Proverbs: Chapter 10:

Chapter 10: The Proverbs of Solomon:

Garden of the Gods | Colorado Springs, Colorado 

If we want to make our parents glad about us we should show them that we have learned wisdom and exhibit it through our lives. Do you long to bring sorrow or gladness to your parents? Regardless of your upbringing, your parents did the best they could with where they were, that idea sounds strange until you put into perspective that some parents are psychotic human beings. We are all sinners. We all fall short. Some of us are given grace (?) and the darkest parts of our thoughts and hearts never come to light (sometimes, this is grace.) and then there are those who seem to be completely evil because they don't even try to contain their inner dark thoughts and they have a warped idea of believing they aren't doing anything wrong. This is sin, same as you and I sin. However, it is received much differently, and we constantly tell ourselves we're better than that. Actually, we aren't better than that behavior, we are just saved by grace through faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit is working within us to draw us away from sinful behavior. We need to forget the irrational idea that we are better than other people based on a false sense of pride we have within us. Paul reminds us constantly that we didn't choose God | Galatians 4:9 "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, …" Ephesians 1:4 "… even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, …" or as Timothy says in 2 Timothy 1:9 "… (God) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, …" | we are not who we are because of us, it is because of God. We did not become Christians on our own merit, God worked in us.

Solomon's thesis of Chapter 10 is focusing on the idea that whoever walks in a way that is Holy and honor before God, will be blessed. Perhaps they won't be blessed with great wealth or physical abilities on earth, perhaps they won't be successful from a human perspective, they might even be termed a failure in many regards, however, those who give their lives to Christ and accept Him as Lord and savior will find all their joy met the day they are called home to Heaven. The person who does not begin with honoring God for who He is and accepting Christ into their heart as their Lord and savior will have a different ending point. Someone may be extremely successful, wealthy, powerful, physically impeccable, yet all these things will do is decrease their chances of crying out to God in pain asking for Him to save them. You can do everything 'right' from our societal view and live a life that everyone envies yet leave behind the wisdom to seek God first and His kingdom, this is the ultimate decision within life.

It is my belief that Solomon writes these because he wants us to be able to apply them directly to our personal lives and see where we may have folly or where we are exercising wisdom in life. The contrast between wisdom and folly can be hard to decipher at times and these examples help create a lot of clarity for me personally. Where do we see these examples in our own lives? I know for me that I struggle with receiving commandments and following them. I know they are for my good and I think I know that things will be better if I follow them. I understand it from an academic viewpoint, but I struggle to see it in my own life and seek that kind of commitment to some commandments. Scripture is far more than just a book, it is alive and speaks to us in ways nothing else can. It is divine, Holy, and true. Unfortunately, I want what I want, and I usually don't think twice about doing it. This is an area where I must analyze my deep yearnings and dissect why I believe my desires are better than what God has in store for me? I believe I am better than God, that is the logical explanation. I think that I know what is best for me and I won't be convinced otherwise until I do it, it doesn't bring joy, and then I crawl back in tears crying out to God to help me through the pain. When we do wrong and come back to God in a humble manner and seek His face, that is beautiful. However, the fool laughs when he is on fire and doing wrong. He doesn't seek out redemption nor does he feel conviction for his sins. This is the worst possible place you can be in life, seeking out that which is sinful and not feeling any remorse or guilt for your actions. How will you know what is right and true? Convict us for our sin and show us our evil ways, that is grace, Lord. The wicked will not endure, but the righteous will live forever.

Dear Lord, I am a sinner saved by grace who cannot see you for the perfection that you are. I am stunned, I place barriers between myself and you to try and avoid being seen, I attempt to hide my sins from you which is absurd. Show me your glory evermore and draw out the sin in my life and ensure I cannot hide my face. Please be with me and give me your strength during this time and show me the grace that I know you will. Amen. 

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