In 2015, a 70-year-old woman and her husband were headed for a day by the ocean. Following the directions from a GPS app, the woman unexpectedly drove her car into a dangerous area. Instead of finding a beautiful Brazilian beach, the couple ended up in Caramujo, one of the most notorious slums in Niteroi. Someone opened fire on the car, and the woman was struck by a bullet. She later died in a local hospital. Sadly, following unwise directions led to her death.
Solomon knew the importance of following directions that lead to life, not spiritual (or even physical) demise. In Proverbs 1:20-33 he used the metaphor of a woman shouting “in the streets” to illustrate the importance of listening to wisdom (Proverbs 1:20). With God-given insight, he noted that there are three types of people who aren’t following His wise ways. Simpletons lack direction, but are still open to advice; fools have heard God’s truth, but have continued to push it away; mockers actively resist and scoff at His wisdom (Proverbs 1:22).
We can avoid being found in this deadly trio by coming and listening to the wisdom God provides. He will truly “share [His] heart with [us] and make [us] wise” (Proverbs 1:23). Following and fearing Him in reverence leads to “the foundation of true knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).
In verses 24-27, note how the words reflect God’s loving and active call for us to draw close to Him: “I called you so often”; “I reached out to you”; “[You] rejected the correction I offered.” Where are we today—finding delight and wisdom in Jesus (Colossians 2:3) or pushing Him away as we choose our own way?
Let’s avoid the mean streets of the unwise. As we turn to and learn from Christ, we gain wisdom, peace, and freedom from fear (Proverbs 1:33).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 13:22-35
More:
Take a look at Proverbs 3:7 and meditate on what it means to live out God’s wisdom and not be wise in our own eyes.
Next:
In what ways have you been entering deeper into God’s wisdom or moving farther away from it? How will you seek God’s insight for the decisions you need to make today?
Gary Shultz on August 11, 2016 at 6:34 am
Hi Tom, I hope as we gather a few years under our belts we begin to see the wisdom of God. It can be seen in many different ways and avenues, but we still find foundational truths to be the place we must build on. I hope I have never fallen into the mocker category, but I have sure needed guidance. I was just thinking this week how much life has slipped through my fingers and how poorly I have lived it. Well, I guess I would like to do that political popular thing and “double down” on life and do it with God’s wisdom. Walk where He wants me to go, be what he wants me to be, and produce the fruit I should have in my life. He is merciful and He is faithful, “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow” Thanks Tom… WBP
Tom Felten on August 11, 2016 at 8:08 am
I’ve had the same regrets, Gary. But praise God that He’s not through with us yet! I’m grateful for the wisdom that comes with age and experience, but most grateful for the wisdom that comes from Scripture and the indwelling Holy Spirit. May we stay in step with the Spirit today!
gagirllive on August 11, 2016 at 8:58 am
Isn’t it interesting that by the time most of us figure out what’s most important in life we’re already in the third quarter? I really hate regret. It’s a definite killjoy. The only way I know to combat it is to dive into the boundless depth of God’s grace. What about you?
Tom Felten on August 11, 2016 at 9:05 am
Yep, I’m with you. Living out of God’s grace is vital, along with seeing each new day—each moment—as a fresh and precious opportunity to live out His new creational ways!
gagirllive on August 11, 2016 at 9:10 am
Amen! “Morning by morning new mercies I see.”
BearPair on August 11, 2016 at 7:00 am
Good reminder, Tom–Thanks! Proverbs is absolutely chock-full of instruction & direction in gaining & walking IN wisdom… “He that hath ears…!”
hsnpoor on August 11, 2016 at 8:07 am
Yes, indeed! For over 20-years I made a habit of reading 1 chapter of Proverbs a day ( and I liked that I only had to read chapter 31 seven months of the year instead of 12…..enough with the conviction already!). Not sure when or how I stopped that practice, but I think it would be wise to start again and no better time than the present! Blessings today to all who stop in!
Tom Felten on August 11, 2016 at 8:14 am
Such a good practice, hsnpoor. I have also done this in the past. Proverbs is definitely a book that can hit us right between the eyes with conviction!
BearPair on August 13, 2016 at 2:06 am
I agree (Ch. 31 is a bit easier on men, then on women ;o) )… but the other 30 chapters hit men right where they are! There are several chapters which definitely paint the “streets” as “mean” and a good thing! Us men are often a bit thick when it comes to applying what Solomon lays out for us as extremely common sense.
Tom Felten on August 11, 2016 at 8:10 am
So much practical insights in Proverbs . . . and when applied through the lens of the whole counsel of God (all Scripture), it is so helpful!
hsnpoor on August 11, 2016 at 8:24 am
Amen!
BearPair on August 13, 2016 at 2:08 am
Tom, when I was reading a Proverbs chapter/day, I would try to balance it wt the coinciding 5 Psalms for that day… and you’re right: everything must be clarified by the whole counsel of Scripture. Just have to have enough wisdom to stay OFF those mean streets!
gagirllive on August 11, 2016 at 7:47 am
Such a sad story, Tom. I was just thinking how easily we put our trust in faulty navigation systems more than the inerrant instruction of God’s word. All this stuff has to be constantly updated to the latest version…bigger, better, faster, etc. Tragically, our increase in knowledge has not led to an increase in wisdom and discernment. On the contrary, as a society we are spiraling downward in that area.
But as children of God, we can shine as stars in the night by walking in wisdom. For me, that starts with a deep reverence for God and His word. I need to know the mind of God to walk wisely. I need to know His heart in order to have discernment. Knowing His word and being sensitive and submissive to the Spirit helps me walk in wisdom. I wish I could say that I do this consistently, but I’m “prone to wander”. It doesn’t take long before I find myself being a “simpleton” and running back to the Lord asking for wisdom. And like James tells us, He doesn’t mind my asking one bit. So glad about that. Thanks for this today, Tom. Grace and peace to you.
Tom Felten on August 11, 2016 at 8:19 am
I hear you, gagirl. I’m also prone to wander. I’m so grateful that God continues to pursue us! This morning, I was sharing with some friends how this phrase from Gal. 2:20 (a verse I know so well), leaped off the page recently: “I live by faith.” What struck me is how often I don’t live by faith. I try to find answers and wisdom in my own thoughts, strength, ideas. Praying that today and always we will live by faith in Jesus—acknowledging that His wisdom and presence are truly what we need.
gagirllive on August 11, 2016 at 8:42 am
I’m with you on that, Tom. I’m just now realizing what living by faith really means and how little I truly do it.
hsnpoor on August 11, 2016 at 8:21 am
Great thoughts, GG. I’ve often thought about that connection between technology advances and the dumbing down of society, as a whole. On the surface, i think it’s a matter of letting tech do the thinking, so we don’t have to anymore. Thinking & reasoning takes time & energy, which are two things tech has stolen from us; or, let me say stolen from me, at least. A wise mother in my church recently woke me up with something she said at a service celebrating our youth: “our bodies are servants of our minds so we need to think about what we think about”.
gagirllive on August 11, 2016 at 8:34 am
Very wise words, Kim!
sandy229 on August 12, 2016 at 10:06 am
I think we are all prone to wander.
crossman61 on August 11, 2016 at 10:10 am
Thank You Tom for the devotional this morning , it is a sad story , and also a warning if we don’t follow the proper directions . I am lousy at following directions when it comes to putting something together . I don’t know why but sometimes directions can be more confusing to me ,because I tend to think it would be better to do it my way ?! and I think I just like the challenge of trying to figure out how it should go together . But I usually have to go to the manual to see if I am doing it right . For years I have referred the Bible to Our Instruction Manual for Eternal Life . This is something I want to be sure I am getting right , so I constantly go to see what I think or what I Believe is what Gods Word is telling me is right . And as I wander here and there , I am humbled and feel sheepish when I am wrong about something . I Guess that’s why we are referred to as sheep !? Have a great day all in this Ministry and in the Forum . Gary
gagirllive on August 11, 2016 at 10:46 am
LOL…I’m the same way, crossman61. Your analogy is great. How often I have started to put something together without following the instructions because I think I already know how it’s supposed to go! Likewise, spiritually speaking, we would save ourselves a whole lot of time and frustration if we would follow the Manual. Thanks for sharing that!
Tom Felten on August 11, 2016 at 11:20 am
Dittos!
hsnpoor on August 11, 2016 at 11:29 am
Oh my goodness! A man who actually admits a need for directions! Be still my heart, this can’t be so…:)!!! I took a 9-month class when I was first saved called MasterLife. It was an amazing foundational start for my Christian journey. One of the things we had to do was write & deliver a sermon/message. I wrote mine on the Bible and referred to it as THE “Owners Manual”, like the one that comes with a new car, noting that if you want your car to last long and run well, you need to follow the instructions in the manual and the same is true about the Bible in our lives. It was fun being a new Christian as a grown-up and seeing things through new eyes and having the experience to make comparisons. Wouldn’t want to go back, but I sure appreciate the experience and the memories. And, really, nothing really gets old with God. I’m constantly amazed at how I can go back and read a familiar scripture, but see a new and deeper meaning. The original meaning remains, but there’s another layer that I missed before because either it wasn’t the right time for me to know or; as the older folks say, I just kept living and life gave me wider eyes, or something like that. Y’all get my drift, right? My Lord, talk about wandering….who am I? where am I? what day is it? Love to all!
godlove on August 11, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Just a few days ago we got a new electrical appliance at home and I joked with my younger brother about the fact that my “favourite book” was User Manuals, and we both agreed that regardless of how well we might think we know the functions of an appliance, one always discovers new and unknown functions by reading through the manual. I guess same goes for the User Manual our Creator designed for us, as crossman and hsnpoor rightly put it. We can only get wiser by digging into His Manual as often as we can and getting to know why He created us and what He requires of us. Also, I think true wisdom comes from God (and not necessarily with age), as Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Thanks for the important reminder, Tom. Blessings to all.
hsnpoor on August 12, 2016 at 2:28 am
Amen!
sandy229 on August 14, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Amen!!
crossman61 on August 11, 2016 at 7:28 pm
Oh no I gave away a mans secret that we sometimes need directions 🙂 Its not true , we don’t need nothin , to show us how to assemble anything . Its just sometimes they give too many extra parts , nuts , bolts , just to mess us up . I think they do it just for laughs ? We definitely need Gods Manual to Life tho !!!
gagirllive on August 11, 2016 at 11:24 pm
Haha. ..it’s no secret!
hsnpoor on August 12, 2016 at 1:23 pm
LOL, Gary! But really, I can’t even begin to count the times my husband got us hopelessly lost because he wouldn’t ask for directions! It was pathological and you would think he would think it’s probably better to just ask somebody for help than to have to listen to me going off the deep end because he wouldn’t. God rest his soul…:)
sandy229 on August 14, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Lol 🙂
sandy229 on August 14, 2016 at 12:13 pm
IDK if anyone will see this since I posted it so late, but I kept thinking of this song, because we are all prone to wander.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
crossman61 on August 14, 2016 at 1:01 pm
Thank you Sandy that’s a Great song !!!
sandy229 on August 23, 2016 at 10:38 am
Shalom Gary 🙂