Proverbs 1:28-31 

²⁸Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, ²⁹since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. ³⁰Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, ³¹they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

Very soon

If you have one particular wish in life, what is one thing on earth you wish God may grant you? Of course, the most important! And, you may wish to have long life. How long do you wish to live on earth?

Many years ago, an older man wished to live 15 years more; and, he claimed that God granted his wish. Should we pray for longer life? If you were popular and talented person, you don’t like to leave this earth sooner, do you?

Recently, a very popular college player had excelled in his school. He was very talented and set school records in a single season; he received a most coveted award as the Most Valuable Player of the game. According to his former teammates, he was also very friendly and many individuals speak good things about him also. But, several choices he made indirectly suggest that he had his shares of foolish decisions; his life was taken from him very soon at a very young age, in his early twenties accordingly.

People assume that popularity amplifies competence in the advancement of career; and, it can be a reality to anybody. But in Christian ministries, our competence comes from God. Apostle Paul testifies us in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, ⁵Our competence comes from God. ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant.

In everything we do as believers of Christ, our mission purpose is to testify of his transformational work in our life. What change has Christ made in your life? If Christ has transformed your life, you will be competent to answer inquiries about your lifestyle.

1. Answer

²⁸Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, ²⁹since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.

Godly wisdom comes from God. With wisdom, God created everything beautiful in its time. It is very advisable to listen attentively when godly wisdom speaks. Pray sincerely to acquire godly wisdom. It is very foolish choice to reject godly wisdom.

When it says, “they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,” did you know that Jesus Christ used the same sentence? The chief priests and the Pharisees were very envious that Jesus was becoming popular; so, they sent temple guards to arrest him. And, Jesus declared in John 7:33-34, ³³I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. ³⁴You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.

What did Christ imply when he used similar phrase that pertains to godly wisdom in the Book of Proverbs? The Lord gave King Solomon godly wisdom, and the Holy Spirit inspired him when he recorded godly principles in the Book of Proverbs.

The Lord, who gave godly wisdom to King Solomon and inspired him to write them down, is the same Christ, who was born as human in the person of Jesus. Can you strongly believe that? It is logical that anyone who ignores godly wisdom will also ignore the Lord Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul explained in clearly in 1 Corinthians 1:24:  ²⁴To those whom God has called… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The life story of King Solomon had exemplified concretely what believers of Christ may experience. King Solomon asked for godly wisdom, and the Lord granted him. With godly wisdom, King Solomon became the wisest and wealthiest king in the history of Israel. In the Book of Proverbs, he recorded godly principles that he practiced in his life.

Conversely, the latter years of King Solomon’s life were not very admirable after he abandoned godly wisdom and experimented on worldly concepts. And because he experienced it, he knew what may happen to anyone who won’t accept godly advice.

2. Accept

³⁰Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, ³¹they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

The term “since” points to possible cause and factor of undesirable results that will certainly happen to the foolish person who won’t accept godly advisory. Foolishness controls the foolish to ignore, reject, disregard or spurn wisdom from God. And, there are also times when, even, believers would experiment and explore foolishness.

What may trigger even believers to entertain foolishness? Worldly lifestyle can be instrumental, but most often, unsuspecting believers are misled in some ways.

For instance: Music is universal. Everyone loves to sings. Music is very essential to worship of God. It is necessary for the church to discover musical talents. And, many adventurous young people would explore their musical talents. Worship leaders and musicians in most churches are young people. Leading worship is popular ministry for younger generation, but popularity can cause anyone to become proud and arrogant.

When pride prevails, it can progress to sin; pride can victimize naïve believers.

Let’s learn from the predicament of Apostle Peter. The name “Peter” is English translation of Greek name “Petros” which literally means “rock.” Jesus Christ declared in Matthew 16:18-23, ¹⁸I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. ²¹From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ²²Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

When our Lord Jesus Christ said, “and on this rock I will build my church,” some scholars suggest that Jesus pertains to “Peter” as the “rock” on which Christ builds his church. Others say that Christ and his disciples were standing on a huge rock. When Jesus declared, “and on this rock I will build my church,” the English term “rock” was properly translated from Greek term “Petra” which is in feminine form while the English name “Peter” was translated from Greek name “Petros” which was in masculine form.

Did Christ want to build his church on Peter or the rock under their feet? Such confusion has attracted opposing opinions that misleads believers. What is the essential lesson here anyway? Peter was at the center of attention when the Lord teaches the keys of heaven. And few minutes later, Peter rebuked the Lord. Did Peter assume that Christ did not know what he was doing? Did he think that Christ needed his advice?

When Peter rebuked the Lord, he showed unbelief to the power and wisdom of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords; he does not need advice from his creations.

After Christ said that he will give the keys of heaven to Peter and not to the other disciples, pride had victimized Peter to assume that he had better idea to save Jesus. When he told Peter, “Get behind me Satan,” it was very undesirable rebuke for Peter. It is satanic opinion to stop the crucifixion of Christ—God’s grand design for salvation of sinful humanity. Jesus Christ was crucified for the forgiveness of our sins.

Like Peter, many young and older people who joined worship and music ministry put themselves in a very undesirable rebuke when popularity causes them to be proud. Worship and music ministry is an avenue for believers to serve the Lord; but, it attracts also individuals who just want to exhibit or explore their musical talents.

Anybody can be victimized by pride, like Peter. Popularity amplifies competence in the advancement of career; but it can also cause anybody to be proud. Competence should come from the Lord. Don’t forget that the Lord does not favor the proud.

Apostle Peter knew that it is not beneficial to be proud because he was once a victim of his own pride; so he advised us in 1 Peter 5:5, ⁵In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

When popularity overtakes us, we can be victimized by our own pride; but it can be avoided. How? We must always pray that the Holy Spirit of Christ fills and empowers us. Pray that the fruit of the Holy Spirit prevails in us and pride will fade away.

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