Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
Proverbs 4:1-13
I was reading Proverbs 4 earlier, and the whole chapter stuck out. If we pay attention to God, we gain understanding. In God we gain true wisdom, and we should not forsake it. “Though it cost all you have, get understanding”.
When we receive instruction from God, we need to pay attention. We need to guard it well and not take it for granted. God instructs me every day, tells me where to go. It’s up to me if I listen or not. Some times I have a hard head and ignore His instruction, that is when my life takes a turn for the worse.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:14-27
If we gain understanding from God, we will want to stay away from evil things. We should avoid it with all that is in us. We’re suppose to keep corrupt talk from our lips. How is the world going to believe what we have to say, if we act just like them? If we blend in, what good is that going to do? God wants us to stick out, stick out for Jesus! Show the world that us Christians have something different going on. It’s a witness in itself, just live for Christ and other things will fall into place. If you smell like the world and look like the world, you are the world.
We should keep God first and guard our heart. Beg God to make us firm in Him, a good servant. Make him be the ONLY thing that matters! Some times we forget just how important God is. How important it is to have Him in our lives, and how thankful we should be that He even loves us!
I love this verse “Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil”. The only way this can happen, is to be strong in Christ. To read His word every day, pray. Go to church, be around other Christians, fellowship.
God is good and let’s not forget it. When He instructs us, listen. Let Him guide you and show you the way. His time and understanding is not of our own. We don’t understand His understanding, because we are so imperfect.
Let us trust in God!
