Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1. Verse 23 speaks of wisdom saying, “If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you”. Essentially, the verse speaks of one who ignored wisdom, I am assuming out of stubborn pride or foolishness, only to miss the wealth of blessings that only wisdom and the fear of the Lord can bring.

Later on in the chapter, (vs 26-32), it speaks of not only missing the blessings but of the self-destruction brought on by refusing to listen to wisdom and fearing the Lord. (v32) “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.” So, keep following your own way, refusing to listen to the wisdom of the Lord our God and you will fall pray to the fruit of your own ways and be destroyed.

However, there is hope! (v33) “but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm”. Wow, putting away my pride and foolishness, listening to the Lord my God, and following His wisdom, will allow me to live without fear of harm from my foolish ways. For I will live by His word and knowledge, no longer deaf to wisdom and; therefore, no longer thinking foolishly or being snared by my foolish actions. So, stop being hard-headed and listen to wisdom from the Almighty God (who better to get advice from, the God who can do any & everything), sounds like a no-brainer, huh? I see what happens to my life when I try to control it, I would much rather have God in control.

Lord, please help me not to be stubborn that I won’t listen to Your wisdom; please help me to see Your will, and please continue to show Your patience and mercy when I stumble along the way; for I don’t want to be the fool following my own desires, I want to listen to wisdom and follow Your ways for Your glory. Rick