ethics". Today's "situation ethics" is actually promoting this hoarding mentality! In the simplest sense, situation ethics holds the belief that the end justifies the means. In fact, with this type of interpretation of life, we find it easy to set aside rules and regulations whenever we feel the "greater good" will be served by our actions. 

Jesus always began with "love God" and then he taught to love "your neighbor" as yourself. You cannot ever "love God" if you throw out the absolutes he proclaims - things like don't cheat, don't covet, don't have any other god before me, and give and it will be given to you. These are absolutes in God's kingdom. So, Jesus was teaching we need to embrace the absolutes of God's kingdom and this will result in us being able to love our neighbor. Fools make fun of guilt - but the godly acknowledge it. It is one thing to acknowledge something - it is another to do something with the knowledge we have! The godly doesn't stop with an admission of guilt - they go on to the place of obeying one of God's absolutes - confession! Scripture teaches us to bring our sins to Christ and there we will find forgiveness. It is not an exercise of excusing our sin - it is an erasure of the stain of the sin and the ability to walk away from the pull to do the sin again.

So, what we do with our guilt determines the end of our guilt. We can flaunt it openly, proclaiming the end justified the means. Or...if we are wise....we can confess it, seeking forgiveness and restoration at the foot of the cross. The first method of dealing with our guilt will only "numb" us to the experience of guilt - it never removes it. The latter not only removes it, it gives us the ability to walk away from the very action which produced the guilt in the first place. The fool chooses to continue the pursuit of the action which produces the guilt - the wise choose to turn away from it, seeing no justification in their sin. It is truly a dangerous thing to "pick up" a false set of beliefs - those which veer from the truth clearly outlined in scripture. We can "interpret" scripture and reflect upon it with all kinds of "opinion". The danger is us forming a set of beliefs which "fit our actions" instead of us allowing God to "fit our actions" to his Word! Lest I meddle further...I will leave you with these thoughts to ponder. Just sayin!

Just sayin!

A fool engages in words that are both thoughtless (not a lot of thought taken before speaking them) and careless (headstrong and determined to make one's own point or get one's own way). Put them together and you have a recipe for many an unhappy relationship, family gathering, or workplace environment! The fool is often described as reckless, unthinking, indiscreet, lacking caution, etc. Not too flattering of a list of character traits, huh? The wise, on the other hand, are described as discreet, caring, respectful, concerned, etc. The difference isn't rocket science here - it is found in the ability to "govern" one's words.

Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults. Truthful witness by a good person clears the air, but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit. Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise. (Proverbs 12:16-18)

Ever know someone who has a "short fuse" - reacting at the drop of a pin and then leaving everyone in their path standing there in the wake of their outburst without even noticing how much damage or confusion their words have caused. The simple truth is that they are "fools" - lacking judgment and wisdom that would keep them from damaging both themselves and those in their path. Yep, they are quite "enthusiastic", but they lack the sense to know when they should indulge in a certain behavior or withhold themselves. They are characterized by "speaking before thinking" - a sure sign to those of us who have had more than one occasion where we have put our foot in our mouth!

The prudent, on the other hand, may "reserve" what they think for a later time, or never speak what they think at all (novel concept). It is not because they don't believe their thoughts are valuable enough to put into words - they have just learned that all that they think at the moment may not lend to the good of the situation, so they remain silent. A prudent person is both wise in the present moment and forward-looking in their planning - even when it comes to their words. There is a bigger picture in mind. The fool reacts to the moment - the prudent plans for the future. We often refer to this prudent one as discreet or controlled in their response. Trust me - discretion and control are both learned traits!

There are moments when the truth will be the best path to explore - allowing the air to be cleared between individuals and circumstances to be set into play that will 'mend' breaks in relationships. At other times, truth may be known, but it may not be the moment to speak it - simply because it will inflame the fool in one or both of us, leading to more issues arising that will have to be dealt with at a later time. Knowing when to speak truth is wisdom. Rash language is simply anything spoken without taking the time to think it through. If there is one thing I have realized in my study of scripture, it is that if the same instruction, warning, or spiritual insight is taught more than once, God expects us to pay attention - we need to 'get' the topic into our hearts and minds so it affects our actions. This short passage speaks to us in about three different ways - all focusing on how and when we use our words! Therefore, we better sit up and take notice!

Rash words are those that are spoken without considering the consequences of those words. It is not just the words that are spoken, it is also the timing of the words, the ones that are hearing the words, and the framework in which our words are created. Yes, the words we speak matter, but we are not always cognizant of the audience hearing those words. We would do well to consider if the one hearing what we are saying is really the right audience for those words. We can "frame" any message (even a difficult one) in a way that can be both constructive and edifying. This entire chapter of Proverbs is chocked full of the differences between the fool and the wise. Many other passages speak to the importance of our words - the impact they have on others. We would do well to consider the impact OUR words have today - they are reflections of either our wisdom, or our fool-hearty ways! Just sayin!

Learn on!

There are times when I just don't want to listen. I am intent on something else, the plot thickens in a TV drama I am intent on watching, or I am just too tired to care. Listening is hard at times because life gets us involved in other things. Listening is really a two-way street. When we aren't listening, we are blocking one side of the street! We must have open ears to hear the message - but we must also ask clarifying questions so as to get the full meaning of what is being shared. That is how God intends for us to be with our spiritual "ears" - listening with the intention of getting the full meaning of what he is sharing.

Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening. (Proverbs 21:11)

There is a clear difference between being a "simpleton" and being a wise learner. We rarely use the word "simpleton" anymore in our English language. In fact, I cannot remember hearing it used in very many situations in my entire lifetime. A simpleton is a fool, a knucklehead, a ninny of sorts - he does not seek to understand, therefore we call him ignorant. I grew up with the idea that a fool was some kind of ninny that just did not get what was going on, was too self-absorbed to see others, or just plain 'didn't get it' in life. I think we need to focus on the fact that the fool is one who is "ignorant" - he or she just doesn't get it.

Look at the root of the word which is ignore. The fool is one who ignores what is right in front of his face - it is there for the taking, but he doesn't even notice it, or if he does, he just plain steps around it. He spends very little effort attempting to grasp what he has evident in his immediate path, much less a future one. The fool is ignorant because he will not learn from what is available to him - he has the tools, but he lacks the initiative to use them. I think of initiative as the 'internal reason' for which we use what is given to us. We are moved to use something because we see the usefulness, even though we may not fully grasp its purpose.

The fool is oblivious to life oftentimes ignoring the very plain or obvious. Even when there is clear evidence, he chooses to ignore it as not pertinent to him, the situation, or the future. Being oblivious is really because of two traits common to the fool - being inattentive and being easily distracted. The ability to distract a fool is really quite easy because he lacks the intent "focus" that is required to stay on task - not because he does not have the ability to focus - just because it is the path of least resistance for him.

The warning to each of us is that the simpleton (fool) only learns things the hard way! Ouch! That stings! Ever feel like you could have learned a lesson just a little quicker, or a little easier? The obvious conclusion is that you were submitting to the path of least resistance (the fool's path) and had to learn that lesson the hard way. So, the tendency to be "foolish" in our response to life events is apparent in all of us - even though we may not call ourselves a simpleton. We make the choice - live as a fool, taking the path of least resistance, or live as a wise man, submitting to the path of learning.

Keep one thing in mind: The "hard way" is evident at the end of the path of least resistance. The path of learning may seem "hard" at first, but in the end, it is really the path of "least resistance". Submission to the process of learning is paramount to avoiding the life-course of a simpleton - a journey none of us really wants to take. Therefore, we need to learn on! Just sayin!

Let's be sensible here

Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. 

(Proverbs 17:24 NLT)

Although I like the style of some shoes, I wear "sensible" shoes because I have undergone multiple knee surgeries and value the health of my knees more than the style I display on my feet! Despite the fact I may admire some of today's fanciest cars, I drive a very "sensible" vehicle that gets great gas mileage and has room for more than two of us so we can go places together. I enjoy rich foods, but choose "sensible" foods over the rich ones because they don't end up on my hips quite as quickly! "Sensible" choices are under-appreciated sometimes, but stop for just a moment to consider what "sensible" means and you might just learn to appreciate those choices a little more.

Sensible carries the meaning of someone having sound judgment - there is a basis to the choice they make that isn't just haphazardly chosen, but is consistent with other choices that lend to a solid foundation. The most important part of "sensible" choices is that the one making them is "cognizant" of some matters that lead to those choices - they aren't made without thinking. We find "sensible" choices are often labeled as "wise" or "intelligent" choices. They are the ones people think of as logical or practical. They aren't the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of choices!

I don't know about you, but I do better in an environment that fosters sensible choices and encourages sensible actions. It seems to "fit" best with what I honestly believe God sees as "best" for my life. Those times when I have launched over into the irrational side of "choice camp" have not ended as well for me - how about you? The irrational side of the camp is often missing something we might call "foundational principles" - there is some foundation, but it can be situational and oftentimes changing as fast as the weather!

Our eyes wander, don't they? We just have a hard time with focus. In the doctor's office, while having my eyes examined, they usually tell me to just focus on the green dot in the center of the screen. Do you know how hard that is when all these other moving things on the screen are occurring? They tell me to look straight at their left ear, and then my mind wanders to why their earlobes are formed that way, or how their earring seems to pick up the pattern in their blouse and now I am looking at their blouse!

What might not occur to us is that "sensible choices" are actually much harder than the irrational or "impractical", "irrational", or "unreasonable" choices we find ourselves making from time to time. It is all because one requires focus and the others don't! Sensibility is not easy - it means we remain true to the foundation - we don't compromise the integrity of the foundation just because we get distracted. Sensible choices align with wise principles - so one might think the key to making them is to evaluate the wisdom in the choice. While this may be true, wisdom isn't the thing always the clearest to see - it sometimes requires us to settle down long enough to actually hear the small voice pointing out the wisdom, or lack of it, in the choice we are about to make. Just sayin!

Which group is your group?

Wisdom, common sense, and understanding all come from the Lord.  Somehow we have this wrong in our thoughts because we think it is all about how much or how quickly we can learn stuff.  We think if we "apply ourselves" to the books, we will learn the "stuff" we need to make it in this life.  Although I am huge proponent of continuing education (because I don't think we ever stop learning), I know there is much more to learning than just what we glean from the books.   A perfect example of this is all I have learned since I finished nursing school.  Yes, I spent a great deal of times in the books and there were some pretty intense study halls.  I even remember having to write up every disease process a patient had and plan their care.  But...the real learning took place once I was actually putting that stuff into practice.  When I heard the first extra little "swish" of the heartbeat, I discovered what a heart murmur sounded like.  When I smelt the first grossly infected wound, I understood what Pseudomonas bacteria could do.  There was much more for me to "learn" and "understand" - not just what was in the books.  The same is true in all of life.  We can gain much by study, but until we apply what we study into real life experiences, it is merely knowledge.  Part of growing up is learning to make a way for ourselves.  Maybe this is where we get it a little wrong in our relationship with Jesus.  We think we have all the "learning" we need to walk right and then we set out on our own.  All the while we are figuring we can make it because we have the knowledge of "how" to walk, but we forget walking involves things like balance, occasionally having a handhold on something or someone, and being able to judge the safety of the trail we traverse.  We get a little too independent and we soon lose our balance, have no handhold, and eventually find ourselves traversing pathways where resistance and trouble seems to surround us. 

All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should. God sees that justice is done, and he watches over everyone who is faithful to him. With wisdom you will learn what is right and honest and fair. (Proverbs 2:6-9 CEV)

My pastor pointed out the audience of the Proverbs - the simpleton, the fool, and the wise. Three groups of individuals each with a specific set of character traits which were outlined in the recorded truth of the Proverbs.  The simpleton is just someone who does things without any really thought as to what they are doing (probably never been exposed to the learning before) - they just do it and don't even really know much better or even care that there are outcomes which might not be all that great.  The fool is the one who probably knows better (has had the book learning) and just does it anyway. It is kind of a choice to act contrary to what one knows.  The wise are those who have both the learning and the desire to put into practice what they have learned.  It is kind of like when I went to nursing school - I had to put into practice what I gleaned from the books to really make it "cement" my learning. Until I did, it was only philosophy!  Maybe this is something we can learn from the simpleton and the fool - one has no exposure to the knowledge, the other possesses it, but simply chooses not to use it.  Both are going to experience some rough spots in life they probably would have rather avoided, but they won't necessarily learn from them.  

Considering this passage in light of these three groups of individuals, I see something of interest.  The simpleton might possess a little bit of common sense, because we are all created with it.  His common sense tells him not to jump out of a four story window because he will get hurt as he really cannot fly.  Will his common sense keep him from reaching for a hundred dollar bill stuck on the side of the wall just a little out of reach from that window? It is not likely that he will avoid it.  Why?  He sees only the immediate fulfillment of his desire - the hundred dollar bill!  He wants it and he will reach way beyond the window because of the desire burning within him.  He reaches and topples from the window to his doom all because he did not really consider the risks of his actions - he was merely captured by the object of his desire.  Common sense did him no good in that instance.  Even book learning which showed him the effects of gravity on a falling object did not keep him safe.  He needed something known as wisdom to actually "run interference" on his behavior.  He needed to recognize the danger in the decisions he was making - realizing no one hundred dollar bill was worth the risk of leaning way beyond his level of safety from that window to reach for what was well beyond his reach.

The fool has much to learn from this lesson, as well, for the fool is likely in the room with the simpleton egging him on to get the bill!  He probably knows it is a fool-hearty thing to do, but if someone is willing to give it a try, he will get behind him and encourage the folly.  Why? The fool doesn't home to gain from the simpleton's actions, but he is enjoying the thrill of the activity.  The fool won't necessarily put himself in the same place of risk, but he will encourage the simpleton to focus on the wrong values.  He will talk about the money as though it were the ultimate prize, totally missing that a man's life is worth more than anything we can amass materially.  The fool has common sense, but he chooses to ignore it when another might just do the work for him!  He possesses a degree of book learning - knowledge - so he even might have a little bit of understanding.  Yet, he doesn't let those things hold back his desire to see others hurt in the process of trying to get ahead himself. See, he will have talked the simpleton into reaching for the bill because he knows the simpleton won't live long enough to enjoy it!  So, in the end, he benefits from the simpleton's actions because he is now left to enjoy the bill!

The wise, on the other hand, have learned to combine common sense and knowledge (understanding) with God's sage counsel.  They listen to the niggling of the Spirit's voice within giving them just a little "check" in their spirit.  They are not caught up in the lack of focus of the simpleton, or the selfish interest of the fool.  Instead, they are concerned for the safety of the one about to plunge to his death.  They will likely look out the window at the bill perched on the side of the wall so high up and then hook a water hose up to the faucet, spray the bill with water, see it waft to the ground and encourage the one blessed to receive it!  Why?  Their focus is not on the bill, but on the lives which will be blessed by applying wisdom in the circumstance!  Life isn't always clear-cut, but the wise will learn to listen to the voice of God and focus not so much on what others around them seem to think is important, but on the lives which are being "lived out" all around them.  They will take what God gives in the way of common sense and understanding, using it to better the lives of those they touch.  The wise learn to walk with eyes on the one who guides their steps, not so concerned with the path as much as where it is leading them.  The wise will accept counsel and avoid mistakes because they realize others have walked ahead of them on those paths. 

We fall into one of these three groups.  I have played all three "parts" in this life, but I know for sure that the one which has me most enthusiastically focused is the latter!  Just sayin!

Principle 22: Seek Counsel Wisely

In times gone by, men would gather at the gates of the city and engage in serious conversation.  It was a place of more than just meeting - it was a meeting of the minds.  Issues were settled there and wisdom was passed down.  The leaders of the city would often meet there to settle disputes, pass judgments on behalf of a wronged party, and just give insight into life decisions.  It was a place were "wisdom" was spoken and people left usually feeling pretty good about the things they had experienced.  At the gate of the city, a fool was not to be the one engaged in the conversations of giving advice or passing on a judgment for the wronged party.  Why?  They were clueless as the intent of the heart and this rendered them "useless" in making such decisions.  At the gate, they were to remain silent - for their "advice" would only muddle the matter.  In fact, they would often not even grasp the meaning of the conversations of the wise.  I wonder how much "foolish" conversation goes on in places of decision-making these days - especially since we don't have the "gates of the city" where wise leaders gather to hear the problems of the people?

Wise conversation is way over the head of fools; in a serious discussion they haven’t a clue.  (Proverbs 24:7 MSG)

Why is wise conversation over the heads of the fools?  There are probably innumerable reasons, but first and foremost, a fool thinks he knows truth - believing almost anything he hears and sees without really testing it to be sure it is the truth.  Imagine two mothers bringing one small infant to the gates with a fool sitting in the place of making the decision of who the real mother is of the infant.  He might believe the one who is crying the hardest, making the most impassioned plea, or even caressing the small life with tender hands is the "real" mother.  He judges by what he sees and hears, not by what wisdom would know.  A wise person would know the true mother would rather see her child live in the hands of someone else than to have the life of the child taken all together, so when Solomon was in the situation of determining this very decision, he simply predicted the revelation which would be apparent if he just told them to cut the child in two!  The true mother would not allow the child to die and would give over the child to the other woman.  In turn, it revealed the heart of the true mother.  Wisdom goes beyond seeing and hearing, to examining the heart.  How well does the fool examine the heart?  Not so well, I am afraid!

Another reason the fool is not able to engage in serious discussion is his unwillingness to really listen.  A fool already has an answer forming in his own head before the one speaking has a chance to finish, often missing some of the very detail which is necessary to really render any kind of a reliable or sensible decision.  Why?  The fool thinks he knows the answer - often based on some previous experience, what he has been told, read somewhere, etc.  It may not be tested and true, but he believes it to be what is needed to get by in the particular circumstance presented.  He formulates this in his mind and believes he knows what the determination should be - even without hearing the entire argument or heartfelt plea of another.  This is dangerous ground because in not listening, details are missed.  In being so determined you already know the answer, you shut down conversation.  In getting the cart before the horse, you have a miserable journey indeed!

The wise will learn not to rely upon the foolish for their wisdom, but rather will take the time and effort to seek wise counsel.  The conversation of the fool is his undoing - it reveals the truth about the lack of depth of his heart and his unwillingness to learn in this life.  The wise will not engage a fool in decision-making because they know decision based solely on what one believes because of past experience or simply because someone else did something a certain way is not the most reliable source of information. Experience plays a big part in our decision-making process, doesn't it?  To rely solely upon experience is dangerous - for not all experience validates truth. For example, if we stop to buy a scratch off ticket from the lottery machine today and pay one dollar for it, finding we win five dollars after scratching off all that silver goo, can we trust that each and every scratch off ticket will produce the same results.  It would be foolish to count on the "odds" being consistently in our favor, wouldn't it?  Yet, the fool will hold onto this hope based on this one experience.  The "it could happen" faith he has is really not faith, just misplaced hope!

So, when engaging in conversation about important life decisions, go to the wise.  Their source of wisdom comes from a deep well - not from the misplaced hopes and imaginations of the mind of a fool!  Just sayin!

Where do you rack up your frequent flyer miles?

A man or woman of understanding can be impacted by just one rebuke.  A fool can hear the same rebuke hundreds of times and still go on doing wrong stuff or just plain acting "foolishly".  Have you ever noticed how quickly the fool leans toward rebellion?  It is in his nature to not only be drawn to rebellion, but to actually be involved in trying to incite others into rebellion, as well. The fool has trouble with authority - they resist being led.  Known rules or laws are just "suggestions" to the fool - they can take them or leave them, depending on their mood.  Most of us think of the fool as living outside of the boundaries - coloring outside of the lines most of the time.  In fact, they are pretty aggressive to resist anyone telling them they need to "color within the lines"!  The fool pursues evil like it was a holiday to be celebrated and then wonder why evil seems to revisit them again and again.  Truth be told, what we "visit" the most will become our most frequent "visitor".

An intelligent person learns more from one rebuke than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.  Death will come like a cruel messenger to wicked people who are always stirring up trouble.  It is better to meet a mother bear robbed of her cubs than to meet some fool busy with a stupid project.  If you repay good with evil, you will never get evil out of your house.  The start of an argument is like the first break in a dam; stop it before it goes any further.  Condemning the innocent or letting the wicked go—both are hateful to the Lord.  It does a fool no good to spend money on an education, because he has no common sense.  Friends always show their love.  What are relatives for if not to share trouble?  (Proverbs 17:10-17 GNT)

One of the frequent "visits" of the fool is the visit to the house of "arguments" or "quarrels".  It becomes their frequent stomping grounds.  The fool can stir up a quarrel faster than the wind can conjure up a dust storm.  By pushing the envelope as it applies to respect and submission to authority, the quarrels they often pursue are those which are aimed at this rebellion toward authority in their lives.  It can be some outward authority, such as their employer, the police, or even a parent.  It can also be an "inward" authority, such as resistance to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  Whenever the fool sets out to resist authority - pushing the envelope a little further - they can stir up discord and unrest wherever they go.  Unfortunately for us, the fool doesn't visit this house of quarrels alone - they bring others to the party!  We need to be cautious about the "invitation" we respond to - for a fool knows just the right things to say in order to manipulate others into the argument.  The wise will avoid this open floodgate as much as possible.  They have learned that even the quickest "visit" to the house of quarrels inches that floodgate open. The wise will drop the offense before it has a chance to drown them in the full-on argument which could ensue.  

The fool also believes it is important to "make a point" with everything they say and do.  The wise have learned the truth that not everything we know or feel needs to be made a point of.  We can hold back because we recognize there is a time and a place for every exchange of knowledge, or the acknowledgement of feelings - this moment may not always be the right moment!  The fool will struggle with this matter of "fairness" - they want to be "in the know" about everything, otherwise life is not being "fair" to them. This may be why they so frequently find themselves visiting the house of quarrels!  Not everything we know is meant to be shared - especially with the one who cannot handle the information.  Not everything we feel needs to be expressed - because expressed feelings are like painting a target on you when a fool is around.  Sometimes we need to exercise a little more wisdom than the fool and just hold back what we could say or what we could express in our feelings.  They cannot be trusted to handle either one of these with any great credibility or skill.  God calls for us to use judicious thought in our dealings - especially as it applies to dealing with the fool.  This way, we continue to side with good and avoid the trap or allure of evil.

Fools also visit the place of "wrecked relationships".  If their first haunting ground is the house of quarrels, does it surprise you their second most visited haunting ground would be that of destroyed or damaged relationships?  The fool has an issue with loyalty - comes from their heart of rebellion or resistance to authority.  This idea of unswerving allegiance just evades them. They incite quarrels, share confidences, and generally do things "unthinking", causing rifts in relationships quite frequently.  They don't usually choose this "hangout" as their first choice, but it becomes a place they rack up a whole lot of frequent flyer miles just because their disloyalty gets them access over and over again!  The fool cannot see the value in trusted relationships - because they have not learned the value of trust.  The fool has learned to be "present" in relationship, but not a "servant" in relationship.  God's idea of loyalty involves both presence and service - to have one without the other is really not loyalty.

A fools folly is never satisfied - they must revisit their places of comfort over and over again.  Sometimes we need to step back long enough to read the sign over the door of our most "frequent haunts" to see if we really know where it is we spend our greatest amount of time.  The places we rack up all our "frequent flyer miles" may just be evidence of how closely we are living to the edge of being a little foolish in our actions.  The wise will realize when the most frequent haunts are just taking us away from what God intends for our lives - healthy relationships, growing trust, and depth of character.  Just sayin!

Take aim - plan well

To love learning is to embrace discipline - for apart from living a disciplined life, learning can never occur.  To "learn" means we will gain knowledge, understanding of something, or to gain a skill.   It comes by study, instruction, and experience.  Some might call this "coming to realize" - to hear and then come to really know.  Either way you look at it, it comes by discipline.  No lesson is easily embraced if there is a fear or hatred of discipline.  If we recognize our heavenly Father's discipline is ALWAYS done in love, we will no longer fear it, but embrace it as a way of being embraced by love.

If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—how shortsighted to refuse correction!  A good person basks in the delight of God, and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.  You can’t find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm...  The thinking of principled people makes for justice; the plots of degenerates corrupt. The words of the wicked kill; the speech of the upright saves. Wicked people fall to pieces—there’s nothing to them; the homes of good people hold together.  (Proverbs 12:1-3, 5-7 MSG)

A good person basks in the delight of the Lord - in other words, God approves of the good, but he withdraws from the wicked.  The word approve really carries the meaning of "proving", "attesting to", and "accepting as satisfactory".  So, when God approves and takes delight in us, he is really saying we have stood the test and been "proven" to have the right stuff!  In fact, he "attests to" our standing with him - through the evidence of his Son's light shining through us.  Wickedness never brings stability into our lives - so this is why God requires us to learn through discipline.  He wants us to be stable people - deeply rooted.  Stability is the strength to stand or endure.  It comes from being firmly established - fixed and steadfast in our convictions, with actions which align with those convictions.  When there is a steadiness in our purpose, there is a strength displayed even in the face of trial.  What God is doing through his discipline in our lives is making us able to resist the forces of evil around us - those things which pull at our heart and seek to sway us in our convictions.

The just have a way of thinking which differs from the world's way of thinking. It is the "plans" which differ between the just and the wicked.  The just have learned through disciplined application of truth - this embraced knowledge goes into the plans of the just.  The details which are formulated in the minds and hearts of the just are tempered by the embraced grace of God in their lives.  They have faced tough circumstances, made wrong choices, but have been extended grace to learn from those choices.  In turn, they have embraced grace and and it affects the plans they formulate for future actions. A "just" person is really one who has learned "reasonableness" in their lives. There is a commitment to live uprightly - in turn, it affects every action.

As has been the case all through this book of Proverbs, we are set up to see comparisons:  Good vs. Bad, Just vs. Unjust, Learned vs. Fool, etc.  This chapter is no different.  The first section of this chapter deals with the differences between those who will commit to live "principled" lives against those who will live life constantly moving the target.  Principled people have but one target in mind - they remain focused and the target doesn't move.  It doesn't move because it is a "fixed" target - the character of Christ.  The ungodly or "unprincipled" have multiple targets, making it difficult to aim at anything.  Plans are goals - it is to "aim" at something.  Remember my illustration of the target with its concentric circles culminating in a totally filled in circle in the middle.  Just (principled) lives want to live "filled in" lives.  We want to hit "dead center" every time.

The short-sighted don't see the target - their minds and hearts are focused on something entirely "short" of the target.  This makes them "fools" in God's eyes, because only the fool will aim at nothing!  I like the verse in this passage about finding firm footing - it isn't available in the swamp!  The fool has a way of finding themselves "swamped" because of their poor planning. The wise have learned the incredibly liberating joy of planning well - taking lessons from their experience, incorporating them into the pre-planning for their next opportunities, and then waiting until they have "aligned" their target in their "sights" before they actually launch toward the target!  Just sayin!

Pop Quiz!

Some of the stories in the Bible are what we refer to as parables - they might tell one thing (having a "surface meaning"), but when you ponder them in the light of the day in which they were taught, you find a much deeper meaning to the story.  If you read the first sixteen verses Luke 16, you are treated to a story about what appears to be instructions in business dealings, or on how to be shrewd in our dealings with financial matters. As the story unfolds, we begin to see a manager taking advantage of his position - he just hoped the boss wouldn't notice!  In today's vernacular, we'd probably liken what he did to "padding his expenses" on the corporate expense account.  It works for a while, but when an audit of the books is called for, his actions are uncovered. I guess you won't be surprised to learn he loses his job - but it doesn't stop him from being as shrewd as he had been in his previous position. In fact, he begins an entirely new venture - one of ingratiating his own personal debtors by cutting their bills in half.  This way he ensures he will always have them in his service - making it easier for him to live the life of luxury he has come to enjoy. If that doesn't beat all, the boss who fired the manager actually sees what he does to ensure his future and commends him for it!  He knows this guy was always looking for the angles, but this revealed an ingenuity sometimes referred to as being "streetwise".  The story could end there, but Jesus goes on to say, "I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior." (vs. 9)  

If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; If you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things.  If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store?  No worker can serve two bosses: He’ll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank. (Luke 16:10-13 MSG)

Jesus doesn't focus on the shrewdness of the man as much as the ability to be "smart" in your actions.  The caveat - be "smart" for the right reasons!  Be "smart" about the right stuff!  What the manager did was use the things of this world to ensure his future here.  What Jesus wants us to do is use the things of his Kingdom to ensure not only our future in another world, but to impact the world in which we live today.  Jesus often used the topic of money to challenge the heart - because money is a character issue.  What we do with money, how we handle it, or how it handles us, is a good view of either the depth or shallowness of our character.  Money reveals trust issues - either we have come into a full trust in the promise of God providing for all our needs, or we continue to hold out for the manipulation of our circumstances to serve our needs apart from how he plans.  Money reveals heart attitude - either we have an open heart, free to share and bless, or we struggle with the self-centered attitude of greed which keeps it all for us.  

Most of us hope Jesus was promising we'd always have more money than what we'd know what to do with - truth be told, some of the leanest times financially have brought some of the deepest growth in our lives.  It isn't the money which anchors us - it is the heart and spirit of a man.  Heart and spirit right with God - focused on him as the provider - will anchor us solidly.  Heart and spirit focused on what we have or don't have and we will always find the anchoring we have like shifting sand.  When we are faithful with money - something we can see and feel, there is something which occurs in the things we cannot immediately see and feel.  God wants to give us "true riches" - things like his presence and power.  Most of us can sense God's presence, but we cannot see it like we can the 55" TV in the living room.  We can see the outcome of his power, but we don't actually feel the power surging around us - yet his power sets the bound free, heals the sick, finds the lost, and looses the captive. 

The money in our hand is really a "testing point" for us.  The manager had the money in his hand and failed the test.  He didn't handle it well.  Even in the end, he still had a rather unique way of handling is financial future.  For most of us, how we view money and what hold it has on us is often the "test". When we focus on what we "do" or "don't" have, we are not likely getting the best grade on the test!  When we rest in the truth of God providing for all our needs, regardless of what we hold in our hands.  What the young manager did was get more into his hands.  What Jesus commended repeatedly was the ability to let go of what we hold onto so tightly, allowing it to be used by him. In turn, we never go without!  Seems counter-intuitive, huh?  Yet, if you have learned to live this way, you know it to be true.

Here's what I think Jesus wanted us to see - bottom line:  Money gets a hold on us whenever we give it that hold.  Money isn't the problem, the heart is. Money is just a tool he uses to expose the heart.  When handled well, it brings healing to the captive.  When held too close, the heart will never experience the exuberance of seeing another blessed.  It is one thing to be streetwise, it quite another to be "Jesus-wise".  Just sayin!

No path like the present one

Prudent:  Wise or judicious in practical affairs; discreet; circumspect or sober. Some might equate this word to being "street-wise".  The individual who is prudent has learned who and what can be trusted, when each needs to be put to practical use, and what can be counted on to deliver the best results.  There is another definition of the prudent man or woman:  thrifty or frugal.  I guess this might be why the word is used in this passage - it is kind of like a prudent person who is street-wise knows when to expend their energies and when to let things go because the energies expended will just be way too much!  

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.  (Proverbs 22:3 MSG)

Simpleton:  An ignorant, silly or foolish person; numskull.  I like the last definition because it kind of points out the ways the simpleton works - with his or her brain asleep!  Now this is a direct contrast to how the prudent operates - for the prudent is always on alert.  There is something quite dangerous about letting one's mind be lulled into a place of laziness or slumber.  There are times we need to "shut off" for a while, but when it becomes a way of life for us, we open ourselves up to every whim of silliness around!

So, here we are presented with two individuals - one who has attentiveness to their ways and another who just flies by the seat of their pants.  The difference - one will actually be able to duck quick enough to avoid disaster (natural, spiritual, or emotional)!  The other will simply be hit head-on.  Perhaps even knocked out by the blows.

Just a little further in this chapter we find the words:  In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. (vs. 5 NIV)  On my vacation this year, I enjoyed some time out in nature.  I took many a "marked" path, but none of them did a good job of telling me ahead of time what the dangers were on the path which I would eventually traverse.  It was not until I was fully engaged in the path, already committed to the journey, that the hazards became apparent.

It had rained heavily in the area the days before we began or trek.  So much of the pathway was wet, slightly muddy, and had some newly "gutted" waterways crossing them.  The normal soft leaf covering was wet, matted down by the rains, and provided some challenges to gain footing at times.  The truth be told, the path had more hazards than it did "plainly marked out footing".  

If you were following me that day, you probably observed me criss-crossing from one side of the path to the other - a technique I learned years ago to make a steep and hard climb a little easier.  I could have lunged up the huge stepped stones on occasion, but I chose the smaller stones and often went off the path in order to avoid those stones.  Why?  Two reasons actually - the stones were wet, so they could be slippery; and the stones made me work a whole lot harder than I wanted to!  I took the longer route because it made the climb the easiest.  

In the area I live, most trails are marked with a difficulty level, so the one engaging in the hike knows ahead of time what type of climb they might encounter.  Here they were not.  So, I took each trail in faith.  I kind of think life is like that a little - sometimes we get the well-marked trail which gives us plenty of warning about the amount of effort which will be required of us to traverse from one point to another; other times we get the trails which have no markings, give us no warning of their dangers, and which present some unknown hazards to the one on the journey.

The simpleton trods ahead; the prudent examines the path as it is presented. The simpleton takes the steps which will do nothing more than tire and present unwanted "slipping" points.  The prudent will examine the course and see the shortest distance may not be the best for preserving strength, stamina, and avoiding injury.  

We are afforded many paths in life - we can face them as the simpleton or the prudent.  The choice is ours.  Not every path will be well-marked, giving us every chance to declare it too hard for us to traverse.  I think God might just do this on purpose, for if we knew the end from the beginning, let alone the way we'd have to traverse to get there, we probably would pull back and declare the path just way too hard for our travels!  Just sayin!