Doin’ right for yerself is good. Doin’ right by others makes all the difference.”
–Chris Mullen (Rowdy: Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen)
“Keep in mind that I am not talking now to your children, who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord your God or seen his greatness and his strong hand and powerful arm.”
–Deuteronomy 11:2 (NLT)
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Proverbs 1: NKJV
2 — To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding.
3 — To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 — To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion–
ESV
2 — To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
3 — to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 — to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.
It’s up to us! We decide which road to take; we decide which fork in the road is the better way. The words of James speaks loudly to us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (1:22, NIV) Thus we turn to Proverbs as a guidebook in the decisions of life. With the demands of life that we must face, Bob Beasley reminds us, “Many roads in life promise a future of success and happiness. But there is only one road of sure success.”
The greatest benefit of godly wisdom comes down to one thing: good decision-making (Beasley). Look at all that is offered to us: 1) know wisdom and instruction, 2) understand words of insight, 3) receive instruction in wise dealing in righteousness, justice, and equity, 4) prudence to the simple, and 5) knowledge and discretion to youth. “Wisdom is the choice of the best ends; to guide our affairs with discretion.” (Wardlaw)
To be wise…there are many brilliant and knowledgeable people who lack wisdom. To know Christ is the foundation of wisdom. Paul reminds us, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20, NIV) According to J. Vernon McGee, “To know Christ is not to play the fool; it is to be a wise man.” Paul continues in the same chapter of Corinthians, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1:30, NIV) There then follows instruction. The NIV translates this as “discipline.” McGee emphasizes that idea, “Instruction means you teach by discipline.” In fact, “chasten” more literally means “to give instruction'” the purpose then is not to punish as a criminal, but to teach by discipline. Instruction signifies moral training, admonition, then good habits–the practical side of life.
Understanding means intelligence, but to teach by discipline. “We need to recognize that God expects us to use our intelligence. He expects us to use a great deal of sanctified common sense.” This is distinguishing between good and evil counsel. We are also to receive righteousness, justice, and equity. Right behavior to paramount to life. Then what is right? Right is whatever God says. We must understand that right and wrong are not relative terms in the mind of God, therefore, we make decisions based on the word of God. Part of being just is our attitude in relation to God. Proverbs can teach us how to live intelligently, and how to be honest, just, and fair. McGee states, “This refers to principle rather than conduct. The child of God is not put under rules, but we are given great principles which should guide us.” Having been persuaded that we have made the right decisions we should be happy and actively pursue it without regret. McGee emphasizes that what we do then “ought to be done with anticipation, excitement, and joy.”
Prudence, that often misunderstood term–prudence is the ability to use reason to control oneself and make careful choices. It involves judgment, practical reasoning, planning, and restraint. “It is to be wise in what we do. A child of God ought not to act foolishly.” (McGee) We are not to be naive or ignorant; proper knowledge is to be given to the young. This means information that is useful; it is part of training for life. With knowledge is discretion which is to mean thoughtfulness.
We see then part of the purpose in the study of Proverbs. Listen to the words of the wise. Do not forget their teaching for it will save a lot of trouble and heartache along this road of life.
———————————–
Proverbs 1: NKJV
2 — To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding.
3 — To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 — To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion–
ESV
2 — To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
3 — to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 — to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.
It’s up to us! We decide which road to take; we decide which fork in the road is the better way. The words of James speaks loudly to us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (1:22, NIV) Thus we turn to Proverbs as a guidebook in the decisions of life. With the demands of life that we must face, Bob Beasley reminds us, “Many roads in life promise a future of success and happiness. But there is only one road of sure success.”
The greatest benefit of godly wisdom comes down to one thing: good decision-making (Beasley). Look at all that is offered to us: 1) know wisdom and instruction, 2) understand words of insight, 3) receive instruction in wise dealing in righteousness, justice, and equity, 4) prudence to the simple, and 5) knowledge and discretion to youth. “Wisdom is the choice of the best ends; to guide our affairs with discretion.” (Wardlaw)
To be wise…there are many brilliant and knowledgeable people who lack wisdom. To know Christ is the foundation of wisdom. Paul reminds us, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20, NIV) According to J. Vernon McGee, “To know Christ is not to play the fool; it is to be a wise man.” Paul continues in the same chapter of Corinthians, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1:30, NIV) There then follows instruction. The NIV translates this as “discipline.” McGee emphasizes that idea, “Instruction means you teach by discipline.” In fact, “chasten” more literally means “to give instruction'” the purpose then is not to punish as a criminal, but to teach by discipline. Instruction signifies moral training, admonition, then good habits–the practical side of life.
Understanding means intelligence, but to teach by discipline. “We need to recognize that God expects us to use our intelligence. He expects us to use a great deal of sanctified common sense.” This is distinguishing between good and evil counsel. We are also to receive righteousness, justice, and equity. Right behavior to paramount to life. Then what is right? Right is whatever God says. We must understand that right and wrong are not relative terms in the mind of God, therefore, we make decisions based on the word of God. Part of being just is our attitude in relation to God. Proverbs can teach us how to live intelligently, and how to be honest, just, and fair. McGee states, “This refers to principle rather than conduct. The child of God is not put under rules, but we are given great principles which should guide us.” Having been persuaded that we have made the right decisions we should be happy and actively pursue it without regret. McGee emphasizes that what we do then “ought to be done with anticipation, excitement, and joy.”
Prudence, that often misunderstood term–prudence is the ability to use reason to control oneself and make careful choices. It involves judgment, practical reasoning, planning, and restraint. “It is to be wise in what we do. A child of God ought not to act foolishly.” (McGee) We are not to be naive or ignorant; proper knowledge is to be given to the young. This means information that is useful; it is part of training for life. With knowledge is discretion which is to mean thoughtfulness.
We see then part of the purpose in the study of Proverbs. Listen to the words of the wise. Do not forget their teaching for it will save a lot of trouble and heartache along this road of life.