May 20, 2013 – Daily Bible Reading

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Proverbs – Chapter 24 –

Growing in the Understanding of Wisdom

Proverbs 24:3-4

Although this proverb can be taken literally, it has a broad application. It can be interpreted spiritually. Jesus talked about building our house on the rock (Mat 7:24-27, Lk 6:47-49) and meant building our life by obeying His Words. In His Words we can find all the wisdom we need.

This is also true for the spiritual wisdom required for building the house of God, the church.

Proverbs 24:5-6

Wisdom is better than physical strength. Today we say, “Knowledge is power”. You may not be involved in a war, but for anything that involves some risk, you need wise counsel. In the multitude of counselors there is safety. However, the wise does not seek counsel from anybody. He seeks counsel from those who have experience and have demonstrated wisdom by their success. Many fools are ready to give advice, but their advice is only the opinion of a fool. The more of this type of advice you get, and the more confused you will be. See also Pro 11:14, 15:22.

The best advice we can receive is from the Holy Spirit, who is your counselor. But to receive it from Him, we must learn to hear from Him. He talks to us in many ways, from God’s Word, from other mature believers, at times through our circumstances and through the still small voice in us (1 Kin 19:11-12).

Using the idea in Pro 24:6, Jesus thought about the need of counting the cost before engaging in a dangerous activity or challenging project (Luke 14:28-32).

Proverbs 24:7

Fools cannot receive great wisdom and cannot speak at the gates. The gates were the place where judges sat (see Amos 5:15). That means, a fool should not be appointed as judge.  See also Pro 14:6 and 1 Cor 2:14.

More on the Impact of Laziness

Proverbs 24:30-34

Here the laziness is related to lack of sound judgment. The image of a poorly kept vineyard effectively describes the life of someone lacking self-discipline.

Other Proverbs about laziness are:

Pro 6:6-11 – The lazy should learn from the ant

Pro 12:24 – The lazy will be subject to forced labor.

Pro 12:27 – The lazy does not appreciate or value what he has. He is too lazy to take care of it.

Pro 13:4 – The lazy man will wants many things but will not have them.

Pro 18:9 – A lazy man wastes what he has.

Pro 21:25 – Laziness will destroy your life.

Paul teaches that if a man does not work, he should not be allowed to eat (2 Thes 3:10) and that if he does not provide for his family, he has denied his faith and is worse than an infidel (1 Tim 5:8).

Some believers think that the only thing that they must do to be spiritual is to pray but Jesus said that He did the work of the Father (John 5:17) and that was the Father’s will that He would finish His work (John 4:34). Further, Paul said that we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10). Our good works are the evidence of our salvation.

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I thank you Father, Your Word gives me wisdom and the Holy Spirit counsels me.  They keep me motivated to accomplish the good works I was created for. It is good to walk in your ways and to see all the blessings it produces in my life.

Thank you, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

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