Thoughts for another day

August 31, 2012.

Today's verse: Job 28:28. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Life's good when a man lives in the fear of the LORD; but goodness requires wisdom and wisdom comes not because one is born intelligent or is well-educated or whatever, but chiefly because of the fear of the Lord.  God made man to be wise and many who don't know the Lord too, are wise but wisdom that can save a man, not only in this world but also the next, is true wisdom and it can come only from the Lord.  Many find this difficult to understand and some even to believe, for they say, how can mere fear in God bring forth wisdom?  But God puts wisdom in the hearts of those who fear and lean on Him.  And James says, wisdom of the world is earthly, sensual, devilish but the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (Jas 3:15, 17).

The imbibing of wisdom isn't man's initiative but of God.  When we fear God, I'm not talking of fear as being scared, but healthy respect and reverential awe leading to the keeping of His commands and living the way He wants us to live, then as you can imagine, he is bound to be blessed by God for God approves of his ways and the mode of his life.  God sees the blemishless life he is leading and blesses his house and all he possess so they multiply and grow. 

There's no limit to God blessing a man who fears Him and His Word, for a man to be thus, takes a lot. It means forsaking many things we love like alcohol, cigarettes, rumor mongering, etc.  It requires inner discipline to shun the dark things we hold on to and a fortitude, ready to weather any storm that may arise because of our holding on to the right, in the midst of a crooked world.  God understands our minds and is pleased with us. He knows of our sacrifices; here's an example: A lady works in a large company; she can easily take a stapler home from her office for her personal use, but she rather goes to the shop and buys one.   Look at the sacrifice she makes in not taking the thing right in front of her but rather going to the trouble to go buy one!  Thus she shuns evil and so is not prone to fear; and that in a small way is the work of wisdom.