From Pastor Ben
Trivia:
Yesterday I asked you what the psychological disorder is called when a person thinks they are animals, and instead enacts their behavior. It is called Boanthropy and I noticed that TikTok is filled with young people acting out this disorder. Wallowing in mud, howling like a fox, dressed like sheep, etc,etc.
On the lighter side:
What is a sheep's favorite flavor of ice cream? Well, Baa-nilla of course. I bet you guessed this one right.
Challenge:
Ecclesiastes 7:26:
"I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare."
This verse is focusing on the seductress, the woman who uses her words and actions to gain power over foolish young and old men. If you remember in our earlier study, Solomon warned young men of this trap in Proverbs. (Prov. 2:16–19; 5:1–14; 6:24–29; 7:1–27).
Solomon exalted the virtues of those men who have placed a greater value on the development of being a lifetime companion. (Ecclesiastes 9:9; cf. Proverbs 5:15–23 and 31:10–31).
Throughout his writings, Solomon compares the foolish woman who focuses only on her physical pleasures, and the wise resourceful woman whose focus is on the enhancing of the legacy of her husband, self, and home. The foolish woman is determined to snare a prey, while the wise woman is intent on pleasing her God and her family while drawing others into this same manner in life of living wisely.
In Proverbs 9:1-18, Solomon attempts to personify the comparison of wisdom and foolishness as two types of women. The wise woman determines to set her life in such a way that she builds wisdom into the lives of those people who cross her path, whether with her family or those lives of her friends. The foolish woman places her thoughts and actions on achieving her own personal success.
The wise one attempts to lift up those people who are seeking to learn how to live wisely. She also encourages those in her life to learn what is the good use of judgment. She emphasizes this truth to all of those in her life, the ultimate truth being as we find in Proverbs 9:10-12 ,"Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. 11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. 12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer."
James attempts to reinforce these warnings to the new Gentile believers from these writings that we have been meditating on in Ecclesiastes and Proverbs in James 3:15 where he says, "For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic." He is attempting to point out the foolishness of focusing on feelings but rather the value of developing our lives on the truths of the Bible. Unselfish Love is Love of God and His love poured out towards others.
SO GO WITH GOD, for as we learn the mindset of our loving Father, our hearts and minds are protected from the evil intentions of our enemies which are Satan, our own prideful and sinful flesh, and the world in which we are living. My dear one, draw near to His intentions that we learn of through reading the Bible. He will, in turn, put a protective force into place, for your heart, mind, and soul.