Proverbs: Chapter 4:

Chapter 4: A Father's Wise Instruction:

Westcliffe, Colorado 

Do not just listen to what I am saying but fully understand it and put it to practice in your life. Do not let these things go in one ear and out the other! Live your life in a way that allows you to gain wisdom and avoid evil. Plan your life around gaining wisdom, meet with those who have come before you and learn from their mistakes (Example A: Solomon), listen to them attentively, and remember those conversations when you come across something that will make you stumble. Love the idea of wisdom and live it, don't just consider it, do it. The start of wisdom is getting wisdom! You cannot know wisdom until you start seeking wisdom, that is the first step of being wise, admitting you are a fool and in need of wisdom, step two is seeking wisdom. Any fool can admit he is unwise, but you start to gain knowledge when you take action. (Side rant to men only: We need to start being men and taking accountability for our actions. This is rampant through our society, boys who are masquerading as men. It is unacceptable, and we need to remedy the situation. We need to be men of courage, strength, honor, dignity, and respect. Seek to love women in a way that values who they are, not what they can do for you. We are all selfish people, we need to suppress our pride and seek restoration in humility.) Most of us know how we should be living and realize when we have done something wrong. This isn't a shock to anyone; however, we merely choose to make poor choices. We don't have a knowledge issue, we have an "I don't care what happens to others" issue. We are greedy, selfish, corrupt people who primarily seek self-satisfaction. Solomon calls us to steer clear of the path of the wicked and not to walk in the way of evil. This is coming from a man who had all the pleasures of the world in his possession and far exceeded us in wealth, fame, sex, or power. He tells us not to go down the path of wickedness and that we should turn away from it. Those who walk wickedly will not sleep until they draw others into their wickedness. I remember this feeling quite well, especially when I had a lot of struggles within the realm of sexual activity. I didn't want to just let it be me on an island who struggled with this, I would try to ensure I knew that others were doing the same things I did, then lie to them and say I didn't struggle with it. But, this boosted my ego and ensured I wasn't the only one sinning, therefore I don't need to change how I perceive it. This is madness! I was within deep darkness and I couldn't recognize the absurdity in my mind or the wickedness of my ways. I was so blinded by my pride and self-seeking behavior that I couldn't even see my sin for what it truly was, I constantly rationalized my behaviors. If only I could have been better at listening to my own father’s teachings, or Solomon's warnings, or the entire gospel that I have had in front of me my entire life. But, God used these things to break me down and then draw me to Him. He gave me no choice and brought beauty from the pain, restoration to the broken and never-ending grace for a sinner like me. If you have given your life to Christ and find your identity in Him, you have new life. You are a new creation, healing has come to your brokenness. Again, this does not mean you won't continue to sin in your life, but you will be drawn towards things that are holy and begin to have a different mindset of how you see your sin. You will see that sin puts barriers between yourself and God. This is where repenting and seeking forgiveness (which is always given and is free) from our Father is so rewarding to our minds, hearts, and souls. He gives us the freedom to be cut loose from the bindings that sin has put on us and glorify Him. [Don't try to restrain the Holy Spirit from working through your life.] We should be thinking about where we are going in life and ponder the paths we tread upon. The wise man will do these things.

Dear Lord, thank you for using the countless number of older married men that I was privileged to interact with over the weekend at the GRIP retreat. I pray that you will allow me to humble myself before you in all things. I pray that you will watch over my future and that it will bring forth fruit beyond anything I could ever imagine. I hope you will use me to stir other's affections for Christ and bring them to a place of humility before you. Amen. 

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