Reflections on Proverbs.

I am about halfway through Proverbs and at the same time, my Pastor is also doing different topical studies on Proverbs. So many thoughts swimming in my head and I need to write them down. So, this may be kind of helter skelter. 

Obviously, as you have seen in the previous posts, there are some major comparisons between Folly and Wisdom or the Virtuous Woman and the Strange Woman. So, let me just summarize some of my thoughts that I have picked up along the way. 

Before I start, I definitely saw areas in my own life that were not always wise or virtuous. Areas I need to continually work on. 

What does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to be wise or virtuous? Can anyone come up with their own picking and choosing of what they deem wise or virtuous? Can one live their life "thinking" they are wise and virtuous, but clearly living a life that does not reflect the truths of God's word? 

Proverbs 14:12 says: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Can we pick and choose what we think is right? I would argue no, according to the Bible. We can argue amongst ourselves all day long about whether our decisions to do anything are right or wrong. But if we compare ourselves to others, we have failed. We need to be comparing ourselves to Christ. 

Instead of being people pleasers, we need to put our focus back on track and realize what our friends think doesn't matter. It is what God thinks that does matter. It is for HIM that we live, if we claim to be His child. 

And if we live for Him, then it will be reflected in the places we go, the things that we do, and even the friends that we associate with. 

So many times I hear don't judge me because I do _____. The thing with judging, it is not wrong unless you are also guilty. In fact, if you have a brother or sister in Christ whom you love dearly and you see them heading down the wrong path (aka, a path that does not line up with the truths of the Bible), we are to reach out to them and help them and encourage them to remember they live for Christ! I would want someone to do the same for me! And people I respect greatly have done that for me! 

When we see someone we love choosing the way of folly...it would be loving to reach out to them and help them find the wise road again! Same as if we saw our children about to do something foolish that could threaten their lives...do we just sit back and let them destroy their lives? NO! We pull them back and instruct them lovingly! 

So many passages in Proverbs compare wisdom with folly. In fact, the book itself is a father instructing his son. 

There are two different heart responses to be had when given wisdom and instruction. 
Imagine this father saying these things to his son whom he loves dearly:

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (12:9)
He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. (6:32)

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. (10:9)

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. (10:17)

The son can respond in two different ways. He can either take his fathers words, knowing they come from a heart of love, and take them to heart. Heeding them and striving to please his father. OR, he can shrug it off and say that is simply how his father believes. It isn't for him. Agree to disagree and go on with his life. 

One response is foolish, and one response is wise. 

What if we changed it up and the Father is God himself and what if we were the son or daughter being spoken to? 

That is how we ought to view the Bible. If we truly are a child of God we need to heed His instruction regularly by reading His Word. 

So, how do we live our lives? Just freely doing whatever pleases ourselves and disregarding scripture or twisting it to justify how we choose to live? 

Or do we heed the instruction given to us by our Father who loves us so much that He paid the ultimate price by allowing His perfect Son to die in our place and pay the penalty of our sins so we could live with Him for all eternity. 

One of the things my Pastor recently taught on was Priorities. Something that was a new thought for me, was that our priorities are relationship based not list based. Which is an interesting thought. If our relationship with Christ is right, then our relationship with our spouse, children, and others will also be right. This even filters all the way down to finances, favorite things, etc. But our relationship with Christ is key! To say that God plays a big part in your life is different than saying God IS YOUR LIFE. One is definitely of higher priority. Without Christ, we have no life. We are dead. Simply existing in this materialistic, going to cease to exist, world. But with Christ we have true life and joy! 

If we claim to be a Christian, a child of God, we need to completely give every part of our life to Him and live according to His Word. Holy, set apart, a servant, thankful for the sacrifice He made for us, and willing to sacrifice our own lives as a "thank you" in return. 

May we strive to live as children of our mighty King of Kings, looking forward to the day He returns! Is Christ your LIFE? Remember the words of Paul, "For me to live is Christ! Life = Christ.