Proverbs 1:20-23 

²⁰Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; ²¹on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: ²²“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? ²³Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

The pandemic has affected us negatively and positively. We heard of negative effects of the pandemic. But, how did the pandemic affect you positively?

Have you discovered your talents in baking, cooking, painting or indoor planting with the help of online influencers?

There are online videos on how to propagate Aloe Vera plant from Aloe Vera leaf cuttings. I tried to plant Aloe Vera from leaf cuttings but it did not grow like what I saw from the online video. There are many online videos that are truly helpful, but there are online videos made just for fun or deceptions. Not all online influencers are truthful.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, and he warned in Matthew 24:4-14, ⁴Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains. ⁹Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹²Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Many of the things that Jesus warned are happening nowadays. Are you scared?

Are you worried? You may have observed yourselves that worrying is not very amusing. Our human instinct causes us to be anxious and worry a lot. Most often, we worry when we are helpless and don’t know what to do. What should we do?

It says in James 1:5, ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

The signs of end times are here. We should be dependent upon the Lord every moment of our life and not anxious. We’ve got to seek godly wisdom from the Lord.

1.  Wisdom

²⁰Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; ²¹on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

Not everyone can appreciate loudness readily; but, the wise person will listen and learn from what had been said. The pronoun “she” is used to identify a woman, right? So, what does it imply when pronoun “she” is also used to identify wisdom?

This is not prejudice to women. But, when women want to emphasize the seriousness and urgency of their idea, they have to force and make their voice loud enough to be heard, especially, when they warn against possible tragic failure or accidents. When you warn somebody of a falling tree, you shout at the possible victim, right? It is foolishness not to shout warning. And, this also true to preachers who shout loud when they warn about the unavoidable condemnation to unrepentant sinners.

Interestingly, wisdom raises her voice and calls aloud, not just exclusively, but publicly in the open. Wisdom cries out as if, it is seeking for help in public places where everyone can easily notice its presence and not just among few listeners. Yet, we cannot expect that everyone would be ready to appreciate wisdom.

Fools ignore wisdom because they don’t understand; and we are not exempted.

Salty

There were many instances when my foolishness destroyed peace in my mind.

I love to cook because I love to eat; and, I cook food that I wish to eat. But, there are several times when I cooked for personal entertainment. I cook food just to impress my wife and my family; I want to hear them say, “Wow! Delicious!” or “Not bad!”

Most often, I add seasonings at eyeball; I estimate the amount needed straight from the container of seasoning. Yet, there were times when I was not very conscious, not aware if the cover of the container of spice or salt is tightened or not. And, I added seasoning, spice or salt more than what is needed. Of course, the result is very terrible.

So, I needed to prepare everything again; and, time, effort and ingredients were wasted. What should I blame for my mistake? My selfish desire to impress my family, my negligence to check the container cover, my self-confidence in cooking, what else?

See? To impress, negligence and self-confidence originate from my limited self. I am foolish to forget my limitations. Mistakes can happen even when we are confident.

Spiritually speaking, there are times when we grow very confident spiritually and fail to pray and ask God for his help, especially when we very familiar of our activities. Are you conscious of your testimony as children of God when you are awake? Are you pressured to reach your destination on time but not conscious that the Lord is always observing everyone to bless those who deserve blessings? Are you mindful that you are Christians wherever you go? It is foolishness for us not to be aware of our spiritual status as children of God. Well, foolishness can happen anytime, even for believers.

It says in Ephesians 1:17-19, ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Have you discovered the hope and purposes to which God has called you yet? It’s very advisable for us to know deeper and better the incomparable power of God which is available for all who believe in him. And, always be aware that we have limitation in everything; mistake may happen even when we are very confident in our spiritual life.

Pray to be filled with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and know his ways.

2.  Ways

²²“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? ²³Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

Repentance is necessary requirement before the Lord reveals his ways. We can’t on our own, but the Lord himself will help us know his plans, will and purposes for us.

            Listen: Christians should be satisfied with simple lifestyle, right? A simple person loves simple ways. And, why is it that the Lord considers as foolish a simple person who loves simple ways? Some respectable Bible versions translated the term “simple” as “naïve,” “gullible” or “foolish” which pertains to individuals who are misled or deceived.

If the simple, naïve, gullible or foolish person has very simple mindset, he cannot realize instinctively which way should benefit him or bring him danger and trouble.

But, in contrast to complicated or complex ways, simple ways are not necessarily foolish. Simple ways can be godly if they originated from God, whereas, those simple ways that the Lord considers as foolishness are anything not pleasant to God.

Scheme

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches righteousness pleasant to God. He openly and publicly rebukes anyone who does wrong, even Jewish leaders, which caused them to be furious and very angry; so, they schemed how they could eliminate him. It says in Matthew 26:3-5, ³Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ⁵“But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

The chief priests and the leaders of the people should be respectable; but, the Lord Jesus Christ had rebuked them publicly. They were embarrassed; so, they secretly schemed to eliminate him so that, they won’t be implicated, if ever their plan failed; and, such is an example of simple foolishness of a person that caused him to be condemned eternally.

Wisdom of human origin may satisfy their craving temporarily; but, godly wisdom can satisfy both temporal and eternal contentment of believers in God. Simple ways that are godly, righteous and acceptable to God bring contentment in life.

It says in 1 Corinthians 1:24-25, ²⁴Those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Godly wisdom in Christ helps us know things that offer temporal and eternal satisfaction.  Do everything you can to get godly wisdom and satisfaction in Jesus Christ.

Praise and gratitude to the Lord conclude the effects of godly wisdom and contentment.

Let Jesus Christ perform his lordship in your life and you will have godly wisdom.

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