Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
How often have we told our children “listen to what I say”, and “did you hear me” and get no response. Well God wants us to listen to what His word says and really pay attention to what it says. We are to never quit reading and studying God’s word and let in sink deep into our hearts. Again we see that by living what God’s word says we can have a good life and by faith know we will live a healthy life if we claim it. Not only do you gain the word of God by reading the Bible but also by attending a Bible teaching church and engaging in study with other believers. It helps us to get recharged when we attend church on a regular basis for in reality we need all we can get in the world we live in today. So please attend the church of your choice today and if you do not have one we would welcome you at the Luverne First Assembly of God on
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Verse 18 looks on the opposite of what we just seen but it helps us to see that as we stay true to the wisdom of God we can be a shinning light to lost world until the time when we are in a perfect world. That world would be eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior. Verse 19 goes back to the wicked and shows us that evil works in darkness. When there is darkness we know we stumble over things we cannot see and it is the same with people who are wicked. They can not find the right paths to walk in because of the darkness they operate in. We read in John, the Light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. Nothing good ever comes from living in darkness we always need to let our light be shinning.
Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Now we get to put our wisdom to work. To keep from sinning the first thing we need to do is not put ourselves in a position to sin and that basically means to stay away from sinful places and people. We know that all have sinned come short of the glory of God but we need to look at this in the election coming up and apply the wisdom we have to making the right decision in who we vote for.I will not call names but with one candidate sin is going to multiply in this country if they get elected and with the other candidate we have a chance to change the way America is going, Now you use your wisdom to decide which one is which. Verse 15 says with sin we are to avoid it, pas not by it, turn from it, and escape it. In other words do everything you can to keep focused on God. We see in these next two verses a person who has chosen a sinful way of life are not satisfied to ruin just their own lives but are trying to drag others into their sin. Misery loves company. They have to sin before they can sleep, and they view their sin as food for their hungry, wicked souls. These people are usually hardened criminals and their lives usually wind up totally lost to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I know this Scripture says to stay away from stuff like this but these are the people who need Jesus the most and that is where our wisdom comes in and allows us to be able to reach at least some of these people.
Proverbs 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
As we continue we see that when we learn the wisdom of God we walk in the paths that God leads us, only the right paths. Pray for wisdom of God and walk in that wisdom, and you shall not stumble and fall. You can run the race well and not stumble along the way as long as the wisdom of God directs you. Again we see that we need to hold on to the wisdom we obtain but also to never quit learning more for this is what keeps us going. It tells us we can have life more abundantly if we hold on to what we have gained and continue to obtain more wisdom.
Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
When we embrace wisdom and give God glory for for helping us attain it then God will bring honor to us. A foolish child will bring shame to the parents, but children raised in a Godly home with wisdom will bring honor to the parents. So it is important that adults learn to teach their children wisdom as early as possible. As we grow in wisdom God will continually pour out His grace and glory on us. Again we see that if strive to obtain as much wisdom as we can our days will be long. Remember one of the commandments ;
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee
Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Solomon, as you can see here, thought that wisdom and understanding was the most important things to have. Worldly wisdom is not what Solomon had in mind, here either. He refers to wisdom as a person but wisdom is a spirit. To obtain wisdom is one thing but we need to hold on to it be grateful that God entrusted us with it and that He preserves us for being dedicated to Him. Again Solomon tells us that wisdom is important but it is not just wisdom alone, we need to develop understanding with it.
Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
As we continue we can see that the instruction from the father comes the wisdom of the father to help the children get understanding. It states here that the father gives a good doctrine not to forsake the law, which we have to realize this is Old Testament and most children were taught from the law of God’s word.Verse 3 is simply saying that Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. The scripture goes on to tell us that if we keep the commandments we are taught in our hearts, God’s word tells to hide His word in heart so we will not sin, we can live a long life. In some respect Proverbs is still continuing to teach on wisdom, so wisdom must be a pretty important gift we need to obtain.
Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
The forward here is the wicked and they cannot see and hearing they cannot hear so they cannot know the secret. To the righteous we know that the secret is that Jesus Christ is our savior. All through God’s word He blesses those who follow His commandments and curses those who do not. God looks unfavorably on those who think to highly of themselves, but gives grace to those that humble themselves before Him.
Psalms 138:6, “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”
We end this chapter talking about wisdom again for it says the wise shall inherit glory. But for those who live worldly lives their gain is what they have here and this cause them to look like fools which brings shame. So today please attend the church of your choice and let God begin to give you the desire to gain the knowledge you need to a part of His chosen people. We welcome any and all to come and worship with us at Luverne First Assembly of God.
Proverbs 3:29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
From the wisdom we have learned about we now need to apply it. God wants us to love our neighbor and not try to do anything that would cause him to not see God in us. We do not devise bad things for ourselves so we should not do this for our neighbor. Also we should not try to cause strife and fussing between people but we should try to live in peace with everyone. We know this is not always possible but we should never be the one who starts strife or keep it going. The people who are always causing problems are bullies and we should not associate ourselves with them. They are people who oppress others to obtain what they want and we should never fellowship with them. These scriptures show us that there are two kinds of people and they are kind of like oil and water , they do not mix. We should never want to acquire the ways of these people but pray they will find the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
This first verse is saying that when someone is in need, whether it be a stranger or a neighbor, and we have it in our power to help them we should do it. Then verse 28 says so many times we have tendency to offer some kind of excuse that we can not help right now but we will later when we actually have what they need right now. This is not only a message for the individual but also for the church when someone or a family is need for what ever reason the church needs to help them and not at some date in the future when they have the means to do it now.
1 Timothy 6:17-18 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I John 5:7
