Thursday, January 9, 2014

January 9 2014: Proverbs 9

Proverb in focus today is Proverbs 9:11. This is a verse that is easy to misapply in several directions.

 

First, there is misunderstanding this as guaranteeing long life. While it is certainly true that wisdom extends our life in most cases, it is not an ironclad promise.

 

Second, there is misunderstanding this verse as declaring that anyone who does not have long life lacks either wisdom or faith. This is no more certain than the first mistake.

 

Most of our mistakes with Proverbs come from assuming these are promises of God rather than wisdom from God. Here is no Almighty promise that you will live long, only Wisdom stating that it will likely help.

 

What we have to understand is that Proverbs often states the ideal, while we live in a world that has the taint of sin echoing in all we do. Violating the wisdom of the book of Proverbs is more likely to bring about the counter to the statement than you are guaranteed to get it if you follow.

 

Does that mean we can just run amok? Nonsense. We learn to follow wisdom, because we are better able to glorify God.

 

And, when you add in this verse, consider in this capacity: who gets more done in the time they have?

The Wise? Or the Foolish?

 

Wisdom multiplies the life we live in the time we have.

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