Proverbs 2:1
My son
Notice the word son. This is a young man or a person who puts himself in the position of learner.
receive my words
Notice that the writer says that even the son must put himself into an attitude to receive the words of this book. Just because you are a physical son or follower or employee, it does not mean that you will automatically be willing to receive instruction.
How tragic that sometimes the very people we would like to have receive our wisdom are not open to it. A person must be open to receive words of wisdom. If they are not open, then the wisdom of these lessons will fall like water off a duck's back.
This is a word to parents that you should make sure, in every way you can, that your children respect you enough to be willing to listen to you. You should make sure that they are not given free rein to their selfish tendencies to blow you off. You must do everything you can to ensure that the nature of your relationship is close and supportive so that their receiving your words is a no brainer.
This is also a warning to us. Do we have the proper attitude to receive God's wisdom even when it says things we don't want to hear or comes through a person we don't like? God is pouring out wisdom to us. If we are willing to hear it, He will make us wise. Many times we must admit that our own selfish choices caused much of the problems that we now experience. Is your heart right to receive God's wisdom - especially through this book, but also as we walk through the day?
treasure my commandments within you
What do you hold dear in your life? Is it a list of do's and don'ts that will show you the path of wisdom? Are we treasuring up useless trinkets when the real treasures we treat with disregard?
Remember our world system wants to get us to attach the wrong price tags to the stuff in our lives. They want us to have a high value on TV's, couches, cars, and homes while we put a low priority on God, family, Scripture, relationships, etc.
In this instance, God is telling you to put a high value on the list of do's and don'ts that you will find in this book. It will be a healing and a life to you. There are very few things that are more valuable than a guide that will help you arrive at the right decision every time. The commandments in this book are that guide. Don't throw it away as worthless or too complicated.
The commandments in this book are over 3,000 years old and have shown their worth in every culture and every time. They are breathed with the life of God, inspired by Him.
How many bad decisions have you made? If I could give you a list of things to think about before you made your decisions that would virtually eliminate bad decisions if you followed them, would that be worth something?
Now there is a difference between wise and foolish decisions and right and wrong decisions. Something may not be wrong, but it still may be foolish. This book will have us think about our decisions and actions at a much more fundamental level.
Three elementary guides that run through this book:
Is this thing I want to do selfish? Am I the only one who will profit from this? Is there another decision in which God and others can also profit with me?
Is what I want to do impulsive? Does it need to be done quickly without counsel or forethought? Impulsive decisions are almost always foolish decisions.
Is this decision I want to do rebellious? Does it involve rebelling against proper authorities? Does it require disappointing their trust in me? Rebellious decisions are usually not wise decisions.
These three guides will help inform and educate your decisions if you will receive them. There is so much more in the book of Proverbs, but you have to have a heart to receive them and treasure them.
How tragic that many people have the greatest book on how to live life in their homes, but they do not value it enough to read it every day. Bibles on the shelf do not do any good. It is verses in the heart that build a great life.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz