By Pastor Mark Hiehle
All of us want to be wise, discerning, understanding and knowledgeable.
Some have sought advanced degrees with a great deal of study, and others have learned an unmatched education by going through the school of hard knocks.
Despite the amount of degrees we hold or the experience we've gained, we know that we still need more insight and wisdom to deal with and handle the challenges that life demands. Our Heavenly Father, who knows us completely, inspired Solomon to write a book of Proverbs to give us instruction, knowledge and insight.
These proverbs are short pearls of wisdom that, if we apply ourselves to understand them, we will know what is right, just, and wise.
There are many different ways to read and study the truth found in the 31 short chapters of the book of Proverbs. For years, I have sought to read the chapter that corresponds to the day of the month.
Before beginning, I ask the Lord to speak to me and make at least one of the proverbs come alive to me, or speak to an issue I am facing. God has been so faithful to use His Word to tell me what I need to know or hear.
Allow a proverb to stay with you by meditating over the truth it contains. Think about what it means and how it relates to your life and situation.
If you begin reading these proverbs regularly, what can you expect? The Book of Proverbs was written so that we might obtain wisdom and discipline, understanding and insight. They will help us live a prudent life and do what is right, just and fair.
If we will listen to these proverbs we will add to our learning, and we will receive the guidance we so desperately need.
Throughout the book, these proverbs deal with relationships, money, temptations, and distinguishing between right from wrong. There are also warnings of things to avoid and principles to follow. All of these proverbs will give us direction to live by so that our lives might be blessed and fulfilled.
Over the next few weeks, I?’d like to share with you some proverbs that have spoken to me and the truth I have learned. It is important to understand, however, that for the truths within the proverbs to be unlocked, there is a prerequisite. Before you can gain the wisdom and insight found in the proverbs, you need to have what Solomon called, The Fear of The Lord.
It is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. The fear that is referred to is not a feeling of being scared, but one of reverence and awe. It literally means to live in submission with a sincere desire to be obedient to God.
In other words, if we seek to know God through His Word, the Bible, and live our lives by practicing the truth within it, then we will become wise.
As Proverbs 9:10 states, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Let?s learn together, apply the proverbs to our hearts and search for truth as if it were hidden treasure. Then, we will be wise and find the knowledge of God.
Pastor Mark Hiehle is the Senior Pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene at 1300 S. 29th St. in Chickasha, OK. www.chickashanaz.com
