2023-08-21
Proverbs 10:27 CEV
Does the thought of aging make you anxious? If so, it’s time to re-examine your value system. With God, the contents are more important than the package. And in order to make peace with your wrinkles, you must come into agreement with Him. Ultimately, it’s not the number of days in your life that count but the quality of life in your days.
Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. Note what the host of the wedding reception said: “Everyone brings out the choice wine first… but you have saved the best till now” (John 2:10 NIV). And that can be the story of your life too. You don’t have to suffer from gerascophobia, the fear of aging. Keep fighting, keep growing, keep moving forward.
Listen to the words of Caleb: “For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God… Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever’… Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise – even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me… So Joshua blessed Caleb… and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land” (Joshua 14:8-13 NLT). That’s called “growing older with grace.”
Soul food: Deut 1-2; Mark 1:21-34; Ps 78:17-31; Prov 16:26-30
Spreuke 4:7 NLV
Hoekom verwys die Bybel so baie na Salomo se wysheid? Omdat dit nie menslike wysheid is wat tot ‘n bonatuurlike hoogte verhef is nie; dis bonatuurlike wysheid wat tot menslike begrip verlaag is. Luister na wat Salomo, die wysste man in die wêreld, gesê het: ‘Moet nooit afstand doen van die wysheid nie. Dit sal jou beskerm. As jy die wysheid liefhet, sal dit jou beveilig. Die verstandigste ding om te doen, is om eers wysheid te bekom. Wy jou daaraan toe om onderskeidingsvermoë te verkry. Stel wysheid voorop, dan sal dit vir jou aansien gee. Stel dit hoog op prys en dit sal aan jou eer gee’ (verse 6-8 NLV).
In dié lyn merk Haddon Robinson op: ‘Sedert 1955 het kennis elke vyf jaar verdubbel. Hoërskoolgegradueerdes is vandag aan meer inligting as Plato, Aristoteles, Spinoza of Benjamin Franklin blootgestel. Wat feite alleen betref, sal Moses of Paulus nie vandag ‘n universiteit-toelatingseksamen slaag nie. Tog, selfs met al ons kennis, word die samelewing vandag met ‘n groot oes van briljante mislukkings bevolk. Mans en vroue wat opgevoed is om ‘n bestaan te verdien, weet dikwels niks van die hantering van die lewe self nie. Alumni van bekende universiteite het inligting oor ‘n nou stukkie lewe bemeester – maar kan nie graad een slaag wanneer dit by ‘n suksesvolle lewe saam met familie en vriende kom nie. Kennis is nie genoeg om die lewe se probleme te hanteer nie. Ons het wysheid nodig, die vermoë om die lewe met vaardigheid te hanteer.’
Spurgeon het een maal gesê: ‘Daar is geen dwaas so groot soos ‘n wetende dwaas nie; maar om te weet hoe om kennis te gebruik, is om wysheid te hê.’ Hoe meer inligting jy dus aan blootgestel word, hoe meer moet jy vir wysheid bid.
Sielskos: Rig 4-6; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 119:97-104; Spr 18:9
Proverbs 4:7 NIV
Why does the Bible talk so much about Solomon’s wisdom? Because it’s not human wisdom raised to a supernatural height; it’s supernatural wisdom lowered to human understanding. Lest you think the water is too deep and wisdom is beyond you, listen to what Solomon, the wisest man in the world, said: “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you” (vv. 6-8 NIV).
Along those lines Haddon Robinson observes: “Since 1955 knowledge has doubled every five years… High school graduates today have been exposed to more information about the world than Plato, Aristotle, Spinoza, or Benjamin Franklin. In terms of facts alone, neither Moses nor Paul could pass a college entrance exam today. Yet, by everyone’s standards, even with all our knowledge… society today is peopled with a bumper crop of brilliant failures… men and women… educated to earn a living often don’t know anything about handling life itself. Alumni from noted universities have mastered information about a narrow slice of life – but couldn’t make it out of the first grade when it comes to living successfully with family and friends. Let’s face it. Knowledge is not enough to meet life’s problems. We need wisdom, the ability to handle life with skill.”
Spurgeon once said, “There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool; but to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” Bottom line: The more information you’re exposed to, the more you need to pray for wisdom.
Soul food: Judg 4-6; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 119:97-104; Prov 18:9
2023-08-20
Proverbs 8:11 CEV
When King Solomon asked God for wisdom instead of power, fame, or riches, God told him: “You could have asked me to make you rich or famous or to let you live a long time. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom and knowledge to rule my people. So I will make you wise and intelligent. But I will also make you richer and more famous than any king before or after you” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12 CEV).
Did God keep His promise? Well, consider this: What would you get if you crossed Mickey Mouse, an Arab oil sheikh, the president of the United States, and Socrates? The most famous, richest, most powerful, wisest person on the planet! That’s a fitting description of King Solomon in his time. He ruled the world’s greatest empire. His merchant ships plied the seas, bringing him back the treasures of the earth. He designed and built some of the world’s most important buildings, including the temple. He constructed reservoirs, parks, gardens, and vineyards. He mastered commerce, science, and literature. He became a poet laureate, a distinguished writer, and a gifted musician. He learned the incredible worth of wisdom, enjoyed all its benefits, and wrote: “Let instruction and knowledge mean more to you than silver or the finest gold. Wisdom is worth much more than precious jewels or anything else you desire” (Proverbs 8:10-11 CEV).
There are thirty-one chapters in the book of Proverbs – one for every day of the month – so here is a suggestion: Why don’t you read a chapter a day for the next twelve months and become wise?
Soul food: Eze 47:1-12; Rev 21:22-22:5
Spreuke 8:11 NLV
Toe koning Salomo vir God vir wysheid, in plaas van mag, roem, of rykdom gevra het, het God vir hom gesê: ‘…Omdat dit jou hartsbegeerte is; omdat jy nie vir persoonlike rykdom en eer, of die vernietiging van jou vyande, of selfs ‘n lang lewe gevra het nie; omdat jy eerder gevra het vir wysheid en kennis om my volk behoorlik te regeer; sal Ek sekerlik vir jou die wysheid en kennis gee waarvoor jy gevra het. Maar Ek sal ook vir jou rykdom, besittings en eer gee soos geen ander koning voor of na jou ooit sal hê nie’ (2 Kronieke 1:11-12 NLV).
Het God sy belofte gehou? Wel, Salomo het die wêreld se grootste ryk regeer. Sy handelskepe het die see bevaar en hom die skatte van die aarde teruggebring. Hy het van die wêreld se belangrikste geboue, insluitend die tempel, ontwerp en gebou. Hy het reservoirs, parke, tuine en wingerde gebou. Hy het besigheid, wetenskap en letterkunde bemeester. Hy het ‘n digter wat pryse wen, ‘n vooraanstaande skrywer en ‘n begaafde musikant geword. Hy het die ongelooflike waarde van wysheid geleer, al die voordele daarvan geniet en die volgende geskryf: ‘Kies eerder wat ek julle leer. Dit is meer werd as silwer. My kennis is meer werd as goud. Wysheid is baie meer werd as edelstene. Daar is niks waaraan jy kan dink wat teen wysheid kan opweeg nie’ (Spreuke 8:10-11 NLV).
Daar is een-en-dertig hoofstukke in die boek Spreuke – een vir elke dag van die maand. Hier is dus ‘n voorstel: Hoekom lees jy nie ‘n hoofstuk ‘n dag vir die volgende twaalf maande en word wys nie?
Sielskos: Eseg 47:1-12; Op 21:22-22:5
