Devotional

Christian Devotional – September 5, 2019

A Father’s Advice. Part of the responsibility of parents is to impart advice to their children. As Solomon continues to write about wisdom, he is reminded of all the advice that his father has given him over the years. Read Proverbs 4.

A Father’s Advice: Acquire Wisdom, Proverbs 4:1-13

Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. “Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.” Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
Proverbs 4:1‭-‬13 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.4.1-13.NASB

Wisdom doesn’t just happen. People must actively seek it out. And when you find wisdom, wisdom does a great many things for you. Wisdom helps a person to attain honor and to walk each day in a way that is respectful and worthy of all that God has given. However, if we are not actively seeking to acquire this wisdom, we will miss it. Are we making a conscious choice to seek after wisdom today?

A Father’s Advice: Avoid Wickedness, Proverbs 4:14-27

Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:14‭-‬27 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.4.14-27.NASB

Not only should we seek to acquire wisdom, but we should actively seek to avoid wickedness. Solomon’s father gave him this advice and gave specific examples and reasons for why we should be avoiding wickedness. The interesting thing, wickedness is seeking us out. If we are not diligent to avoid it, it will find us. While we are to be actively seeking wisdom, we must recognize that wickedness is actively seeking us. This is not a passive experience. There is a battle and a war going on within us and if we are not consciously choosing to fight on the side of wisdom and following God, then we will get taken under by the wickedness that pursues us. Are we engaged in the fight today? Are we winning? Only as we allow God to fight the fight for us will we see the victories in these areas.