Proverbs 4:5-7: All-out Effort

Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. and in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:5-7

Get: by implication to own -- attain 

Wisdom: ethical and religious

Understanding: the faculty (an ability, natural or acquired, for a particular kind of action)

Do not forget: cause to forget, to be oblivious of

Turn away: to bend away (including moral deflection)

Forsake: be remote, absent, depart

Perserve: keep, watch, guard, protect

Love: beloved like, friend, to have affection for

Keep: guard from dangers, preserve

Principal: absolute chief, the first, in place, time, order or rank

Understanding: discernment

As I read these verses, I couldn't help but picture a football game. The intense desire of the teams to "get the ball" to "get the touchdown". Offense and Defense want that ball — and all the effort is directed to getting it! Offense has the ball, and what they do with it, is key if they want to keep it and score. Defense is in an all-out effort to get that ball either by causing a fumble, interception, or taking over on downs. All-out effort is put forth in "getting". 

Do I put forth the same effort in getting Wisdom? Do I get an all-out effort to get the treasure of Wisdom? 

And once I get wisdom, what do I do with it? Do I use it, or do I hide in the locker room? Having wisdom is one thing, but using the understanding of wisdom is a different level of play. It's using wisdom to direct my life. Wisdom should be a good friend, whom I want to have beside me throughout life. No matter what comes, wisdom will be there to direct and guard me.

Wisdom should be the first and foremost thing which I desire and strive to get, and it should have first place in my life. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and that begins with a heart permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31MSG). 

All-out effort. First and foremost. Get Wisdom. It will change your life! 

A Star Player

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 11. Here is what I learned.

The Lord ·tests [examines] ·those who do right and those who do wrong [the righteous and the wicked], but he hates those who love ·to hurt others [violence]. Psalm 11:5 (EXB)

The Lord tests and proves those who are right and good and those who are sinful. And His soul hates the one who loves to hurt others. Psalm 11:4 (NLV)

The Lord trieth the righteous,.... As gold is tried in the fire, by afflictive providences; hereby he tries their graces, their faith, and patience, their hope, and love, and fear; and, by so doing, expresses his love to them, since this is all for their good... Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The Lord trieth the righteous - He does not abandon them; he tries them to show their faithfulness, and he afflicts them for their good. Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Q: Why is training necessary? A: Training is necessary because if you don't train, you won't be able to figure out the flaws of what you doing. For example, say a professional basketball player wasn't very good at dribbling. If he doesn't train, he might not perform well in his game, but if he does, chances are he wouldn't do as bad as he would have if he didn't. Keep in mind that just because you train one day doesn't mean that you are going to get better by a significant amount. You have to train excessively. 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_training_is_necessary

We train in all aspects of our lives. And with training comes testing. When we were children, the training and testing was a constant at school, and in sports. Then as we grew older our jobs have “performance evaluations”.  Our employers want to know if we were being effective in our jobs.

However, when God trains and tests us, we get bothered, upset, and at times angry. “Why me?”, is often the first sound we make when being trained and tested. 

   

But as God tests us, He is highlighting the areas that are successful and identifying those which need revision in our lives. The only way to really understand something is to put it into practice. If a football  player only studies the play book, and never suits up for practice or plays a game, how does he know if he can really play football. Head knowledge is only PART of life. Experience provides an opportunity to see if we really have learned! We have the opportunity to practice what we know. 

Training and testing is part of all aspects of our lives. And when God trains and tests us, it’s not punishment, rather He is allowing us the opportunity to be a “star player” and learn our strengthens and weaknesses. The only way to learn and master anything is to study, train, and be tested. 

Having the opportunity to train, and be tested on God’s team is challenging, but so very rewarding and is the only way to create not only a positive day.... but a positive God-designed life, and maybe become a “star-player”. 

The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and ·loyal [faithful] servant. Matthew 25:23 a (EXB)

Cheering Loud and Proud

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Thirtieth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 92. Here's what Treasure I found today.

They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!” Psalm 92:15 (NLT)

Declare: certify, declare, be conspicuous, stand boldly out, explain, praise.

For (that): forasmuch, inasmuch, whereas, assuredly.

Just (upright): be upright, well-pleased, righteous, straightforward.

Lord: of deity Yahweh.

Rock: a cliff, strength, strong, support and defence.

Is no: much less, nay, neither, never, no, without, literally in the condition of no.

Evil (iniquity): injustice, unrighteousness, perverseness, unjustly, wickedness, to act wrongfully. 

As I read Psalm 92:15 this morning, what first came to mind are all the protests, marches, riots happening around the world. People are boldly proclaiming something, although not always something good. 

I also thought about sporting events (football, NASCAR, etc). We proudly wear our favorite team colors and our favorite player's/driver's number. Some even are very conspicuous as they go so far as painting their bodies in the their team's colors. Seems like we are never ashamed of cheering for our favorite team, driver, or player. We cheer loud and proud—often even when they continue to lose. 

Am I being conspicuous about my God? Do I stand out boldly and share His goodness? Am I ashamed of my God? Am I cheering loud and proud for Him? 

I should be proud to talk about God, not because of what He’s done for me (although He’s done so much!) but simply because of WHO He is! Yes, there is that phrase again which shows up often in my Ponder Morsels. When life is good and going along smoothly, it’s easy to say, “God is good. God is awesome.” But just because my circumstances change, God does not. He is still good. He is still awesome. 

So often God gets “blamed” for when bad things happen. Why? Simply because we don’t understand how a “good God” could allow suffering. But that (suffering) is ultimately the result of sin. In God there is no evil,  He cannot act wrongfully. He is just. And why do we think, when we cannot fully comprehend all that God is and Who He is, that we can understand fully what He is doing? 

Even if we don’t understand, that does NOT change the fact that God is straightforward righteous and He is a strong support for us. There is literally no wickedness or injustice in Him. 

He is a friend without fault, a helper without fail. Whatever he may do with us, he is always in the right; his dispensations have no flaw in them, no, not the most minute. He is true and righteous altogether. The Treasury of David

To create a positive day, I need to be conspicuous about my God! I need to be cheering loud and proud about His goodness and strength.

The “12th Man”

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 47. Here is what I learned. 

I enjoy watching football. And the past few weeks, there have been many college bowl games and now the NFL playoffs have started. One phrase often heard during a game is “The 12th Man”. 

There are only 11 players on the field, so who is this “12th Man”? It’s the FANS! When the fans are yelling and screaming and making LOTS of noise, it makes it harder for the “other team” to hear calls and it energizes the fans’ team. The responsibility of “12th Man” is to raise a shout, give a blast! 

That is exactly what Psalm 47 is all about! We are to raise a shout, give a blast—shout at the top of our lungs about our AWESOME and GREAT God!  

God is worthy of profound reverence or adoration. 

For the LORD Most High is awesome.

He is the great King of all the earth.

Psalm 47:2  (NLV)

As God’s “12th Man”, am I shouting about His greatness at the top of my lungs? Am I sharing the awesomeness of God with others? I guess the real question is, Am I ashamed of my God? Or am I going to let others know about Him and His ultimate greatness? 

If I want to create a positive day, then I need to make sure I’m being the “12th Man” for God. For sharing about Him and His awesomeness, makes me reflect and think about Him. The more I’m thinking about God, the more positive the day!