Personal Treasure

If you seek her (wisdom) as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Proverbs 2:4

I'm a fan of the National Treasure movies. I enjoy the way that they intertwine true historical facts with their embellishments to create a story. But the real driving force behind the movies is the search for TREASURE! How many of us have toyed with purchasing a metal detector, or seen someone wandering the beach early in the morning just swinging his back and forth over the sand? As a child, how many of us dug holes in the back yard or fields because we hoped to find gold?

There is a natural drive in the human soul to seek and gather valuable things. To a scholar, this could be information. To a prospector, this could be gold or silver. To a politician, this could be power or influence.

However, God offers His wisdom equally to everyone. Regardless of position, financial status or profession, His wisdom is available for discovery. BUT, discovery requires searching and seeking. Are you seeking to gain His wisdom and grow in knowledge about Him?

First and foremost, have you discovered the most valuable thing in all the world? A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is worth more than all the knowledge, power and riches of the world. Jesus Himself said in Mark 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

Seek Him. Seek His wisdom. Gather that which cannot be lost, rusted or decayed.

Are You A Fool?

A wise man will hear and increase in learning,

And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel

Proverbs 1:5

A fool never learns from his mistake, he continues to do it over and over. A popular definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting different results.

A foolish man makes the same mistake many, many times before he learns from it and changes his behavior.

A smart man makes a mistake, immediately realizes that it WAS a mistake, changes his behavior and never repeats it.

BUT, a wise man sees the fool, the foolish man and even the smart man make their mistakes and he learns from them without ever making the mistake and suffering the consequences himself.

God has given us the Book of Proverbs so that we might listen and become wise! What about you? Are you listening? Are you seeking wisdom, or just enjoying life in the asylum?

Are You Running Scared?

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,

But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Proverbs 28:1

What is your reaction when the boss calls you and tells you to come to his office? Do you have a moment of panic where you ask yourself: "Did he find out about what I did?" What about "I hope he doesn't ask me about that project (that I'm behind schedule on)". Just to be clear, I know the questions you probably ask yourself, because they run through my mind too!

But Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:12 "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation". We should live our lives in such integrity and faithful conduct that we can boldly walk into the bosses office without being afraid of our actions being found out.

Identify Yourself! Friend or Foe?

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6

I have several men in my life that I trust to tell me the truth when I ask them a question. Even if they think, or know, that I might not like the answer. Every man should have such men in his life, men who know you're a sinful idiot and love you anyway.

But, let's turn that verse on its head: If a friend answers my questions truthfully and tells me the truth even if it might cause me, or my ego, pain, what does that make someone who tells me a "little white lie" so that they either don't have to hurt my feelings or don't want to have to defend or establish their position? Those actions sound deceitful to me...

Jesus told us in Matthew 5:37 "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes ' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil."

Are you a faithful friend, or a deceitful enemy?

Mind Your Own Business

"Like one who takes a dog by the ears is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him." Proverbs 26:17

As a lifelong Southern Baptist, I firmly believe that universal application of this verse by members of all churches would remove most of the gastric distress experienced by staff members. I will quickly and truthfully admit that I wrestle with this issue. When I hear about a friend or family member that has been wronged, I want to rip open my shirt and jump in as the hero to save the day. But Scripture makes it clear that I should stay out of strife that is not mine.

Then again, I remember hearing Jesus say something about this issue too...

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" Matthew 5:9

So how should we reconcile these two verses? Personally, I have come to the conclusion that we are allowed to get involved with the strife of others in three situations: First, if we are asked and invited by one of the parties to help resolve the situation. NOT to sit around and gripe about it, but if we are asked to give Biblical counsel on what they might have done wrong and how they should reach a point of reconciliation with the other party. Second, if both parties ask you to act as an arbiter or mediator to again, give Biblical counsel with regard to resolving the issue. The third option, which should be approached only after specific prayer, is in the following criteria. You must know, have a relationship and be respected by both parties. Both parties must have dug in their heels and are no longer trying to resolve the situation, and are leaving the offense to brood without forgiveness.

If one of those situations is not present, just leave that doggy alone and keep walking!

Praying for our leaders

I have several Christian friends that are left of center. Whenever I speak against the actions of our current President, they love to trot out Romans 13:1-7. You know, the verses talking about how God ordained government and has placed every ruler over us. That we should render the taxes, respect and honor due unto them. I do not dispute, disagree or minimize these verses. I will, however, point out the hypocrisy of the same people who protect this POTUS but spent the previous 8 years lambasting the last one…

So then, how do we subject ourselves to an administration that is forcing acceptance of homosexuality in all aspects of life, as well as forcing individuals, organizations and business owners to pay for abortions in violation of their own Scripturally based beliefs?

We have other Scriptural guidance on the issue. Both Titus 3 and 1 Timothy 2 tell us to pray for our leaders. Fortunately, those passages not only tell us TO pray for our leaders, they tell us WHY to pray for them. Paul tells Timothy to pray for them that they might be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth! He also tells Titus that reason, but also adds that we should remember that WE were once lost, disobedient fools ourselves.

Daniel is the quintessential example of a man of God living in an ungodly land. He gave respect and honor to his king, and in Daniel 6:21 even blesses the king with the greeting “O king, live forever!” This was after the king had thrown Daniel in the lion’s den for praying to anything other than the king.

Again, how do we pray for an ungodly leader? I believe that the answer to that question lies in the words of a king. David writes in Psalm 141:5 that he prays against the DEEDS of the wicked.

I submit that we are charged, required and expected to pray for our leaders, legislators and judges. We are to pray that they will gain knowledge of the Truth. My personal phrase that I tend to use is that they “not be able to take a step without tripping over godly counsel”. But we are also to pray against their deeds of evil, against the powers of this world oppressing the people of God. 

A Cure For The Zombie Apocalypse!

In modern fiction, we have the popular idea of a zombie.

Someone that was alive and has died, that is now existing in an animated state that mimics life, but is now ruled entirely by appetite or the command of another (in the case of voodoo zombies).

This, however, is exactly the OPPOSITE of what happens to a Christian. A person who was dead in their sins (Col 2:13 & Eph 2:1), ruled by their flesh, controlled by their sin nature, and under the influence of Satan (Eph 2:2-3), suddenly becomes alive in Christ! (Eph 2:4-10)

In the Book of John, chapter 10, verse 10, Jesus said that He came so that we may HAVE life (which means that you don't have life without Him) and have life more abundantly!

The "life" that the world touts and promotes is just a pale shadow of true life! Those around us are the true zombies, dead but thinking they are alive. Rotting and decaying, but believing that they can find happiness and satisfaction in sating their appetites.

Share HIM. Not church. Not "god". Not "spiritual enlightenment". Share JESUS.