HOW TO BE A WISE GUY

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
(Proverbs 1:7)

Suppose for a moment that God appeared to you and said, “You can have anything you want.  I’ll grant you one wish.”  What would you ask for?  Riches?  Pleasure?  Fame?  Power?  Possessions?  A new house?  A new spouse?  What would be your one request?

A guy in the Bible actually had that opportunity.  In I Kings 3, God told Solomon he could have one wish.  Solomon didn’t ask for riches or fame or power; instead, he asked for wisdom.  God granted Solomon his request and he became the wisest man who ever lived.  He wrote three books in the Bible, including Proverbs.  There, Solomon shares much of his wisdom with the whole world, including us. 

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that provides practical guidance in life.  Or, we could define it as “a saying with a punch.”  For instance, here are a few familiar proverbs from our own culture…

• An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
• A penny saved is a penny earned.
• Look before you leap.

Short.  Simple.  Catchy.  But, profound!  That’s a proverb.  For the rest of the summer, we will be studying several themes in the book of Proverbs during our worship services.  I’ve entitled the series, “How to be a Wise Guy” – not a smart aleck, but a true wise guy.  We’ll be examining some of Solomon’s practical wisdom for everyday living.

I want to encourage you to read the book of Proverbs this summer.  There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, so if you read a chapter a day, you can read the entire book twice during the months of July & August.  Go for it.  You just might find some real nuggets of wisdom for your own life.

 Dear Heavenly Father,
You are an omniscient and all-wise God.
That means You know what is best for my life.
Thank you sharing Your wisdom and guidance in Your Word.
May I be faithful in reading and applying Your Word in my life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

THE STRENGTH OF A MAN

“The righteous man leads a blameless life;
blessed are his children after him.”
(Proverbs 20:7)

This Sunday is Father’s Day.  I sometimes wonder if we celebrate Father’s Day just to be politically correct – after all, we have a Mother’s Day; so we need to balance it with a day for dads, right?  Think about it.  We give mother’s flowers in church on Mother’s Day; we give dads a pat-on-the back on Father’s Day.  We take mom out for dinner on Mother’s Day so she doesn’t have to cook; we have backyard barbecues on Father’s Day and ask dad to do the grilling.  What kind of balance is this?

But dads, don’t ever underestimate your significance!  You are truly the #1 influence in your children’s lives.  Every child wants dad’s approval, acceptance, and affirmation.  Every child longs to hear their father say, “Well done!  I’m proud of you!”  Why?  Because you’re their dad!  You’re their hero!

I ran across this simple, but profound article in my files this week entitled, “The Strength of a Man.”  Dads, think about these truths…

The strength of a man isn’t seen in the width of his shoulders.
       It’s in the width of his arms that encircle his children.
The strength of a man isn’t in the deep tone of his voice.
       It’s in the gentle words he whispers.
The strength of a man isn’t in how respected he is at work.
       It’s in how respected he is at home.
The strength of a man isn’t in how hard he hits.
       It’s in how tender he touches.
The strength of a man isn’t in the hair on his chest.
       It’s in his heart that lies within his chest.
The strength of a man isn’t in how many women he’s loved.
       It’s in being true to one woman.
The strength of a man isn’t in the weight he can lift.
       It’s in the burdens he can carry.

Dads, you have a very special place in your children’s hearts and lives.  Never underestimate your impact on your sons and daughters.

 Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being my loving Father.
May I imitate your example of fatherhood in my life.
May I be a man of integrity, compassion, courage, truth, and grace.
And, may I be a godly example for my children to imitate!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A SUMMER CHALLENGE

“There is a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under heaven…”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

School is out.  The kids are home.  Vacation is just around the corner.  It’s hot outside.  Summer is here! 

Summer is a great time of year, because it provides an opportunity for a change of pace.  We get so busy the rest of the year, we need a break.  We need rest.  We need Sabbath.  We need extended Sabbath sometimes.  So, I encourage you to take a vacation this summer.  Go camping.  Go to Disneyland.  Go on a cruise.  Go visit Grandma & Grandpa. 

Even at church, many of our ministries and Bible Studies take the summer off.  But, even though you take a break during the summer – don’t take a break from God!  Include Him in your summer plans.  In fact, I encourage you to use your summer break for some spiritual renewal, as well.  Spend come extra time in prayer.  Read more of God’s Word.  Memorize some Scripture verses.  Read a good book.  When you’re in town, come to church.  When you’re on vacation, visit a different church just for fun.  Enjoy the Lord as you rest and relax this summer!

In that regard, I’d like to issue a Summer Challenge.  Here are four things I encourage you to do this summer as you enjoy your change-of-pace.

     1.    Read the Book of Proverbs – it’s full of practical every-day
            wisdom!
     2.    Memorize three Proverbs – 1 each month

- Proverbs 1:7
- Proverbs 3:5-6
- Proverbs (you pick one)

     3.    Visit another church while on vacation.
     4.    Invite a friend to visit your church. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for different seasons of life!
Thank you for the summers in life, when we enjoy some extra Sabbath.
As I rest this summer, may Your Holy Spirit
fill me with your presence and peace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

PREPARE FOR BATTLE

“Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
(Ephesians 6:11)

When Paul wrote these words in Ephesians 6, he was probably sitting in a Roman prison, chained to a Roman soldier.  As he looked at the soldier, he was reminded that we are in a spiritual battle every day.  So, he used the armor of this Roman soldier to paint a picture of our own spiritual defenses against our enemy, Satan. 

How would Paul paint the picture if he were living in the 21^st Century and acquainted with modern-day warfare?  Allow me to attempt a paraphrase of Ephesians 6:13-18 as a modern-day word picture of our spiritual defenses…

Put on your full spiritual armor so that when Satan attacks, you are able to withstand his attack and be victorious in your Christian life.

Make sure you have your survival belt of truth on, fully loaded with ammo and supplies; and your bullet-proof vest of Christ’s righteousness in place.

Stand firm with your combat boots on and laced up with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Now, jump in your armored Humvee of faith, for protection against Satan’s grenades and IED’s as you travel your spiritual journey ahead; and  be sure to wear your combat helmet of salvation to protect your mind against the enemy’s  propaganda.

Carry your assault rifle, fully loaded with the words of Scripture, ready to fire at the enemy.

And finally, be sure you consult your commanding officer before going into battle.  Ask for his directions and follow his battle plans.  Always be alert and remember your comrades fighting alongside you in the battle.

If you have some other ideas on how to contemporize this passage, feel free to share your thoughts in my blog.  But more importantly, I pray that you are experiencing victory as you walk your spiritual journey!

 Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the spiritual armor you provide to fight the spiritual battle.
I am so grateful that you have promised victory in Jesus Christ.
May Your Word empower me & Your Holy Spirit strengthen me
day-by-day on my spiritual journey!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.