The wisdom of God

Will You Have a Good Name

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom’s Instructions to Obtain and Keep a Good Name

Book of Proverbs Chapter 22

We should ask ourselves, how will people perceive us, or how will they remember us after we’re gone?

Do we have a “good name”, a good reputation, a good testimony?

Are we a person of integrity?

Are we friends to the world, or is our name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

If people see us a friend to the world, then we are God’s enemy!

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Do we compromise on the Word of God just to remain friends with the world?

Luk 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Are we seen as a child of God?

2Co 8:18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

Act 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

3Jn 1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

We need to understand that a good name, a good reputation, is not the same as being popular.

We can be popular without being a child of God, but with what sort of people!

These are people who are concerned for their own honor and not the honor of God.

This is a people pleaser, and we have far too many of those behind many pulpits today.

One of the first things we need to have a good reputation is the fact that people recognize us as Christians, being like Jesus Christ, and not a hypocrite.

*Pro 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Pro 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

God will never show partiality to His children!

The Lord Jesus died upon that cross for every single living person from the time of Adam till the end of time.

We may put a high value on earthly things that have no value in Heaven, but to our Heavenly Father, our soul is the most valuable part of being a human.

We should ask ourselves, would we sell our good name for a million dollars?

Would we compromise our character for a million dollars?

We cannot put a price on honor, integrity, and righteousness!

Ecc 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

Why is our death more important than our birth?

We are born into a life that will not be very lengthy.

At our death, we will have eternal life, either in the torments of Hell or in the glory of Heaven.

We must make this choice while we are alive!

We must understand that we are one of God’s creations and love Him as our Creator, our Maker.

God is unmoved by the possessions we gain while we are living, but He offers the glories and the wealth of Heaven if we turn to Him for our salvation.

God will never discriminate among people because of their wealth, success, gender, race, or social status!

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Why are there so many suicides in America? They are plagued with low self-esteem and see no future for themselves.

They use the wrong things to judge themselves!

They focus on appearance, abilities, or position.
They focus on popularity, wealth, or success.

These things have nothing to do with our real value if we look through the eyes of God.

God cares for us so much that He keeps up with every detail of our lives.
God loves us so much that He will go with us everywhere we go, in good times and bad times.
God has a wonderful plan and purpose for our lives.
God is always thinking about us.
God loves us enough that He sacrificed His Son for us despite our sins and our rebellious nature.

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Almost every religion in the world is looking for some messiah, but my Messiah came and died for me, and He will return to take me home.

We will never be able to fulfill the purpose God has for us if we do not have a good name after our salvation.

We were all dirty, rotten sinners before our salvation.

Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

*Pro 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Pro 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Pro 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Pro 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Pro 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Pro 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Pro 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Pro 22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

As Christians under the leadership of our faith, we understand that there will be a day of wrath from the Almighty Living God, and there is only one way to avoid it.

We know to look to Jesus Christ and hide ourselves in His loving arms.

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Isa_25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

As Christians, we are paying attention to what is going on in this world, and we know the results at the end of the Church Age and the seven years of tribulation.

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Only the Church will be saved from this day of wrath!

Those whom God says are simple-minded reject the truth of God, and they will be punished for it; most of them, if not all, will spend eternity in Hell.

They refuse to recognize the dangers of a sinful lifestyle!

Pro 27:12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

They refuse to recognize the truth of a Righteous God!

We already know the foundation of wisdom is the “Fear of the Lord”.

This fear is not only a reverent fear of the Lord but also includes an actual fear of a God who would rather not show His wrath.

Isa 28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
Isa 28:23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

Only those who have submitted to God before they come to their own death will miss out on this consumption upon the whole earth.

This consumption is the disease of sin that God will eradicate.

We know there are painful hazards as we travel life’s journeys.

That journey is far worse for those who reject the Word of God.

They cannot know the comfort of knowing we do not have to go through these pains alone.

Pro 15:19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Those who have received the pleasures of this world become slaves to those things, and God’s people know there is no real pleasure in anything this world has to offer.

We who travelled that sinful life for far too long and have turned to Jesus Christ know that we are to train our children while they are children, so they can avoid most of life’s pitfalls.

The children God has given to us are our responsibility and not the governments to raise and teach.

If there is one thing we have realized in the last several years is that our government has steered our children down the path to the destruction of our entire nation and the way of freedom.

As parents and grandparents, and great-grandparents, we only get the opportunity to guide our children in the right direction.

They will choose a path for themselves sooner than we realize.

We hope that as they get older, they will remember those things in their heart and their minds.

Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

We must understand that there are consequences to borrowing money, and credit cards have destroyed many families.

There is nothing disgraceful about being poor!

The rich have far too much power in dictating the lifestyle of the poor, and certain politicians want to keep the poor from gaining in life by giving incentives to them incentives not to work. All for their vote to keep them poor.

It is ridiculous that people have fallen into this trap and want to remain there.

Those who have caused this problem and keep doing these things will reap what they sow.

God is sending His warnings to these lenders from the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we are taught to share.

The Holy Spirit says to those who share, they will also reap what they sow.

Pro 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

The Church has become stagnant because the Church has allowed the world into the Church.

God has one answer if you want to stop the arguments in the Church: throw out those who reject the Word of God or those who try to compromise the Word of God with the world’s ways.

Pro 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

These are the ones causing the contention and strife in the Church, and it can be settled by simply forcing them to leave unless they repent.

Ask them how they get saved to hear their answer.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

If we can speak to others with the same grace that our Heavenly Father has shown to us, we will get along, and we cannot move to the left or to the right from the truth of God.

A troublemaker does not have a pure heart; they are troublemakers. This is what they live for.

*Pro 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Pro 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Pro 22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Pro 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

God is so moving and loving for us that He sent His only Son to die in our place just so we could live with Him forever.

God is also holy and righteous and will not put up with foolishness and unrighteousness.

We should ask ourselves, “What is the providence of God”?

The providence of God is the fact that it is God’s wisdom and God’s power that preserves and governs this world for the ends which He purposes to accomplish.

Since God created everything, it should be reasonable to infer that He upholds and governs all things!

All things are known to Him!
All things are possible for Him!

It is our Heavenly Father’s plan for us, and nothing in this world can change God’s plan for us!

As our Creator, He is self-existent, and it is His Will, so all His creations depend on Him!

He only deserves our worship!

He is the great guardian of the truth of this world we live in!

It is a fact that lazy people will come up with all sorts of excuses not to work.

Some things they come up with are laughable.

It is highly unlikely that any Jew was mauled by a lion because they were not found in towns or cities.

It is in our best interest as Christians to be the best workers on the job site.

This is diligent.

It is true to say that those who can work but refuse to do so should not eat.

When they are hungry enough, they will find some work to do to provide that meal.

We have to wonder if Solomon wrote this proverb early in life or later in life because he admits that the seductive words of harlots and adulteresses will entice a man to his own destruction of his body and his soul.

Solomon also wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes, and we can see more profound words by the Holy Spirit.

Ecc 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Foolishness is actually self-will.

Children must be rescued from this and it can be accomplished through discipline.

Foolishness is not a learned behavior it is in that child from birth.

It can be removed while they are still young to keep them from harming themselves or others.

Parents who love their children will correct them!

Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

God says we will reap what we sow.

So those who oppress the poor will themselves suffer similarly by giving their riches to someone who is already rich and does not need it.

Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

We can see where we fail in this life if we reject the wisdom of God.

When we reject the Word of God, we live in open opposition to Him.

True success in life comes through trusting and fearing the Lord.

Who are the foolish, all those who do not want the Lord to be on their side!

The Bible did not come to us by accident!

It is a Holy God who has preserved His Word for us to know and respect.

*Pro 22:17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Pro 22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
Pro 22:19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Pro 22:20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Pro 22:21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

Wisdom does not just come upon us. We must ask for wisdom and then study what other wise men have said.

If we understand that the Holy Spirit has directed the thoughts of God to men to write down so they can be understood.

The Word of God is useless if it remains in the Book. These wise words must be read and studied and brought into our hearts and our consciences.

That word hear is the Hebrew word “shama,” which means to hear intelligently and to heed and obey.

We must keep this wisdom in our hearts.

Rom_6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

God wants His word to be active in our lives.

The Bible is the most powerful Book that has ever existed!

It is nourishment for the soul!

It is the seed that brings forth much fruit.

It is the truth that applies to this life we live now.

It is the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, that teaches us to trust Jehovah, Yahweh, Elohim, the Almighty God.

It is our Heavenly Father who is the source of all wisdom, no matter whose lips it comes from.

God wants us to know the truth of this world.

God expects us to know the truth of this world.

God wants us to have confidence in His Word of Truth!

Jehovah can be trusted, the Lord Jesus Christ can be trusted, and the Holy Spirit can be trusted because the Bible is designed and written by the Holy Trinity, so we can know the truth.

God gives us His truth so we can live more successful and meaningful lives.

It is the Word of God that gives us this powerful message we can share with those who do not know Him.

God did not have to tell us anything, and we would have gone through life confused, but He would have still held us accountable for our sin.

Rom_1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

God gave us His Word so that we can have hope that this life we live now is not just meaningless, and there is a better life ahead. That hope is in our Savior, God Himself!

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*Pro 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Pro 22:23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

There are many poor people in this world, many of them have happy lives and know that riches cannot make them happier than they already are.

Some are poor, and they do not like to be reminded of that fact, and we should help them if we are able.

We must understand that God is always on the side of the poor!

The instruction “not to rob the poor” does not speak of robbery because they have nothing worth stealing.

We are not to rob the poor of their dignity.

Many of the poor are taken advantage of because they cannot hire a lawyer.

God is reminding us that He will defend them in the end.

To understand what the Holy Spirit is talking about here, let’s look at the Apostle Paul.

2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

There are probably far more Christian Saints who were poor until they met the Lord Jesus than rich.

Just as it is today, many of the poor are wrongly afflicted by unjust judges and society.

Cruel and greedy people choose the poor as their targets because they are unable to defend themselves.

Praise the Lord, we have an advocate in Heaven.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Psa 35:10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

When the Lord says He will spoil the souls of those who oppress the poor, He is saying He will take away their lives.

*Pro 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Pro 22:25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

There are a lot of bad examples in our world, and we must not spend time around them.

Yes, we are to witness if we get the opportunity and flee as soon as we can.

Those who are short-tempered can influence us in a bad way.

All of us are prone to losing our temper from time to time, but this angry man from the Scripture is full of anger at all times, and the wise do not need to be around them.

Wise people understand the power of influence and avoid such people.

Bad behavior can rub off on people and infect others.

Uncontrolled anger is a trap that is easy to get caught in and hard to escape.

Scripture never tells us to associate with the ungodly for the purpose of trying to change their behavior.

In fact, Scripture tells us to be an example to them of the wisdom to avoid anger as best we can.

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

*Pro 22:26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Pro 22:27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

In the old days, all it took was a handshake to seal a deal.

We all want to help our children and maybe close friends, but God says do not secure debts for them.

I do not know how many of us have been burned by our own children, but it happens.

If that debtor is not creditworthy, then why should we be taken advantage of?

We end up taking up a debt that we are not prepared for, and we could lose our own possessions and our own creditworthiness be ruined.

Our testimony can also be affected if we are known to be someone who does not pay our debts.

We must not make foolish deals. Nothing is untouchable if you put yourself up for someone else’s debts.

*Pro 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

The ownership of property is important in today’s world, but it was extremely important in ancient Israel.

Most land is worth far more than its monetary value.

It was Jehovah who gave Abraham and the descendants of Sarah the land that belonged to Israel.

Deu 19:14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

Gen_17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

God had forbidden the children of Israel to sell their land He had given to them.

Moving a boundary stone was an act of theft and a violation of the eighth commandment.

Deu 19:14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

Deu 27:17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

*Pro 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

It is a rare occasion for a diligent worker to be fired, even in today’s world.

To have a good work ethic is to be obedient to our Heavenly Father.

Christians should be the best workers on any job site.

As believers, we are called to set the example of being diligent workers.

We are never to be seen as being lazy.

We do not labor only for our employers; we labor also for our Lord!

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

And the words that every Saint of God hopes to receive.

Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Amen

To Fear the Lord

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom’s Instructions About the Fear of the Lord

Book of Proverbs Chapter 14

What is the “Fear of the Lord”?

If we go back to Adam, God’s greatest creation, mankind, we know that Adam walked with God in the cool of the day. We can only imagine the conversations they had as they strolled through the Garden of Eden.

Things changed once Adam had sinned!

Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Those private walks in the Garden were over because Adam now had a great fear of the Lord, and this fear came to him because of sin.

We see that Adam’s fear stemmed from his awareness of his sin.

God knew where Adam was hiding, but he wanted Adam to admit that he was now a sinner.

It is the same thing we must all do to improve our relationship with the Lord God our Creator.

It is because we have sin in our lives that we must have a reverent “fear of the Lord”.

Then the Lord Jesus came to save us.

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Today, far too many live in fear of what this world is doing to them, and they have forgotten to fear the only One who can send us to Hell.

The Bible teaches us that we want to avoid Hell, and the only way to do this is to listen to what God has to say and be a doer of the Word of God.

*****Pro 14:1  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Remembering that wisdom comes from the “Fear of the Lord”, we can see that a wise woman makes her home her priority. Her primary focus is on her family.

She has not built with hammers and saws but with the qualities that make a home a home.

She builds an atmosphere that supports and strengthens her husband and her children.

This should be the priority in a wise woman’s home.

Today, with so many single mothers, these things cannot take place as they should.

God has ordained this role of the wife and mother.

1Ti 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Tit 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

This does not mean that the husband should not be involved, nor does this mean that the woman cannot work or be involved in things outside the home.

It just means her priority is the “Fear of the Lord,” which makes her a wise woman, and then she can build with her husband a house that is a home.

Today, there are far too many who destroy the home through neglect. The first thing they reject is the Word of God, which makes them foolish, and they have no “Fear of the Lord”.

This kind of woman will tear down the family because she puts everything else first before her family and her husband.

Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Pro 31:11  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Pro 31:12  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

It pays for the man looking for a wife to choose very carefully, and choose someone who has a reverent fear of the Lord.

It is the same for a woman looking for a husband.

*****Pro 14:2  He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

If we have a reverent fear of the Lord, it will show in the way we live our lives.

Remember, God will judge us by the way we look at His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

People who have truly placed their trust in the salvation and redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ will live their lives according to the written Word of God.

We must declare the Lord with our lips and demonstrate it with our lives!

That word walketh means the way we live our lives, our conduct, and our behavior.

All those who claim to be Christian and walk like the world are not telling the truth!

Many denominations are split over this very simple truth of God!

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Repentance is still the great Doctrine of the Bible that we are to keep.

True repentance is a change of mind and purpose and life, with remission of sin is promised.

Remission refers to the penalty of sin.

Forgiveness refers to the person.

*****Pro 14:3  In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

We can say that the fear of the Lord is also demonstrated by the way people speak.

The words of a fool will bring his own destruction.

Psa 64:8  So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

Whatever power that an arrogant fool thinks he has in the end will be a tool in the hands of the righteous.

They may cause us pain for a season, but in the end, they will bring their own destruction.

It can be said that a fool is his own worst enemy!

Pro 12:6  The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

*****Pro 14:4  Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Nobody likes to clean up a stall where animals are kept, nor the feeding trough, which is a crib or a manger.

If a farmer did not have an ox, he would have no crib to clean.

The farmer who has to clean the ox’s crib does so with a smile because the ox does all the hard work that allows his family to have plenty of food.

The farmer who is taking care of hardworking animals is better off than using his own labor to provide for his family.

A productive ox is far better than a barn that needs no cleaning.

There is a great reward that comes from a well-fed ox!

The same is true of Spiritual food. Walking by faith has its own difficulties, but we will not get to Heaven unless we do.

1Co 9:9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

1Co 9:10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

*****Pro 14:5  A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

A faithful witness cannot be convinced to tell a lie!

A false witness is someone God hates!

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

One of the things that is wrong in our court system today is the fact that so many lies are told, and no one seems to care, and no one is held accountable.

By the world’s standard, this may seem to be okay, but God’s standards are much higher than the world’s standards.

A foolproof test of a person’s heart is whether or not he or she will tell the truth.

A witness is someone who gives testimony in court or some official proceeding.

A Christian will tell the truth no matter the circumstance.

We even do wrong when we deal with our children at the time of Christmas and Easter.

Being faithful should mean much more than some lie for any reason, and we know that our Lord hates a liar, and there is no such thing as a white lie.

No amount of money should convince us to lie!

No promotion or promises should convince us to lie!

No threat of harm or danger should convince us to lie!

We are to remain as faithful witnesses no matter the cost!

Exo 23:1  Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Pro 10:18  He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Pro 12:19  The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

*****Pro 14:6  A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

There are times when those who deny God and God’s Word seek God’s wisdom, but they will never find it.

The Word of God will remain just another man-made book to them because they do not have the Holy Spirit to discern for them.

Wisdom is given only to those who have a reverent fear of the Lord!

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

*****Pro 14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Pro 14:8  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Pro 14:9  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

God shares His wisdom with His children so we can know how to move away from foolish people.

No wisdom can be gained from a fool!

Time spent with fools is wasted time, and we are taught not to waste the little time we have on fools.

Eph_5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Col_4:5  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Fools are deceiving themselves, and they will deceive anyone who listens to them.

When salvation becomes part of our lives, we can look back and see the flaws we were living with and do our best to fix those flaws.

This is called repentance, and we will need the Holy Spirit to be able to do this.

Spiritual blindness means the fool thinks he is acceptable to God just as he is and requires no change.

This one thing is causing the split of many denominations, and we must not get caught up with fools.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

As we see into the realm of the LGBTQ movement, fools scoff at the concept of feeling guilty for their sins and the need for atonement.

This applies to every person on this earth!

They deny the need to repent of their sins!

They deny that their lifestyle is living in sin and refuse to repent.

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

There can be no righteousness unless we fully accept our accountability to God and are grateful for His mercy and His grace.

God made a way for us to escape His wrath, and we must do the things He has commanded us to do to be saved.

*****Pro 14:10  The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

Neither our joys nor our sorrows can be wholly shared with another person.

No one can know how we truly feel, to feel that which we feel.

It is only our Lord Jesus Christ who can know these things about us.

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2Co 1:5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

This is the exact reason He took on that body of flesh, so He could know exactly how we feel in terrible or even joyous situations.

We can be sure that as Christians, we will experience great times of joy, but we will also experience those times of mourning and heart pain.

Those who love us and love the Lord will give us room to go through these times and be ready to come to our aid if we request their help.

If we are in a Bible believing church, we can be sure that if we are going through some situation, there is someone in that church who has been through a similar situation, and this person will know the comfort that came from God when they needed it.

It is only Jesus Christ who knows the truth about us!

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

We should have a routine that starts with the Lord every day to prepare ourselves to go out into this wicked world.

We need that hedge of protection that God provides if we are His children!

We need to spend some time in the Word of God.

We certainly need to spend some time in conversation with God.

We must consistently walk in obedience to the Word of God all day.

We must not only avoid evil but also avoid looking like we are taking part in any evil or wickedness in this world we have become strangers to.

*****Pro 14:11  The house of the wicked shall be overthrown but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Pro 14:13  Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Pro 14:14  The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Pro 14:15  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

We must prepare for our own end.

We must prepare for what will occur when our lives on this earth are over.

We must prepare to meet our God!

When our heart beats for the last time and our living spirit leaves our body of dirt, every individual will meet God in judgment.

Heb_9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Ecc 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, their body is just a house.

Those who have given their heart to the Lord Jesus, their body is a Tabernacle.

A house is a permanent dwelling; a Tabernacle is just a temporary dwelling place.

A house is a place for those who are settled, a tent or tabernacle is a place for those on a journey.

A house is more stable than a tent.

A house is of earthly value and more expensive than a tent.

To those who are lost, a house is more desirable, but the Word of God does not agree.

An earthly house is the best a lost person can hope for.

When they reach the end of their days without the Lord, that earthly house is destroyed, and they are homeless throughout eternity.

That soul that cannot die will spend eternity in Hell.

Those who love the Lord know their flesh is no more than a tent, and this life is only part of our journey, and we are only passing through this world to get to our permanent home in God’s New Heaven.

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Those who are lost trust in their own judgment, which will lead to eternal torment and eternal death!

Those who love the Lord Jesus trust in God’s way, the way that leads to true life, which is eternal life!

It is a tragic mistake to believe that there is no God who is our Creator, and we have to abide by His Word.

All those who are deceived have been deceived by Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, and Shintoism, and the Dalai Lama, Joseph Smith, Charles Russel, and L. Ron Hubbard, and any salvation by works.

Even those who are atheists have been deceived.

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

We may all travel the mountains and the valleys of this world, but to God’s children, He will travel with them, and He is always ready to take them home at the end of that last breath here in this world.

These things are not true for all the others who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

These things are serious and not things that can be laughed at.

The backslider in heart is the one who turns away from God, and he will reap the rewards of his wickedness: Pro 1:31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Pro 1:32  For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

We must understand that we will reap what we have sown while we are in these earthly bodies!

The backsliders are those people who seem to follow the Lord Jesus, but in their hearts, they have completely turned away from God.

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

With the wisdom of God, we can take thought of our actions before we face them.

Those without God will believe anything and follow anything.

Even as Christians, it may be hard to see the concept of eternity, but it is real.

How we spend eternity depends upon what we have done with the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we are wise, we have prepared for eternity by believing the truth of God and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who opened Heaven’s doors to accept those who have placed their faith in the Gospel.

The ones we are to reach with the Gospel are not the ones who have rejected the Gospel many times, but the ones we are to reach are those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

*****Pro 14:16  A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Pro 14:17  He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Pro 14:18  The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Pro 14:19  The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Pro 14:20  The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

We all know that things are going on in this world and in the heavens that we just do not understand.

We have seen things discovered that no one can explain.

Those who believe in the evolution theory have us all beginning as apes.

They have simple-minded people who could do nothing more than hunt game and raise a few crops just to survive.

God says that from the beginning of time, humans were city builders.

Gen 4:17  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Gen 4:21  And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Gen 4:22  And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

We also know that after the great flood of this world, all the pyramids and ziggurats were built.

Gen 10:32  These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Gen 11:4  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Gen 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Gen 11:9  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

These things can be denied, but it does not make them any less true.

Humans have always been able to build things!

We who know the Lord fear sin because we now know the consequences of sin.

Those who are fools are reckless and self-confident.

Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Foolish people are quick-tempered and do not try to control their tempers.

I know because I was one of them.

Even later, with PTSD, I became worse, but the Lord Jesus has shown me the way out.

Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

A fool is someone who has heard that there may be a God who is our Creator, but they will not take the time to find out more about Him.

This is part of our sin nature we inherited from Adam. We are foolish by nature.

We can quit being foolish by choosing the “Fear of the Lord”.

The Word of God is our “hedge of protection” if we abide by it!

We must understand that the Devil will certainly bow before God on the day God chooses.

Evil will bow before the Church at God’s appointed time.

Evil will only profit in the world we live in now, but there is no evil in our future once God takes us home.

Rom 16:20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

As the Church, we are to see every soul as equal.

The rich may have many friends, but those friends are only there because of their wealth, and they all hate the poor man.

It is not to be this way in the Church of the Living God!

The Church will not be blessed unless the Church has “mercy” on the poor.

The poor are all those who have need of help financially and spiritually.

Psa 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

The ways of the world will make us angry, but we are to do our best not to follow the ways of this world.

*****Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

It is not a sin to become angry; it is a sin to remain angry.

By remaining angry, we become fools: Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

It is called self-control; it could also be called being sober.

Self-restraint means we are never to disregard the feelings of others.

We cannot remain healthy without a healthy heart.

He has a healthy heart, morally and physically, and is not cluttered up with anger issues.

Pro_4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Envy will eat away at our strength like heart disease and cancer eat away at our lives.

Envy is like a deadly plague trying to destroy our nation.

To oppress is to offer violence to the bodies, to the property, or to the conscience of others.

This happens to the poor more than it happens to any other group, though the oppression of Christ is rising in this world.

We can also see that protests have become nothing but a means to oppress those who do not agree with the agenda that is being pushed on them.

We can see that these things bring on the wrath of our Maker, our Creator.

No one has the right to oppress someone else in this world, and this includes wicked governments.

1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Those who are wicked do not even realize what is in store for them!

***** Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Pro 14:33  Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Pro 14:35  The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Once we claim the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior with all our hearts, our future is set in stone. It cannot change!

We can live in peace knowing that no matter when death comes our way, it means life.

As Christians, we can look death right in the his face and say: 1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Those who reject the Gospel have no such hope. They may not believe in Hell, but they are in for a rude awakening on the day of their death.

Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Almost every politician campaigns on making our nation better.

Some truly try, and others had no intention but only sought to make themselves prosperous.

Our nation cannot prosper through illegal immigration.

Our nation cannot prosper through the drug trade.

Our nation cannot prosper through lawlessness.

Our nation cannot prosper through corruption.

Our nation cannot prosper through immorality.

Our nation cannot prosper through spending more than it takes in.

Our nation cannot prosper through the profits of sin.

Only one factor determines whether a nation rises or falls, and it is righteousness.

Nations that follow God’s standards, that are governed by the Word of God, are great nations.

For America to be a great nation again, it must stop its downhill slide to Hell, and this goes for every nation.

Good citizens serve the best interests of their nations.

The wicked serve only themselves!

God’s principles will do the same for families, co-workers, and friends.

How Christians are to behave is written in plain language in the Word of God.

Wake up Church!

Amen

An Open Invitation

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom’s Invitation

Book of Proverbs Chapter 9

Without a doubt, the Bible is the place to find “wisdom” and “understanding” of the things in our lives today and the things going on in this world.

We can see much of God’s wisdom in His creations, especially in the nighttime sky. However, we can also see the great wisdom of God in childbirth and new life and all other of His creations.

He created humanity, we did not come from monkeys.

The theory of evolution is the doctrine of Athiests!

The Bible tells us that “wisdom” is the principal thing, or the most important thing, for understanding the things of this world and of course God’s World to come.

Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

The Bible says that without wisdom, we cannot even apply our hearts to understanding.

The Bible tells us where to find this wisdom:

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

So, what are these 7 pillars of wisdom so that we can build our house of understanding?

Let’s jump right into our lesson today.

*Pro 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

James, the Half-Brother of Jesus, gives these seven pillars of wisdom to us:

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

1) The wisdom from Heaven and God is first “Pure”:

In other words, these 7 pillars of wisdom must first be built upon Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ is our foundation for wisdom:

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Remember, it is not Peter that is the “Rock,” it is what Peter had just said!

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

This can happen only one way:

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Without the purity of Jesus Christ, the other pillars will fall.

2) The wisdom from God is next “Peaceable”:

The Bible says:

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2Ti 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

3.) The man of wisdom must next be “Gentle”:

Every child of God must be a gentleman or gentlewoman.

Again, the Bible says:

Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

4) The man of wisdom must next be “Easy to Be Entreated”:

This is being reasonable when it comes understanding the Word of God.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

5) The man of wisdom must next be “Full of Mercy and Good Fruits”:

This is always helpful and considerate!

The Bible says:

Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

6) The man of wisdom must next be “Without Partiality”

The word “race” is not in the Bible. The word “tongues” meaning languages suggests only other cultures, and “race” is irrelevant!

God does not look at the color of our skin; He looks into the heart.

The Bible says:

1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

7) And the man of wisdom must be without “Hypocrisy”

Again, the Bible says:

1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Being a Christian is not putting on a show, but “It Is” being sincere in speech and our actions.

We must be “doers of the Word,” not hearers only!

There is no “Wisdom without the Lord,” and your house of “Wisdom” will fall without these “Seven Pillars”!

Here again, we see wisdom in the sense of a female, and King Solomon shows us two females, or we could say hostesses serving up a meal to guests in their homes.

As we are filled with the Holy Spirit of Jehovah, we also have the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

With the wisdom of God as described by James, the stepbrother of our Lord Jesus, we begin to see that wisdom is the source of life-giving nourishment.

The woman of wisdom is the builder and the dweller of a beautiful house who has prepared her meal and sends her maids out to invite guests.

The woman of folly is pictured as a lewd woman who sits on a chair at the door of her house and lures passersby to come to her, and she has also prepared her feast.

True wisdom is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ: Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

*Pro 9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Pro 9:3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
Pro 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Pro 9:5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Pro 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

All those who lack wisdom are searching for something, but they do not understand what it is.

They do not know that they need this wisdom to live, but are easily influenced by foolishness.

To accept the woman of wisdom is to have life and have it more abundantly; pleasure is not mentioned.

To accept the woman of folly means to enter into the realm of the dead. Pleasure is mentioned so she can hide the death that is in the end.

The woman of wisdom addresses all those who are without discernment to all who would attend.

2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Those who accept the invitation of the woman of wisdom, which results in a major life change.

They choose to forsake their foolish ways of the world and go in a different direction.

It is called to repent.

Wisdom’s house is not on the path to destruction but upon the road of life.

Those who are simple are those who are foolish, who are traveling on the road to destruction and every foolish way.

To accept the woman of wisdom is to make a choice.

To accept the foolish woman to remain on the path they are already traveling on the road of pleasure that leads to death.

*Pro 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Who are those who will now be called foolish? Those who reject the wisdom of God!

They are the scorners.
They are the wicked souls of mankind.

2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

There is no remedy for those who reject the wisdom of God.

Pro 15:12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

As we have found out, not many will accept the truth of the Messiah.

Not many will accept the truth of God.

Most people will refuse to change their lifestyles just because we tell them they must be saved.

They will get angry, and God’s messengers, and we know that Christian persecution is on the rise.

Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

They remain lost because they refuse to believe that they are lost!

There is only one path to tru life, and there can only be one path!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Then how are we to continue as the messengers of God?

*Pro 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Pro 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

1) Do not reprove or rebuke a mocker, someone who is unteachable and filled with pride.

The Lord Jesus said: Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

2) Rebuke only those who humbly acknowledge their sinful condition and accept that they need to repent of their sinful ways.

3) Instruct the wise, and they will grow wiser. This is discipleship.

4) Teach the righteous, and they will seek to know more.

5) We must all know the beginning point of wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord. We must trust the Lord as we begin a personal relationship with Him. We begin to know by experience as we see what He has done in our own lives.

Wisdom will reward its messengers.

*Pro 9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Pro 9:12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

We must be real with ourselves! Every person will bear the consequences of the choices they make in this life!

Wise choices will produce good fruit.

Foolish choices will result in decay and death.

For all those who accept wisdom’s invitation will receive sweet fruit.

One of the rewards for accepting this wisdom is long life, many days, and additional years.

Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Pro 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand, riches and honour.

Pro 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

We do not know how many more days or how many more years are still in the hands of God, but we know they all are.

Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Pro 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

We can be sure that the wisdom from Heaven will enrich every day we have left upon us.

What do we know for sure?

1) The Lord Jesus is building a house for all those who accept Him.
2) Our Father’s house can hold many mansions.
3) The Lord has extended an invitation to anyone who believes in the marriage supper of His Son.
4) The Lord Jesus Christ is the embodiment of wisdom.
5) Every believer is commissioned to deliver the Lord’s message to the world.
6) Every believer can expect to be persecuted in this world.
7) The way of the foolish is death!

*Pro 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
Pro 9:14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Pro 9:15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
Pro 9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Pro 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Pro 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

The woman of Folly, the foolish, also has her house.

This woman is loud, boisterous, and noisy.

She is naive and gullible, and lacking in judgment.
She is prone to pitfalls. just like those who are taken by her.
She knows nothing.
She is ignorant of the truth.
She does not have good sense.
She is ignorant of the fear of the Lord.

She sits in her doorway to lure in her prey.
Her house sits on a hilltop, so she can be easily seen.
She loves to be seen and heard as passersby go past her.
Her house is neither spacious nor is it safe to enter.
She has prepared nothing for those who enter.
She is lazy and selfish.
She is always on the lookout for her next victim.
She always sits in the best location.
She calls out to all who pass by, even those who are minding their own business.
She invites them all into her house of doom, especially those who are trying to find her.
She lives on the road to destruction.
She especially tries to distract those who ignore her.
She finds many on this road to destruction who do not know where they are.
She targets those who are simple and lost.
She entices them all with her secret sin.

Her folly fulfills all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

Wisdom is a life built upon the “Fear of the Lord” and the repentance from our sin nature!

Folly is a life built upon the rejection of the Lord.

Jesus gives us a description of the sin that cannot be forgiven: Jhn_16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Jhn_16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Folly is a deceptive harlot and an unworthy wife.

She serves only water and makes it thrilling by the fact that she has stolen it.

There is no substance in her drink, nothing of lasting value.

There is good reason to believe that these things speak of immorality, but we will not go there for now.

She is wicked and immoral, and those she traps are doomed to Hell.

So, we can see this lesson is about the choices we make in this life.

The woman of wisdom and the woman of folly are both trying to capture souls.

If we choose wisdom, we will live wisely by building our lives around the “Fear of the Lord”.

We will turn away from all paths to destruction.

God will reward us!

If we choose folly, we will build our lives around sin, we will reject the Lord Jesus, and we will continue traveling that road to destruction.

We will remain separated from our Creator and our God!

The only choices that we need to make are:

1) Choose wisdom.
2) Choose Christ Jesus.
Choose Life.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We should know that Satan is the king of folly.

Satan offers nothing to those caught up in his grasp.

He is a thief and a counterfeiter.

He takes what he steals from God and then corrupts it.

He will tell the same lies that he told Eve.

Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

We need to be aware of the choices we make in this life and just choose our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.