In today's age, where all of mankind's knowledge is available at the touch of a screen, few look for wisdom to guide their lives. Many are modern-day slaves to the whims of the world. Let us walk the journey together, moving from the terrestrial to the spiritual.
On Heavenly wisdom contriving towards deeds done in humility James 3:13-16
Humility is to remove pride and arrogance from one’s life, accepting that we are created beings, here for the ultimate purpose of serving our maker, by making the lives of our fellow creatures better. Earthly wisdom leads to vain glory or selfish unbridled ambition, bitterness, and envy. James is suggesting that these come from the demonic order, full of self-pride and aggression.
Heavenly wisdom is gentle, discerning, and loving. It fosters characteristics like Purity, Peace, Love, Consideration, Submission, Humility, Selflessness, Acceptance of slights, and so on. It does not mean being a walkover, but rather working hard at wisdom, being as wise as serpents, but being as gentle as doves; u see the truth of things, but you are gentle and discerning about it, seeking solutions cleverly. In walking with humility, you will know the fear of the Lord. He guards the way of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones
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On the purpose of a Godly Character Proverbs 2:12-22
- a) On life and knowing God's word
There are things we have no taste for because of what God has put into our hearts. Sin and Godliness cannot occupy one heart. This explains why you lose a taste for say violence, greed, selfishness, and the like as you expose yourself more and more to God's word.
Proverbs 4:18 relates to this: Keep close to God's word and it will keep the filth of the earth from you.
- b) On life and Consequences
Safeguards from wicked people and their intentions
The next inevitable question is who are they?
On who are the wicked?
In a nutshell, it is those that harm the harmless and plunder them. The general philosophy of the wicked is the strong over the weak, as is found in the animal kingdom. The grey matter in between their ears is for wicked acts, aimed at earthly material gain. These are not people, but animals.
I believe there is a hierarchy of good as there is of evil. Imagine a mastermind, running a drug cartel. At the very top is the Boss, and at the bottom is say a drug dealer at a street corner or a mule transporting drugs. The higher up one goes, the more the acts tend to be of a willful nature, while the lower one goes, the more it is of a forced association.
In the lower rungs, once you are in, the harder it is to escape, no matter what your own personal wish may be. The wicked tempt you to enter, knowing full well that they will never allow you to leave.
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In our culture, these could be:
The uncommitted
These have no particular worldview, just walking a middle line. They are easily swayed for material gain, but once they taste material gain, they find it difficult to leave and in many cases, they will be stopped from leaving
On who Trapped by darkness
I hate the saying that “While in Rome do what the Romans do”, because it suggests that you simply go with the flow, regardless of the outcome. Many youths are trapped in gangs, prostitution, trafficking, and the like. They simply can’t get out.
In the wider culture, those promoting fornication, adultery, violence and other immoral behaviour fall into the category of the wicked. This is a very wide net, considering that our entertainment industry from TV to movies and the like persuades millions, that these kinds of things are normal, when in fact it is the height of wickedness.
Our natural conscience leads us to the light, but we choose to do what is evil because it has immediate benefits, but we fail to understand that it’s a zero-sum game: we gain here but lose spiritually.
On whether the Bible Proverbs Promise Too Much?
Heavenly promises and Earths realities Proverbs 3:1-12
Verses 3: 1 Heavenly promises seem detached from Earth's realities. The promise of health, wealth, and prosperity can be misleading. These proverbs are proverbs of probabilities rather than the immediate reality.
The law alluded to here are the ten commandments and general catechetical teachings that revolve around the ten commandments. Among the Jews, they have the Torah, which are the teachings (10 commandments), and the Catechism (Misrah) which expounds on the same.
In following the law one can produce Hesed and Emeth.
Hesed is Mercy, kindness, and loyal love, to those unable to help themselves.
For example:
- Joseph sought his brother's filial love in the promise that when he died, he would be taken to the promised land
- Naomi uses this term, to describe Boaz's kindness to Ruth, in filling his familial obligations.
The Emeth person is the one you trust; they are faithful and can be counted upon. Christ is both Hesed and Emeth
Verses 3:2 The teaching will bring you shalom (peace and prosperity) harmony with God and man and thus avoid conflict
Verses 3: 3 This is about one’s usefulness in society, by helping the helpless (by being kind and faithful). We are meant to carry this attitude and teachings around our necks (meaning it should be ingrained in us).
Bind the teaching of Hesed (helping the helpless) around your neck. Don’t forget the teaching. To the poor conduct yourself with righteousness, justice, and equity.
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On not being wise in your own eyes, namely don’t be autonomous
Let Him come to mind first in all that you do. Put this into effect by always offering your first fruits. In fear of the Lord, submit yourself to revelation. Bones refers to psychological health
I interpret the issue of first fruits a little differently from others. What is offered to his priests is generally for the upkeep of the clergy and to aid the poor. We as Christians give what we can, we are not bound by Mosaic law. Give more or less than 10% depending on your circumstances and inclination; there is in my view no penalty.
Those nearest and dearest come first, then give what you can. A gift from God is first to take care of those under your care and then your neighbours. The only thing I ask all my fellow Christians to be wary of is not to give to wolves that wear priestly garb. Upkeep for the clergy is about basic living, and not Jets and Ferraris.
Verses 8-11 Promise of long life
Yes, there is a promise of long life, peace, and even an increase (in this world and the one to come), but do so sensibly, caring for your nearest and dearest first.
Honour means weight. If something has weight to me, then it has value and dignity. In honouring a person, you give them dignity and significance in the community. When I give my wealth to the Lord, I am giving my skin (the thing that covers me) to the Lord. Giving oneself to the Lord. I am honouring the Lord when I give. The skin protects the body and anything that acts similarly does the same. Money is a form of skin, that you can run to, to resolve all your problems. In giving it out, you are sharing your skin with God.
On the Value of wisdom and its application to neighbours Proverbs 3:13-35
Verses 13-18
It shows the value of wisdom to humanity in general, the value of wisdom to the Lord, and then the value of wisdom to the son. Blessed is he who understands. Her value is greater than all the jewels on the earth; Honor, long life, peace, prosperity, and psychological and physical wellness.
Gold is good, but what use is Gold without genuine friends? Beauty is good, but what good is it without love? A woman’s jewellery is good, but what good is it without the love of he who gives it?
Blessed, Ashra in Hebrew means “how rewarding is this way of life”, referring to future rewards based on the present relationship with God. Blessedness looks to the future. Wisdom puts food and fellowship around the table. She gives you a house as well as a home. She gives you the good things in life, as well as the love you want.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American essayist, says rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only real gift is a portion of yourself; what we all really want is for the other person to give themselves to us. It’s easier to give a gift than it is to give yourself. It’s easier because one is an object, while the other is time. We are self-centred concerning time. We live for ourselves instead of others.
The prodigal son, in not esteeming his parents, shamed his father by risking his life for something other than the honour due to his father. He risked all and failed. Instead of honouring his father (namely giving social weight to him), he risked his life for something unwise; self-centeredness.
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Verses 18-35 The value of wisdom to the creator
Wisdom separates chaos, by separation and demarcation. In Old Testament understanding, the sea is considered the abode of Chaos and dry land, order. It is an allusion to separate yourself from the wicked man and woman, and this entails making boundaries. The Lord will be at your side and he will keep you stable in your walking and protect you from being snared.
A neighbour is a person with whom one is brought into contact, with whom one must live on account of life’s circumstances. Jesus defined it as one with whom you are brought into contact, and who needs your help.
Do not help a bad neighbour; those that are morally bad. Do not hold good from the morally good. Also, you do good, only when you have the power to do good. If it is not within your ability, don’t! For example, if you take from your child or loved one, or if you have to borrow. Galatians 6:10 Therefore as we have the opportunity, let us do good, especially those who belong to the family of believers. (The family of believers are fellow Christians and anyone else that pursues the moral good).
Verse 31 In regards to the violent person, the Hebrew word is Chamas or Hamas; namely terror or violence towards others out of greed or hate. For you reading this, Hamas may easily conjure up terrorist acts, which are palpable and easily understood e.g 9-11. However, what of the violence of greed?
Some can be common sense e.g the war on drugs, but others are subtler e.g underpaying workers, driving people out of business simply for more profit, dominating the entire business value chain when there is really no need for it other than greed, substandard products, etc the list is endless; note, however, if you are not inculcated in this way of thinking, you would live your life thinking that such practices were normal.
We continue in the next post
Enjoy!