Proverbs 9:13-18

Proverbs 9:13-18 (NIV) 13 Folly is an unruly woman;
she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way,
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

Here we are ending with Madame Folly, Lady Folly or Woman Folly. She is also inviting the simple but it's "stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious" and it ends with death, "the dead are there". She is idle, sitting at the door of her house whereas Lady Wisdom had built her house and carefully prepared for her banquet.

"She does not send forth her maidens; she does not stand in the streets and proclaim her mission. Vice has an easier task; all she has to do is to sit and beckon and use a few seductive words." - Pulpit Commentary

Wisdom offered the fatted calf and mingled wine to her guests; Folly offers bread and water. It is only attractive because it's forbidden. Adam and Eve found the fruit, from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, attractive because it was forbidden by God. The only fruit they were forbidden to eat, was what they wanted. And it ended in pride, disobedience, sin, death.

When the authority is acceptable to you, you will obey because you love the authority figure. You respect and trust the authority figure. But when you disobey an authority figure, you are rejecting the person in authority.  You want to be your own authority. And you will do exactly the opposite of what the authority is asking you to do.

1 Timothy 6:2-5 (NLT) 2 Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

Madame Folly will end in judgment and eternal damnation as will all who follow her. Woe be it to her and to any of her followers who cause others to go the same path:

Mark 9:42-48 (NLT) 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’

"Her guests are deep in the realm of the dead". All who listen to Madame Folly and reject God, will find they are dead men walking and their companions are also dead. You may think you are at a raucous party full of people but, unless they turn back to God, they are dead people with hell for eternity. It may taste sweet for a moment but it will bring consequences you never wanted and will end in eternal damnation unless you turn to Jesus!

Madame Folly's house is but a facade. A cardboard cutout to make it look good. It's a fake because once inside, you will find the filth and depravity would make a hovel look good.

Remember, you can turn to God. As long as you are still breathing, you can repent, ask for forgiveness and seek Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. You can be saved. And the moment you are saved, the Holy Spirit will come and dwell within you to help you get out of the pit. God loves you no matter how sinful you are. He wants you. There is no sin that Jesus cannot forgive except the sin of refusing His invitation to be saved through Him. The only unforgivable sin is the sin of rejecting Christ.

• Can you think of an example of something that looked really good on the surface but was shockingly fake?
• Explain where the term "forbidden fruit" comes from. Why is forbidden fruit attractive?
• Has satan ever called to you, presented something that looked so good and fun, only to turn out to have bitter consequences?
• Look up synonyms for false and list them. Ponder on how it pertains to temptations.

For all my studies on Proverbs click HERE.

Proverbs 9:10-12

Proverbs 9:10-12 (KJV)  10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

Proverbs 9:10-12 (NIV)  10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Proverbs 9:10-12 (NLT)  10 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
11 Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have a rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

1 Chronicles 28:9 (King David speaking to his son, and the next king, King Solomon)  “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

Isaiah 6:3 (The Seraphim singing praise to God) And they called out to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills all the earth."

God is called "Holy, holy, holy" (Isaiah 6:3 above), in his threefold nature, and and thus the plural of excellence called "the Holy" in Proverbs 9:10. God the Father is holy. Jesus the Son is holy. The Spirit is holy.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

This is the essence of all we have been studying in Proverbs. Godly wisdom. Not intelligence, not IQ, not education, not degrees, not experience... we have been talking about godly wisdom. Wisdom that comes from knowing God is what is most precious and will make your life worth living.

Let's look at some highly educated fools.

Born in 1988, Michael Isaacson holds a Ph.D. in economics. His areas of scholarly focus include macroeconomic theory, economic methodology, and anti-capitalist economic theories. He was an economics professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who belongs to the left-wing movement known as antifa and touts anarchy. The professor’s 8/23/17 tweet, which helped land him an interview with Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson, reads as follows: "Some of y'all might think it sucks being an anti-fascist teaching at John Jay College but I think it's a privilege to teach future dead cops." New York police and police unions called for his firing. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

Jeff Klinzman, an Iowa adjunct English professor of nearly 10 years at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, said “I affirm that I am ‘antifa’". He commented on a Facebook page that He wanted to hit President Trump with a baseball bat. Another post from Klinzman’s social media read: "It’s not pretty, and I’m not proud, but seeing what evangelical Christians are doing to this country and its people fills me with rage, and a desire to exact revenge”. He resigned last week under pressure from the administration.

Diablo Valley College professor Eric Clanton donned a mask and attacked a Trump supporter with a bicycle lock. I guess he thought it was OK to assault someone with a weapon?!? Where was his brain?

Avital Ronell, feminist philosophy professor at New York University (NYU) was investigated in 2018 for sexually harrassing a 34 year old student, Nimrod Reitman. Ms. Ronell sent sophomoric emails to her student in which she called him her “cock-er spaniel” among other things. She is accused of repeatedly invading his physical and emotional space by kissing, touching; demanding he sleep in her bed; calling him constantly and refusing to work with him if he refused. She claims to be a lesbian. After 11 months of investigation she was suspended by NYU.

Barbara LeSavoy, director of Women and Gender Studies at The College at Brockport, wrote in the Rochester (New York) Democrat & Chronicle: “Firearm possession should be banned in America; President Obama can orchestrate this directive,... To establish gun control laws in America that will reduce high levels of male violence and usher in a culture of peace and civility... I admire Obama. But he has let me down. I am disappointed because his presidency could have done more for our country, and sadly, the many taken lives who cannot read this essay... During (Obama’s) 2008 presidential campaign, my two daughters, partner, and I ate every meal in our house on Obama placemats.” President Obama didn’t have that power because of the 2nd Amendment right in the U.S. Constitution. A "celebrated scholar and thought-leader in academia" who can't think.

Patricia MacCormack, a professor of continental philosophy at Angelia Ruskin University is also a researcher who has “published in the areas of continental philosophy…feminism, queer theory, posthuman theory, horror film, body modification, animal rights/abolitionism, cinesexuality and ethics", and admits to being an "occultist magician". That's the cherry on top. She writes that human progress should be human extinction and we should start by "gradually phasing out reproduction."

Zandria Robinson, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Memphis, has parted ways with the university after she came under fire for a number of tweets such as the Confederate flag is “more than a symbol of white racial superiority. It is the ultimate symbol of white heteropatriarchal capitalism.” Another tweet, “Whiteness is most certainly and inevitably terror”. And that she expects “death and rape threats” because, “those are the ultimate expressions of love from conservative whites these day.” She just can't tolerate anyone who is different than she is. They have to be black, female, liberal, and named Zandria in order to be worthy of voice.

Saida Grundy, an assistant professor of sociology and African-American studies at Boston University, used twitter in 2015 to denounce white men as the central problem at universities and described how she tries not to do business with white people. She described her statements as "indelicate" but how would she feel if a white professor encouraged people not to buy things from black people or calling black males as the problem on colleges? Her hostility and hate of white people doesn't ooze out of her tweets but screams out. She sounds like a black supremacist doesn't she? Where is the tolerance, the open mindedness, the understanding that not everyone is the same? We must all be like her and think like her to be right. Hmmmm......

These are just a very few highly educated, paid professionals with a lot of credits after their names. They have book smarts but no godly wisdom. They have no balance in their minds. They are not only not on the train but have left the train station. They live in chaos, not wisdom. Their words produce chaos, confusion, hate, and fear. Let's look at what the New Testament says about God's wisdom.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3,10-20 (Apostle Paul writing to believer in Corinth, NLT)  1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?...
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise
in the snare of their own cleverness.”
20 And again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise;
he knows they are worthless.”

James 3:1-2,13-18 (NLT)  1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way...
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Knowledge is possessing facts. Wisdom is the ability to achieve the best ends with the facts. It takes discernment, understanding, experience, intuition and deep level thinking, reasoning. Someone can say, "The grass is green." That's a fact. But wisdom would think beyond that surface statement. It would learn how the grass is green. What process makes it green. How is green grass used as vegetation in this world? A cow eats it and how does that help the cow? How does grass effect soil erosion? Are there better grasses to sow and what are the pros and cons of each? Does this earth have to have grass? Why or why not? How does green grass effect my life? Oh my, what will we do if grass goes extinct?!?!? Too many people are not deep thinkers with logical progressive thoughts. They are flat thinkers, surface thinkers. The grass is green is all they know and the subject is closed. Godly wisdom would take into account the facts, and would pursue deep thinking and reasoning WITH GOD! We let God, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, lead our thoughts and reasonings to come to the conclusion that grass is green; grass is necessary; we should be responsible earth citizens by taking care of God's Creation; but, we must ultimately let God be God and have control over the grass growth in our world. Therefore we can take in information, we can gain God's perspective with the help of the Holy Spirit and end up with a balanced view that rests on faith in God and worship because He is God!

Worldly wisdom is not concerned with honoring God but with pleasing oneself, self preservation, success and winning in this world. It is not concerned with God but with self. It is not concerned with the afterlife (whether they will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell). It is only concerned with now. They have no concept of rewards and treasures in Heaven, they want rewards and treasures on earth. They don't want God, they don't believe in God, and/or, they hate God because He is God and not them. They want to be god; to be their own god. They little realize how inept they are at being god. In their arrogance, they reject God and try to be their own little tin-pot-gods (cheap and poorly made; worthless).

We are not born with knowledge and godly wisdom. We have to learn and experience it. It comes first with our salvation through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit then dwells in us to help us in our lifelong sanctification... learning about God and how to be more like Jesus. We have to grow in our spirit. Many people become stunted and immature spiritually because they are lazy in pursuing God. They are saved but have built, on their foundation of Jesus Christ, with "wood, hay and stubble". It reminds me of a Flamingo party our family had one summer at my sister's house. She had a new above-ground pool and wanted to have a Flamingo themed party. I got the bright idea of making Flamingo farts. I got pink cotton candy and placed it in paper bags and marked them "Flamingo Farts". I put the bags out of the reach of the children until the party got started. When I went to get the bags and hand them out, the cotton candy had melted due to the heat of the day and there was nothing but traces of pink sugar in the bags. I called them "wet farts".

But that's what it can be like. People may be saved and believe in Jesus Christ but they don't put forth any effort to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to learn, mature and grow in godly wisdom which results in fruit of the Holy Spirit. Natural fruit grows from a relationship with God. So, when they get to Heaven and go before God, they may open their bag of Flamingo farts to find only melted "wet farts". They are saved but will have few rewards in Heaven. But if they have sought God, looked for Him, valued and treasured His Word and grown with the Spirit, they may have built on their foundation with "gold, silver and jewels". In other words, it will not disappear and melt in a judgment fire but will come out even purer and of great value.

The longest Psalm in the Bible is Psalm 119. If you read it, you will see how much the Psalmist treasures God's Word. God's Word gives us God's perspective which is wisdom.

Psalm 119:98–100 (ESV)  98  Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
99  I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100  I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts.

Having God's perspective puts our problems in perspective. We don't have to be God, and that frees us to love and worship the one true God! We can let Him be God and free ourselves to be who He made us to be. As His Children we are in His loving Hand, the best and safest place for us to be. If we can truly take hold of this in faith, our lives would be much less stressful. We could learn to release and let God. We could walk in freedom.

When we immerse ourselves in God's Word, we begin to feel praise and worship rise up in us.

Colossians 3:16  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Godly wisdom grows in the fertile ground of faith, seeking God, asking for wisdom, obedience in faith, and worship.

James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him”

• If we look back at James 3:13-18, make a list of characteristics of someone who DOES have godly wisdom and a list of characteristics that shows someone DOESN'T have godly wisdom.
• "If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you". Can you name some rewards that godly wisdom bestows?
• "If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer". Can you think of ways people suffer from scorning godly wisdom?
• Write out 1 Chronicles 23:9. Ponder it and pray it.

For all my studies on Proverbs click HERE.

Proverbs 9:7-9

Proverbs 9:7-9 (KJV) 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 9:7-9 (NKJV) 7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 9:7-9 (NIV) 7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 9:7-9 (NLT) 7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.

mocker - to attack or treat with ridicule; someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt or calls out in derision: a contemptuous or derisive imitative action or speech; to sneer at, to laugh at; to make fun of; to sneer at; scoffer.

scoffer - someone who laughs and speaks about a person or idea in a way that shows that they think that person or idea is stupid or silly.

scorner - one who feels contempt or disdain toward a person, or object, considered despicable or unworthy; one who shows open dislike and disrespect often mixed with indignation.

Matthew 7:6 (Jesus speaking) "Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."

Matthew 15:26 But Jesus replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."

Lady Wisdom is saying there are some people who have already made up their minds and trying to talk to them is useless. They will just make fun of you, treat you with scorn. They know everything and cannot learn anything new. Anyone who tries to teach them is a personal enemy to be resisted. Their ridicule can turn to anger and abuse if you continue to try. There's no use arguing with them because their hostility will grow and it gets harder to get through. Don't waste your time on someone who is unreceptive and antagonistic. There are times when reproof only hardens the heart and you may do more damage than good.

A wise person will eagerly accept teaching because they realize it is for their own good. A wise person will accept reproof and use it to learn to do better. No one comes into this world knowing everything. Some people have such hardheads and hard hearts that they resist anybody who tries to teach them. They see it as a personal affront rather than as a way to learn. But those people hurt themselves. They are self destructive because they won't learn things the easy way. Hardheads have to learn the hard way.

You see it in children all day long. They "hate" school, "hate" their teachers,  "hate" learning. They think they know it all and resist everything parents and teachers try to teach them. Instead of being glad to have a free school with free books and teachers, they try to do everything they can to get out of learning. They won't do their homework; won't read their books. They play hooky; won't pay attention; won't apply themselves. Teachers feel like they're beating their heads against a wall. And they are. A wall of resistance. That kind of person can take that attitude out into the world and they won't learn and conform to society. They are troublemakers, bullies, may end up in jail or into self destructive behaviors. They are very rebellious against any authority figures such as parents, teachers, principals, police, bosses, supervisors, etc.

These people you see in a movie. You know the type. A family member rushes into the house screaming, "Everyone get in the car, we have to leave NOW!" The hardheads will immediately start questioning. "Why? I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why! What's going on? You have to explain it in detail and be patient until I wrap my head around what you are saying. Meanwhile I'm going to stand stockstill and resist you until you have to drag me out of here. So answer my question!" Meanwhile the monster bashes through the door and eats them all up while hardhead is in mid-sentence.

These are the types that have a natural resistance to anyone they perceive is trying to tell them what to do. "You can't tell me what to do!" "You aren't the boss of me!" In essence they have to be in control and if they perceive anyone else as being in control, they will resist until they have their control back. Rebellious, resistant, hostile to anyone who tries to take control away. If you watch reality TV programs of policemen trying to get someone to cooperate, you will see these type of people. No matter how many times the policeman tells them to put their hands up, they will refuse. The policeman always starts with a calm authoritative voice. But the person immediately resists because it's an order from an authority figure. The more control the policeman tries to exert, the more resistant the person becomes because they just can't give up control to anyone else.

As a Christian, when we talk to someone like this, they see God as trying to take control away from them. They resist God and resist the Christian who is speaking about God. They put their fences and walls up a long time ago and they refuse to let God in because they perceive God as taking their control away from them.

During this COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, our President, Governors, Mayors,... our leaders, have asked us to stay home as much as possible. We have had 3 responses:
1) "You can't tell me what to do" - people who refuse to cooperate and will resist while endangering themselves and others. Hardheads. They will not let anyone have control even for their own good. If you try to reprove them, they will get angry and more belligerent. They are very selfish people because it's their way or the highway.
2) People who are scared to death. They see those who refuse to stay home as threats and they become angry. Scared people see the hardheads as threats, enemies and dangerous because they won't stay home. I'm seeing so much anger on Facebook from scared people that I won't be surprised when it erupts in physical confrontations in driveways, parking lots and stores. Fearful people are selfish people too because where does it lead? Are you going to shoot someone who won't stay home? Their fear is making them lose perspective and self control. You may be right, but hardheads won't back down. Desperate, fearful people won't back down either. There will be a clash and people will die or go to jail. Fearful people may get desperate enough to ride out on their high horse and try to make hardheads comply. But it leads to trouble.
3) People who are trying to obey the authorities and keep a good attitude in the midst of scary times. They are balanced. These people have enough wisdom to see authorities are trying to do what's best for the population. They listen to authorities because it's in their best interest to do so. They don't let fear take over because it's in their best interest not to let it happen. If you are smart, you don't shoot yourself in the foot. You weigh things out and do what is in your best interest. You will think, "This coronavirus sounds bad. Even if I survive it, I don't want to be that sick. It's not worth it to me to take chances. So I'm going to follow the guidelines and be extra careful. I certainly don't want to carry it to any of my loved ones or anyone who may not survive it. So I'm going to do my best not to be a part of the problem but to be a part of the solution."

Now apply this to Christianity. If someone is trying to witness to someone about Jesus Christ, you will see one of the 3 reactions above. The hardhead who sits on top of his smug wall and takes potshots to keep you from showing him a God whom, he perceives, is trying to take control of his life. Or the fearful person who hides behind their wall and takes potshots at anyone because they are afraid. Or the person who is ready to accept Jesus Christ because they need Him. This person has an open heart to Jesus.

Now for the kicker! None of us would be open to Jesus if it weren't for God. God plants a seed of faith in every one of us. But the seed lies dormant, dead, until God breathes life into it. How does God do that? Through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit attempts to break into the hard hearts, to plow them up and make them open and ready for the seed to be planted and quickened. The Holy Spirit knocks on the door of our heart and asks to come in. When we open the door to Jesus Christ, it means we have been readied by the Holy Spirit.  It means we have realized our need and we are willing for Jesus Christ to be our Savior! That was the work of the Holy Spirit! At that moment, God breathes life on our seed of faith and it is quickened and our spirit is born.

Until the heart is readied by the Holy Spirit, godly wisdom is wasted on a person. "Don't throw pearls before swine". That saying means valuable pearls are wasted on pigs who don't care about their value or quality. All they want is slop!

As for Christians, we can still struggle with being a submitted disciple of Christ. We still tend to want our own way. But a mature believer will be willing, and gratefully submit, to being taught godly wisdom. Sanctification is the lifelong process of learning and growing in the spirit. Sometimes we have to learn through discipline.

Psalm 119:67-71 (NLT) 67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
but now I closely follow your word.
68 You are good and do only good;
teach me your decrees.
69 Arrogant people smear me with lies,
but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are dull and stupid,
but I delight in your instructions.
71 My suffering was good for me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

• Can you think of someone who is a hardhead? Someone who refuses any authority because they just won't relinquish control? How has that worked for them?
• Can you think of someone who is afraid and angry at the hardheads they encounter in their life? How is that working for them?
• Have you been one or the other? I have and I learned that my hardhead got me in trouble. I also learned that fear and anger will get me in trouble. So now I try to listen to godly wisdom and think before I react. It's in my best interest to have some humility and be willing to learn and be obedient. Of course, we must obey God first. I'm not talking about being obedient and compliant with things that are ungodly. It takes godly wisdom to know when to stand up and when to sit down, when to speak up and when to shut up.
• Have you ever been made fun of for speaking about Jesus or your faith? How bad was it? You know some people are actually treated as criminals for being a Christian. They can lose everything, be imprisoned, tortured and martyred for being a Christian. They are accused of being the troublemakers and hardheads. That's the furthest thing from the truth but those who hate God see it that way. If you have faced any persecution you know what I mean. A mocker, scorner or scoffer can make you feel 1" tall. They will hate you. But it's because they are afraid of what you have to say. So hold up your head because you are a Prince (or Princess) of the Most High God. Know when to speak out. But also know when it's fruitless and the argument is just making things worse. Just walk away and let the Holy Spirit work some more on their heart. If you continue in circular arguments, you are wasting your breath and maybe making things worse. You don't have to defend yourself. You don't have to be acknowledged as right. Let God defend you. Give up trying to control the argument and control the other person and back off.
• What comes to your mind when you read, "Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine."?
• Read Psalm 119. It is the longest Psalm but so worth reading right now.

For all my studies on Proverbs click HERE.