Advise and Resent

Advise and Resent
By Jenn Vaught

I love the beginning of Proverbs; Wisdom is talking to us telling us to seek out truth, understanding and knowledge.  In fact, Proverbs 1:20 (ESV) says, “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;” Wisdom is actually yelling out to us!  It’s not just there for us to seek, but Wisdom tries to get OUR attention.  On a side note, I like that Wisdom is a “she,” probably because women have bigger mouths than men and we are more apt to yell out our opinions whether people want them or not!!  J Am I right??!!!

Seriously though, God has provided so much wisdom at our very fingertips, in our Bibles, in prayer through the Holy Spirit, in family, in our circle of Christian friendships, in church and in Sunday school classes.  God puts us in certain places at certain times for us to give knowledge to someone AND to gain knowledge from someone else.  So let’s take it a step further, do we take knowledge given to us as well as we give it to others?  Sometimes we don’t want to hear what constructive criticism Wisdom has to say.  How do we respond to that?  Do we answer back with a “Yes, thank you for letting me know” or “I will pray about that” or do we stick our head in the sand or do we get angry and all puffed up?  Ummm, I’ll be honest and say I’ll answer E, all the above!  Everyone who’s gone to church even for a little while knows this verse, but what about the few verses after it?  Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV) ⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.    

CHALLENGE:  Do we take advantage of all that we have been blessed with, the tools and people around us that God has provided for us?  Proverbs 2:6-8 (ESV) ⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; ⁷ he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, ⁸ guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.