My Daily Pause

Month: October 2011

  • Proverbs 5:1-6 – Charmed

    Proverbs 5:1-6 – Charmed

     1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
    listen to my words of understanding.
    2 Be careful to use good sense,
    and watch what you say.
    3 The words of another man’s wife may seem sweet as honey;
    they may be as smooth as olive oil.
    4 But in the end she will bring you sorrow,
    causing you pain like a two-edged sword.
    5 She is on the way to death;
    her steps are headed straight to the grave.
    6 She gives little thought to life.
    She doesn’t even know that her ways are wrong.     – Proverbs 5:1-6 NCV

    Proverbs 5 contrasts the rewards of straying and the rewards of working on ones marriage. The lure of sin – any sin, is so convincing, so reasonable, that we often find ways to justify following it.

    For those unable to resist, the results are clear. Reread verses 5 and 6 and compare to Romans 6:23 to find an alternative.

  • Proverbs 4:1-9 – Seek Wisdom

    Proverbs 4:1-9 – Seek Wisdom

     1 My children, listen to your father’s teaching;
    pay attention so you will understand.
    2 What I am telling you is good,
    so do not forget what I teach you.
    3 When I was a young boy in my father’s house
    and like an only child to my mother,
    4 my father taught me and said,
    “Hold on to my words with all your heart.
    Keep my commands and you will live.
    5 Get wisdom and understanding.
    Don’t forget or ignore my words.
    6 Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you.
    Love it, and it will keep you safe.
    7 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom.
    If it costs everything you have, get understanding.
    8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great;
    hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.
    9 It will be like flowers in your hair
    and like a beautiful crown on your head.”     – Proverbs 4:1-9 NCV

    The modern versions of this passage seem to dance around the fact that verse 2 is talking about the Torah. The King James says 2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

    Solomon’s advice to seek wisdom, specifically God’s law, is passed down from his father and he considers it his family responsibility. What if more families remembered this and taught their children the thing that will take care of them, honor them and make them great?

    Those of us in the New Testament age have been given the wisdom we are to seek and pass on. Take a look at 1 Corinthians 1:30 for details!

  • Proverbs 2:9-11 – Rewards of Wisdom

    Proverbs 2:9-11 – Rewards of Wisdom

     9 Then you will understand what is honest and fair 
           and what is the good and right thing to do. 
     10 Wisdom will come into your mind, 
           and knowledge will be pleasing to you.
     11 Good sense will protect you; 
           understanding will guard you.

    Proverbs 2 lists five fruits of wisdom. This second paragraph is about the many precious rewards wisdom provides.

    Read about the first fruit, Finding God, here.

    Read about the third fruit, Delivered from Evil, here

    How do we reap the benefits of understanding God’s plan for us? We take the knowledge from our head and insert it into our heart by living it and allowing it to have dominion over us.

    How can we earn these benefits? Study! 2 Tim 2:15 KJV

  • Proverbs 1:10-19 – Refuse to Follow Evil

    Proverbs 1:10-19 – Refuse to Follow Evil

    10 My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin,
    do not follow them.
    11 They will say, “Come with us. …

    17 It is useless to spread out a net
    right where the birds can see it.
    18 But sinners will fall into their own traps;
    they will only catch themselves!
    19 All greedy people end up this way;
    greed kills selfish people. – Proverbs 1:10-11a, 17-19 NCV

    Contrast the birds’ ability to avoid an obvious trap with someone that enters willingly into sinful adventures – The easy score … The fast buck … “One upping” someone…

    History is littered with the failure of those who thought they could avoid falling into their own trap. For the ultimate example of avoiding temptation, read about Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11.