Wise Choice

Proverbs 3:33-35 

33The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. 35The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

Chance of Success

Everyone wants to be successful. Everyone has a chance to be successful in this world. You can be successful for few moments; you can have long term success: If you’re a baker, you can be successful in baking; if you’re a farmer can be successful farming; if you’re a fisherman can be successful fishing. Athletes can excel in their chosen sports. And you can be successful in your chosen profession. How do you wish to succeed?

Consider that everything we do in this temporary world has eternal consequence.

Do you think that power, popularity or prosperity makes you satisfied in life?

King David was powerful ruler; he was popular among his people and enemies as well,  and he had accumulated much silver and gold. Surprisingly, he never claimed that power, popularity or prosperity had satisfied him. He had encourages us in Psalm 34:8: 8Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Power, popularity and prosperity are essential to the kingship of King David, but he tasted and testified that enjoyment of life comes from the Lord. Do you personally agree that it’s a blessing to be satisfied with whatever the Lord allows us to have in life?

Can you accept that we can only be satisfied in life if we remain within the plan of God for us? Pray earnestly to discern the right path that God designed for you. When you find it, right where God wants you to be, you’ll be satisfied in life and praise him.

1.  Praise

33The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

Blessing is extreme gladness that causes praise of God. Anything that causes you to praise God is blessing from the Lord. You would certainly love that your home is filled with singing of praise and gratitude to God. Of course, we will still struggle with problems common to mankind. Despite the difficulties of life, it feels great, if members of our family sing praises to God instead of cursing each others.

In comparison, the house of the wicked is filled with hatred and anger. Why? No blessing from God. Don’t expect praise and gratitude to God in the house of the wicked.

Joshua

Joshua had challenged the Israelites in Joshua 24:14-15. 14Fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

I have heard testimonies of believers, here and abroad. They testified that God has provided for their needs when they sincerely and faithfully serve the Lord. Sincerely and faithfully serve the Lord, and you won’t worry much about provision.

2.  Provision

34He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

The term “favor” is properly translated favorable provision from the Lord. The Lord favors us when we come to him in humility and follow his instruction. How does favor from the Lord convert to provision when we struggle with difficulties of life? The life of the Israelites was practical illustration of God’s favor transformed into provision.

Before it happened, the Lord told Moses in Exodus 3:21-22, 21I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. 22Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.

The Lord instructed Moses to bring the Israelites out of the Egyptian slavery. He obeyed. In Egypt, Moses performed nine miracles, but Pharaoh King of Egypt did not allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. Then God sent plagues that killed the first born of Egypt, both human and animals, but the Israelites were spared because the Lord favored them. God’s favor is best illustrated in Exodus 12:35-36:  35The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

Previously, Pharaoh didn’t want to release the Israelites from slavery. Actually, his reaction was recorded in Exodus 5:2, 2Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”

Curiously, we follow the Lord because we know him and his instruction is favorable to us when we obey. The powerful and proud Pharaoh ridiculed the idea of obeying instruction from the Lord. Why? He did not know the Lord.

Powerful or not, it’s human pride to disregard the Lord. But, if we seek help from God, will he grant if we ask him to give us power, popularity or possession?

3.  Possession

35The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

Inheritance from the Lord includes possession and honor as compared to shame.

To gather wealth illegally is foolishness. Corrupt officials are foolish. They gather wealth illegally. They may escape from the law of the land, but will the Lord ignore them?

Corruption had infected many government offices historically. It happened in the Roman government in the first century; it will certainly happen anytime anywhere.

Convenience

When Felix was the Roman governor of Judea, Apostle Paul was presented before him to defend his case. It says in Acts 24: 25-27, 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. 27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

For convenience sake, Felix caused inconvenience to Apostle Paul and imprisoned him for the next two years. Nonetheless, the inconvenience of Apostle Paul was God’s grace. Paul was kept guarded in prison, and his enemies had no chance to take his life. Eventually, Paul was sent to Rome for free ride and with safety because he was guarded.

Reflect for a moment. Did Apostle Paul complain of his difficulties? Actually, no! He may have considered that his struggles were rather wonderful experiences. Really?

He testified in Philippians 3:10-14, 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Apostle Paul was a Pharisee. As Pharisee, he had been academically successful, powerful, popular and wealthy. Yet, he considered those things as loss and garbage. Power, popularity, prosperity and academic achievements are useful in life, no doubt.

If we can reach the spiritual maturity level of Apostle Paul, we conceptualize and acknowledge that life eternal is far desirable and enjoyable bliss more than anything in this world. Pray for godly wisdom instead and don’t stop until God gives you wisdom.

Remember King Solomon prayed for wisdom. God said in 2 Chronicles 1:11-12. 11Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.

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