Bible League: Living His Word The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,but a wise man listens to advice. What is the "way of a fool?" That is, what is it exactly that makes someone a fool? From the point of view of Proverbs, a fool is someone who despises wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). That's the reason why fools don't fear the Lord, because the fear of the Lord is the very beginning of wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). A fool is not necessarily stupid, but someone who refuses to submit to a proper understanding of the Lord and His creation. The fact that a fool despises wisdom and instruction is also the reason why "a fool is right in his own eyes." Instead of humbly submitting to wisdom and instruction, the fool thinks that his own way is the right way. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes because pride has taken over and prevented true insight into the way things really are. A fool would rather do things the way he thinks they should be done than do them the way they should be done. What is a "wise man?" That is, what is it exactly that makes someone wise? From the point of view of Proverbs, a wise person is someone who values wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:1-6). That's the reason why the wise fear the Lord, because the fear of the Lord is the very beginning of wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). The wise are not necessarily smart, but those who are willing to submit to a proper understanding of the Lord and His creation. The fact that a wise person values wisdom and instruction is also the reason why they "listen to advice." Instead of rejecting wisdom and instruction, a wise person values it no matter where it comes from. The wise person listens to advice because humility has made true insight into the way things really are possible. A wise person would rather do things the right way even if it means doing things the way someone else thinks they should be done. None of this means that a wise person shouldn't make a decision without advice and it doesn't mean that they should accept every bit of advice that comes their way. After all, not all advice is good advice. It does mean, however, that the acquisition of wisdom and instruction about the Lord and His creation is more important than from whence it comes. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 43, 44 Isaiah 43 -- Israel Redeemed; God's Mercy; Israel's Unfaithfulness NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 44 -- God's Blessings upon Israel; The Foolishness of Idolatry; God's Will for Jerusalem's Inhabitation NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Colossians 2 Colossians 2 -- The Fullness of God Dwells in Christ and Gives Us Freedom NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.Insight Do you spend your life trying to please everybody? Paul had to speak harshly to the Christians in Galatia because they were in serious danger. He did not apologize for his straight-forward words, knowing that he could serve Christ faithfully if he allowed the Galatian Christians to remain on the wrong track. Challenge Whose approval are you seeking—others' or God's? Pray for the courage to seek God's approval above anyone else's. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Jeremiah 15:21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.Note the glorious personality of the promise. I will, I will. The Lord Jehovah himself interposes to deliver and redeem his people. He pledges himself personally to rescue them. His own arm shall do it, that he may have the glory. Here is not a word said of any effort of our own which may be needed to assist the Lord. Neither our strength nor our weakness is taken into the account, but the lone I, like the sun in the heavens, shines out resplendent in all-sufficience. Why then do we calculate our forces, and consult with flesh and blood to our grievous wounding? Jehovah has power enough without borrowing from our puny arm. Peace, ye unbelieving thoughts, be still, and know that the Lord reigneth. Nor is there a hint concerning secondary means and causes. The Lord says nothing of friends and helpers: he undertakes the work alone, and feels no need of human arms to aid him. Vain are all our lookings around to companions and relatives; they are broken reeds if we lean upon them--often unwilling when able, and unable when they are willing. Since the promise comes alone from God, it would be well to wait only upon him; and when we do so, our expectation never fails us. Who are the wicked that we should fear them? The Lord will utterly consume them; they are to be pitied rather than feared. As for terrible ones, they are only terrors to those who have no God to fly to, for when the Lord is on our side, whom shall we fear? If we run into sin to please the wicked, we have cause to be alarmed, but if we hold fast our integrity, the rage of tyrants shall be overruled for our good. When the fish swallowed Jonah, he found him a morsel which he could not digest; and when the world devours the church, it is glad to be rid of it again. In all times of fiery trial, in patience let us possess our souls. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.John 17:1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:15,16 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" • The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Galatians 4:6,7 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" • Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. John 16:23,24 "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. • "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. 2 Corinthians 6:17,18 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. • "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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