Wisdom of Life

Proverbs 4:20-22

20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.

Old Man

Someone said, “Older people talk about their regrets in life; younger generation talk about their dreams.” If you stop aspiring for something, does it mean you are old?

An old man was asked about his life if he had any regret. He said that he ventured in several businesses in his hometown and other places but did not prosper. He worked in different establishments, but he did not stay longer to be promoted.

Such is life experiences of many people. We try anything as possible opportunity for success or betterment in life. It is logical for ordinary citizens to work harder for betterment. In comparison, there are financially successful people who still want to get richer; they practically prove that material things on earth may satisfy temporarily but not completely. Life on earth can be full of regrets and unending search for satisfaction.

It declares in Psalm 1:1-3, 1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

Blessedness is also interpreted as satisfaction. To delight in and meditate on the law of the Lord is life compared to tree that does not worry of water supply. How do you explain that to a child? God is the source of life. To delight includes desire to follow. We meditate, ponder on the law of the Lord for us to personally understand and practice it.

It requires faith in God to interpret his instruction. God has special plan for each believer. The Holy Spirit gives insight to believers; he presents practical steps we take. The Lord speaks through the Scripture; and we need to hear him very clearly.

1.  Hear

20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

When the Lord calls our attention and says, “My son,” what do you understand and interpret personally? When God calls us “My son” “My daughter” or “My child,” he implies care and love for us as his children; so, he calls us his son, his child.

The relationship of father and son includes careful instruction of the father for the betterment of his son, his child. The child listens to his father’s instruction and obeys him as proof of respects to his father. Children are obliged to follow their parents. But when we gladly follow our parents, it also shows our love and respect for them.

When the law of the Lord becomes obligation for us to follow, pressure is added. When we sense pressure to obey God, we sense resistance against obedience to him. But if by his grace and love, we sense gladness and peace to obey God spontaneously, we know that his Holy Spirit inspires us to cheerfully obey him faithfully.Why?

The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to agree that it favors us to obey. We are glad to obey our heavenly father because we desire his approval. Wisdom helps us agree that his approval favors the obedient. God has already decreed blessing for anyone who cheerfully obeys him, and there’s consequences for disobedience to him.

We want his approval because godly wisdom says we benefit from it favorably.

Paint or not to paint

A young family planned to sell their house and buy a house with more rooms. They painted their old house and hoped that it may increase its price. The father was painting in the living room. The mother was painting in the kitchen. The daughter was painting in her room. Everyone was busy painting; they forgot about the toddler. They wondered why he’s very quiet. They went to his room and saw him drawing figures all over the newly painted wall. What’s their reaction? You may think just the way I think.

Truly, when toddlers are left to be on their own, they have also ideas what they want to do but not necessarily make parents glad or approve. What do you think?

Many people are satisfied with ordinary and not aspire for the best. Why? We may assume it but don’t know exactly know what is best for us.

For example: Which car is best for you? Fancy car! Will I buy a fancy car? No! I have no money. Fancy cars are not appropriate in Winnipeg during winter season.

Different factors that may affect choices: weather, location, legalities, usability, convenience or opinion of others. You may reconsider when you hear what others say.

Do you believe that the Lord loves you? Do you believe that God knows what is best for you? Do you believe that God approves what is best for you? If so, then pray for godly wisdom so that you may diligently obey and follow his instruction faithfully.

Many, if not all people, have done something that causes their life miserable. By faith, we believe that God still cares for us and can make our life better than we think.

When we follow the wrong path, God patiently reminds us; he redirects us, if we are willing to follow his instruction step by step. Most often, we hurt ourselves when we decide instinctively and not prayerfully; but by faith, we believe that God can heal us.

2.  Heal

21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.

Some respectable Bible version translated “health” as healing. Healing and health are both favorable to the body. When it says “whole body,” it includes all aspects of life.

Healthy body, healthy mindset, healthy point of view, healthy perspectives are favorably beneficial to active and productive lifestyle. The Lord wants us to productive.

Wisdom is useful to know how to maintain healthy body: what food to eat; which exercise to do; what show to watch; what music or news to listen to. You can observe strong individuals promote consistent healthy habits. And it is very beneficial to listen to King Solomon and other successful people and learn from their practices in life.

When you ask the younger generation, “What do you wish to become?” you may want to share your unsolicited advice. If they wish to be athletes, tell them to learn from great athletes. If they wish to be musicians, tell them to learn for successful musicians. If they wish to be successful in business, tell them to learn from respectable businessmen. If they wish to be preachers, tell them to go and enroll in the seminary and learn.

However, if you wish to become somebody and learn from successful somebody, you may succeed but it does not always result to success that we hope to become.

Old Man

Earlier, I mentioned about an old man, who was asked if he had any regret in life. He recalled his failed businesses, employment in different companies and projects he wished and did only to realize that none of all those experiences gave him total satisfaction. He lived an ordinary life and tried to be responsible citizen.

One day, someone told him about Christ; he accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, and his life had changed. Great and small in the eyes of others, he was satisfied with what he did and cannot ask for more.

True or fictional, we ask ourselves: Am I satisfied with my life now? Am I satisfied with what I have now? Will I be grateful and praise my Creator? Will I ask for more?

It prophesied in Psalm 107:4-9, 4Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Friends: If you found satisfaction in life, praise God; if not yet, pray sincerely.

Pray seriously and ask the Lord for wisdom for you to know the path to his will for you. Pray for increase of faith to believe that God knows what is best for you.

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches in Matthew 7:9-11, 9Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Pray that God reveals what he wants you to pray for so that you will receive it.

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