Sunday, April 11, 1999 This Week's Lesson: In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 7:1-27, we learned more about the value of godly wisdom and understanding. Throughout the Book of Proverbs, Solomon has written repeatedly about being obedient and about seeking wisdom. Since he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we know that his words and his commandments were not really his own. Instead, they were from the Lord, and through them, Solomon encouraged us to keep God's words and obey God's commandments. His simple teachings are important because they will prevent us from messing up our life. Solomon used the expression, "My son," to show familiarity and also to let us know that the Lord speaks to us as His children. He taught that we should view God's laws as the apple of our eye. Moreover, the whole Bible supports that instruction. Psalms 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalms 119:47-48 says, "And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes." Solomon wrote that we should embrace wisdom as our sister or sibling and that we should embrace understanding as one who is very close to us. Gaining wisdom and understanding and being obedient to God's words will keep us from the evils of this life, and as Solomon indicated, they will especially keep us from the evils of pursuing strange women. In Proverbs 7:6-23, he wrote about a young man who lacked understanding and who did not stay away from strange women. As one might suspect, the young man eventually ended up in great difficulty. The harlot had had a very pleasant message to tell the young man. She had made their affair seem easy and harmless, and in the end, he fell for it. He followed after her like the ox that dumbly goes to his own slaughter, and he messed up. Solomon wrote mostly to young men about the perils of strange women because men are so weak in this regard. However, the dangers of sexual perversion and immorality exist for everyone. Young men and old men can get into trouble by becoming involved with strange women. Young women and old women can get into trouble by becoming involved with strange men. As Christians, we must be very careful to conduct our lives intelligently. Being unfaithful to those around us will always cause us trouble and might even destroy our life. On the other hand, faithfully studying God's Word and ordering our lives around its teachings can keep us from stumbling into all sorts of sins, especially those that are sexual. We might still stumble on occasion, but godly wisdom and understanding will help us turn away from most wrongful situations. It would be better if we never sinned, but of course, we all do. Therefore, when we do fall short of pleasing our heavenly Father, we need to remember that we can have forgiveness with Him through Jesus. God loves each of us, and He will forgive us for all our sins as often as it is necessary. As you go through the coming week, do your best to seek the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and try to be the person He would have you be.Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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