From Pastor Ben
Trivia:
Can you guess what are most of the power outages in the US are caused by? Are they caused by Squirrels, Storms, Tornadoes, or by Birds? We'll check in on the proven answer tomorrow.
Challenge:
Ecclesiastes 7:5
"It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools."
In our study today, Solomon goes on to affirm that the greatest value in life is listen to the words of wisdom/correction. This is to be given honor and praise rather than those who sing songs of foolish homage.
Psalm 141:5 affirms the importance of being alert to the prayers of the wise. It says, "Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it..."
As normal human beings, we prefer to hear the compliments and homage of others in our lives. However, words of correction, warning, and instruction are the most important words we can possibly be offered. In fact, Proverbs 13:18 warns us that, "Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored." To follow that thought up, Proverbs 15:31 states, "The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise."
As we walk through life, the most important things that we can apply our lives and work toward is to listen and be guided by God's words, whether it be through human influence or the Spirit's guidance in His words.
Unfortunately in our world today the words of the wise, from either past godly leaders or present Spirit-guided saints, are ignored many times. It is much more enjoyable to be praised by others that we respect, than to be given words of warning and concern.
In my lifetime, I believe the most diplomatic spiritual guide of my life was my father. He always attempted to give space in all of us kids' lives to be guided by the Spirit, and yet to graciously lend words of guidance and warning. My mother, on the other hand, would bluntly lay out her truth. I found that somewhere in the middle was the wisest path to follow. Solomon is attempting to bring us to that middle ground, allowing for an independence of thought, but at the same time leading us to the thoughts of God, in our steps.
SO GO WITH GOD for He ministers to us in the very same way as Solomon did. He attempts to give us the freedom of choice and yet brings reason and wisdom to our thinking. Or as my Uncle Leonard would say, "to keep them grounded" about his desired influence on either family, friends or local politicians.
Oh, my dear believer, stay grounded in the Savior's words to you, for He will never allow us to be steered in the wrong direction. Deuteronomy 10:12 says, "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul."
As a little boy I still remember standing beside my grandmother who wasn't even five feet tall. When we would hear people walking through the salvage yard trying to steal things. she would open the window, put her shotgun on the window sill and then say, "We know you're out there, up to no good, so I'm here with my shotgun firing a warning shot before I come out after you." Then she would fire off a shot and we would hear the "plinks" of shot hitting the metal and then hear them running to their car, slamming their car doors, starting the car and racing off. I asked her, "How do you know where to shoot in the pitch black night, and she said, "I aim just above their head. They get the idea very quickly."
Graciously, our Father aims His truths just above our heads, then we get the message and then we make our choice. So, "Walk in all His ways," my dear ones, for then you will never be sorry.
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Birds