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Day 16
Day 16 | Think Shoulder-to-Shoulder
ACTIVITY
Continue:
- P.A.C.T.—Pray | Ask | Confess | Thank
- P.A.S.S.—Pray Prior | Author's Intent | Stop when Convicted | Share
Your Call To Act (C.T.A.) today is:
- Set A Meet-Up with another brother by thinking Shoulder-to-Shoulder or Face-to-Face.
PROVERBS 9
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
The Way of Folly
13 The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
TRANSCRIPT
Goal: Think Shoulder to Shoulder
Hello, gentlemen, it’s week three and day sixteen.
So yesterday you got your call to act for the week—set a meetup. Today we’re going to look at how to think about this. I know many guys might stall out on this one because they don’t know how to do it. It can be an intimidating step if you’ve never developed a solid Christian relationship with another man. Sometimes it feels like we’re trying to launch out on this weird dating experience, and no man wants to turn to connect with another Christian guy into a dating experience. But we are going to take initiative, so I want to give you two ways to approach this that will take the awkwardness off the table for you. First, you can approach this in a shoulder-to-shoulder activity. Or second, you can pursue it in a face-to-face meet-up. I believe when we are first starting off it’s easier to start with shoulder-to-shoulder activities. It gives us something to do while we are talking and therefore, we don’t have to come up with as much to talk about. Plus, every guy to some extent is a little competitive and energized by doing something. Just ask some guy to do something that you like to do. Think of activities like skeet-shooting where you are holding a gun and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with another guy rather than only sitting face-to-face. Activities like this are perfect. Think golf, games, and guns, the 3 G’s. When we are doing these kinds of activities, I think it’s easier for us to give the relationship a test run and figure out if there is a connection or some form of mutual benefit. But don’t overcomplicate this. If you are ready to jump in, go for a face-to-face meet up. Most men are going to be glad you asked, but if you choose this route it does mean you need to be a little more prepared for a meeting because you are going to need things to talk about. But we will get into that next time.
So you know your tasks for today, pray and read, and schedule a meet-up with some guy before the end of the week. If you still don’t feel confident over the next three days I am going to give you three tips that will guide you to the 411 on brotherhood.
If you are reading along with me, hang on for a couple of seconds I will be right back with you.
DEVO
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.—Proverbs 9:8
Some efforts are a complete waste of time, energy, and investment—like admonishing a scoffer. And we all know a few scoffers. They are people who are unreceptive, unwilling, and unteachable when presented with shreds of truth. At times they are so unreceptive that they turn to hate the person presenting the truth. But while you'll be quick to list off all the scoffers of your life and even recall their resistant moments, perhaps you would be better served by the wisdom of Solomon if you asked yourself if you are the scoffer? And there is one way to know. It's a simple reflective question: "When people reprove you, do you, in response, genuinely love them?"
JOURNAL THIS: I am resistant to the truth because...
DO THIS: Accept reproof regardless of the person, and thank them today.
PRAY THIS: God, make me wiser, but also make me more willing to accept the reproof that leads to the wisdom I desire.
Share That You Completed Today's Challenge
I do face to face at restaurants with accountability brothers. Shoulder to shoulder works well in pickleball, softball…. Talk in between games or innings or after games done for day! Iron sharpens iron!!
Shoulder-to-shoulder activity with close Christian brothers on a weekly basis is a true BLESSING!
I went face to face and we left it in prayer
Done
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Done
excellence comes from wisdom
v9: Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
v10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Accepting the Lord and his grace is only the beginning – I still need to be prepared to take instruction and increase the wisdom need to be closer to God. This is where worldly pride sometimes gets in my way.
I need to be thankful when I receive reprove!
Who doesn’t want wisdom? It begins with fearing the Lord – verse 10.
Complete
Fear of the Lord, that is so beautiful
Done
vs. 8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you;
Lord help me to be wise!
Two part comment:
1) Meeting up is difficult. Shoulder-to-Shoulder activities are also kind of sparse. I think I would do great with those, though. The person I reached out to is busy until after next weekend. Should I set something up that far away or try to find a person to meet up with sooner?
2) Proverbs reading. The first 6 verses remind me of a street preacher yelling his message to those in passing. How easily we scoff and think, “I see what he’s doing, but I don’t need this” or “isn’t there a better way to get the message of Jesus to people?” But the interesting thing, to me anyway, is that folly is shouting the same thing.
What are your good “a shoulder to shoulder” activities that draw men into better deeper biblical relationships? And how do you keep it from just being a self pleasing hobby/ activity that may take us away from family or service for Christ? Because it can start good and turn consuming, right?
ok
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom1
God, when I get reproved, help me to genuinely love the reprover, accept and love the reprover regardly of who they are, and make me more willing to accept reprove.
I like Verse 10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This verse tells us that wisdom begins by fearing God, and then insight is gained by knowing God. We get to know God by studying His Word, and spending time with Him in prayer and quiet time. Brotherhood encourgages us in both regards.
I thought it was interesting that both Wisdom and Folly have the same request, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”, but after that everything changes. Is it wise to steal from someone? NO. Can it appear innocuous? YES. When the request is the same can we discern the difference – Wisdom vs. Whatever form the non-Wisdom is taking.
I think if read, pray, and have a brotherhood we can.
(2/7/21) Proverbs 9:1 The Passion Translation
“Wisdom has built herself a palace upon seven pillars to keep it secure.”
Pr. 9 includes Pr. 8-10 My conclusion w.r.t. Pr. 9:1 might be to list the pillars as:
(1) Creation/Restoration/ Eternal Life (2) Heart of Love and Sharing (3) Insight/Understanding/Wisdom (4) exposing wickedness/eliminating unrighteousness (5) Humility/ Desire to Know God (6) Fear of God (7) Prudence/ Obedience to Christ
Knowing men at Church has made it an easy “ask” to team up for a conversation. Breakfast meeting is the face-to-face activity that has been planned and agreed upon.
this is extremely difficult for me. I really don’t have any close acquaintances and am very reluctant at my age with the threat of covid-19 hanging in the air.
Verse 10, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom …, is a good reminder that God is always watching what we do. This should keep us in check in what we do every minute
Let’s fear God together today, Paul. ⚡️⚡️⚡️
The wisdom I have gained and seeked over the years has helped me so much during this time of my life. It has given me peace and comfort.
I like having a friend. Someone who is struggling with similar issues and give me a new outlook on it.
I am challenged by the wise person is “reprovable” but the wicked and scoffed is very “reproof averse”. I struggle with reproof, but I don’t want to be a fool. Lord, help!
If we don’t have a close relationship with Jesus it could be to be lead astray and fall into sin. Always be on guard to resist temptation with the word of God, resist the devil and he well flee after we submit to God.
I’ve been meeting with a neighbor for about two and a half years. We started meeting in the hospital when he was diagnosed with cancer and continued thru his treatments depending on how he felt. It’s been a good friendship,we are very open and honest since we have shared our experiences with cancer. We talk about scripture, and we always pray together, face to face or on the phone. This COVID has slowed things down since we both have had our immune system wiped out. I praise God for this man and what he means to me.
Todays message is showing me that it is so easy to mess up our Christian Journey. Each decision holds a lot of weight on our future.
I cannot think of too many shoulder to shoulder things that others would find enjoyable, but I think I prefer face to face with the idea of modeling a mature relationship that is not afraid to be open or vulnerable. I have discipled men who never got past the shoulder to shoulder and they never grew from them either.
This is so interesting when read in conjunction with a bible study. The 7 columns are figurative. In the Bible 7 means completeness or perfection. Wisdom is basically perfect! Maybe the reason for lucky #7?!?
The part about the banquet… many intend to come, but they get easily sidetracked. I know this all too well!
Mocker vs a wise person?
A mocker responds to criticism negatively with quick witted put downs or clever retorts. (The old me and occasionally still me.)
A wise person will listen and learn. I need to be more quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger!
Completed the reading and looking to engage with another brother this week.
Most of my life I’ve approached my work life with diligence and wisdom, yet my moral and character life I’ve approached with folly and prone to go in the wrong direction. Not anymore
We are only able to grow in Christ if we have that passion to seek him out and learn. Correction can only come when the one being corrected is willing to make the changes in their life pointed out by someone with loving intent to help them improve. We only become wise in situations when that desire to seek out that wisdom is out on our hearts by God.
God will lead us and give us wisdom .
Due to Covid-19 rising in my state, I cannot do a face to face with another brother. I meet up with 14 brothers on ZOOM every Tuesday.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
So much to unpack in these 2 verses. Knowledge of the Holy One takes time in intimate prayer and His Word. It gives peace which means less stress (?) and long life (God’s timing, not mine)
The book of Proverbs chapter 9 teaches that a person can eat from the table of wisdom or from the table of fools. It’s wise to use good common sense then not to use any and be foolish.
Thinking about who I would like to set up a shoulder to shoulder with. I am having a hard time figuring out who it should be.
You guys are my band of brothers…so let’s set up a meet.
I’ve learned to always keep my guard up against the foolish things in life. To step back and analyze the situation. Slowing down usually keeps me from making a foolish decision or thought. I have also learned to take constructive criticism from Godly men!
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
I want to say that I like correction and feedback, and a lot of times I do. But honestly, I don’t always like it. I’m convicted by this because there are times I get upset when others share that I may be doing something wrong.
Lord, help me to be receptive to correction, and be humble to accept it graciously.
Verse 9. As I am being built daily with the wisdom of his ways and gaining a beneficial lifestyle that is ortintated in good ways, success seems more achievable. I thank the Lord for his he is working in my life!
Done
I ask myself…..Why is this so hard to even think about doing?
What this is we are reading about is a spiritual house. This is built by a wise Christian . 7 pillars is to convey sufficiency. I ask myself, am I a strong enough Christian to do this?
Proverbs 9 talks about seduction and what happens when you succumb to it.
The combination of the classic “wisdom” text and Lady Wisdom’s invitation to the simple really struck me today. I’ve been making some unwise choices with my time and how I relate to my family. Her invitation is for me!
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.”
I meet weekly with a small group of guys for some face-to-face time (Bible/book study and prayer). I can’t tell you how this weekly meeting has encouraged me.
I really want to be a wise man, having nothing to do with sinful behavior. I choose to continue to seek God and his righteousness, today and every day.
I realized once again that there is no such thing as multi-tasking. I tried listening and praying while getting ready this morning. I started thinking of things I had to do & then each tim
I tried to pray, I got distracted. About a dozen time. Then when I finally sat down, I realized I wasn’t praying out loud. So, Vince is telling me to stop and do this. Stop and talk to God. Stop and be Godly. Sounds like he is dropping wisdom on me & I love him and you peeps for it.
Verse 8 also jumped out to me. I often times find myself wanting to engage in futile arguments on Facebook that lead nowhere except for driving a wedge between me and the person I am trying to talk to. I need to think and pray before engaging on Facebook as well as with people in public as well. I think if I take the time to pray before responding I will find that silence is most often the best answer, at least for Facebook.
Verses 9 and 10 are my hearts desire, Father help me to be wiser, help me understand your words with a greater depth and meaning. Grant me a portion of your wisdom, and the insight as to best use it. God Bless you my Brothers !
One of the best things that ever happened to me was an honest evaluation from someone else. If you are willing to learn, God is wanting to teach.
Completed.
I agree whole heartedly!!
The more I learn, I learn I need to learn more!!
Blessings my brothers!
Verse 10
Building off of yesterday, fear (or reverence) of God is the beginning and then working to know Him provides the insight and guidance we so need and desire for our lives.
“Give instruction to a wise man and he will be wiser still” …
We all have physical limitations that we will eventually reach… at some point your body will not grow ahah stronger or get any faster. You will reach your genetic potential. But evidently wisdom has no end…. because you can always move from strength to strength
When you resist a temptation, the world tells you that you’re not a real man, but you are following the Holy Spirit, and they are reacting by the animal-like chemical machine flesh.
Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
I shared this with my daughter Mollee and she said “ so then we should love when someone corrects us, if means we are wise” food for thought!
Lord, i pray you bring to mind some men you might have me to connect with for mutual accountability.
Proverbs 9 reminds me to discern when I correct or rebuke someone. Verse 8 says, “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” This is such a contrast, reinforcing not to cast pearls to the swine who trample on wisdom.
The theme of the “woman” and the scene of the street and the house really paint a picture of how enticing the world may be in all it has to offer, good and bad, just as we are trying to make our way and mind our own business. If we are not actively seeking wisdom from God, the enticing things will snag us; the distractions will fill that void. May the Holy Spirit deepen my desire for His wisdom.
verse 8 jumper out to me as well. I want to be wise as I face conflict at work or home and not escalate things by trying to correct a scoffer. And then Vince’s thoughts convict me further that I need to watch my heart and not be the scoffer myself that I may gain wisdom and live.
Verses 8-9.
I am to invest my life in those that are FAITH
Faithful
Available
Intentional
Teachable
Hungry
I liked this because it affirmed wisdom and stated that folly and foolishness get you no where.
Proverbs 9:10 really rings true in my heart. the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Anyone who has read the old testament really gets a TRUE sense of fear of the Lord because there seems to be a lot of punishment for sins, starting with Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel, and continuing on into the sins of Israel and the punishment, scattering, and destruction of them, but not completely, there is always a remnant.
I struggle taking criticism sometimes. I need to learn to listen, learn, and live better.
I love the three G’s!
I’m very interested in the structure of this chapter. It starts by talking about Wisdom, who has a considerable amount of forsight and hospitality, but it ends with the woman of folly, who flies by the seat of her pants. Quite a contrast. While in the middle is a section that seems a bit out of place (but obviously not). Here are a few verse that stick out to me…
9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is undersanding.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Look both ways before your walk across the street, men. And teach others to do the same. What street are you crossing these days? What about the men who have asked you to have influence over?
Wisdom calls out to invite all that are simple or just don’t know any better. It is in man’s heart that we know right from wrong but will still fall short without the wisdom given to us. Fearing God is the first step to gaining wisdom as we should know his wrath to understand his love.
Proverbs 9 to me is a stark contrast between those who seek wisdom and those who don’t. Those who seek receive a bounty of life giving knowledge and understanding. But those who don’t seek wisdom are susceptible to failing into darkness and danger.
Proverbs 10: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy one is insight.
At Life church we started a Wednesday night men’s group using a video series with a lot of questions .After watching the video we broke into smaller groups and had time talking about the video. Each week we broke into different groups, this helped us learn more about each other. One evening we built a fire pit for the youth group. Both activities brought the men closer.
I’ve made set my meeting with another man of God.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
How you receive correction and / or reproof reveals if you are wise or foolish. A wise man receives those things knowing they will help and improve him. A foolish man scoffs and rebuts those things and a wedge is driven within the relationship. I do okay with reproof because it is revealing a mistake or misstep. I struggle with correction because it can feel like failure on my part, even when my intentions and motives are the purest possible.
That’s some good self-awareness.
How do you feel about roasts?
Just kidding
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The author compares wisdom to its polar opposite, folly. Wisdom and folly are personified as two women, inviting passers by into their homes. We all must make a decision whether to enter the house of wisdom or folly, both women make the same call “Let all who are simple come in here” to the same audience. I have been previously convicted by verse 7-8. I hate being corrected or told I’m wrong! How difficult it is, in our own pride to love it when we are being corrected. Yet, scripture says that is the wise (Proverbs 9:8) How easy it is, in our pride to hate being corrected or told were wrong. Yet, scripture says that is stupid! (Proverbs 12:1).
The following is reassuring:
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
My concern about the following is, other than being a Christian example, how do we approach a scoffer?
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you.
Wisdom is so important to have and follow.
Verse 10 struck me. Wisdom and Insight are portrayed as persons ad well as qualities in Proverbs and are brought together perfectly in Jesus. I pray I will grow as a person with these qualities as I mature in my faith and fellowship with other men.
Both of the women: Wisdom and Folly, both call out to simple men. And their call is the same. But which house do we choose to enter?
A couple of passages create conviction for me. At times Folly is really loud and gets my attention. I know she (it) brings death but it seems enjoyable, pleasant, good to the taste or just “restful” at the time but there is death all around it. Death to my soul. Death to my heart. Death to my dreams. Death to my relationships with God and others. Death. We are created for LIFE and that is what I desire. So, I will turn away from Folly and move to Wisdom found only in my Father and His words. This is my constant prayer.
Prov.9 – a continued exhortation to seek the rock solid foundation of God’s wisdom and insight He longs to share with us compared to the lying destructive temptations of the enemy of our soul.
Thank you Lord for your great love and persistence in my life.
Wisdom…what a grand and glorious house she has and she sets a table with a feast of reconciliation. Thank You Lord Jesus!!
Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
Really challenged here as I am challenging myself to dig into the word and live. Spending time in wisdom ‘the Word’ I will gain insight. Not only for myself, but to share with those I influence.
Verses 7-8: Parallels to Jesus saying don’t throw your pearls before swine. I think it’s a good reminder that lost people need the gospel Before we try to help their sanctification
I usually use the excuse that I have no car to not take initiative, I need to do better than that.
1 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
this verse becomes of major importance as i age. Lord keep adding the years…………….
I pray He will for you and for us.
Lord, I pray that at all times I am not a scoffer and I am willing to accept the reproof that leads to the your wisdom.
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you. Rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still.
I think this leads to accountability from one Christian man to another. We are to hold each other to higher standards.
my Bible pointed out the contrast between the offerings of wisdom and folly. Wisdom appeals to our mind, while folly to our senses. It is easy to excite our senses, but those pleasures are temporary while satisfaction from wisdom is forever.
That’s a good reminder for me to daily make this choice to follow wisdom by opening my Bible and reflecting on its applications in my life and obtain lasting satisfaction in God.
What a excellent passage to think about in a World such as the one we live in. Thank you Lord for helping me stay on the straight path with your blessings and guidance. For without it I would surely stumble and fall. I love you
Do it God’s way and get God’s results!
Author- you’ve got 2 choices. One is established and gives life, but you need to discover that by obedience and belief in God. The other is in your face, attractive outwardly, promising great reward, but delivers pain and death. Choose God’s way, if you believe.
Me- I’m lacking in that fear of God right now. And yet He still freely offers wisdom.
God, give my brother Dan a deep awareness of your greatest and an increased holy fear of you.
Proverbs 9 is a good template for accountability. Accountability wouldn’t bear fruit if it was only about praise and didn’t invite insult.
As men we don’t typically enjoy the rebuke but once we willingly accept it, it produces growth. It then feels good to thank the person who offered you the advice!
Good word Dave
Yes, thank them Dave.
Wisdom over folly is a choice we must all make. The discipline to remain consistent with our choice in a world of earthly distractions is the daily challenge.
It is great to have several wise teachers around us to be able to flern from their wisdom.
Wisdom leads to a fuller life
Verse 7 says, “whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse “. This is so true. Let me not be quarrelsome. Rather, let the light of Jesus shine through me so all can see His Glory. Amen.
Wisdom, wisdom. Don’t reprove a scoffer only a wise person. Again, the instructions are clear and if I follow them I have more years. I really see the importance of reading Proverbs daily.
To those seeking Life, wisdom is attractive and desirable and leads to more Life.
To those not seeking Llife, pleasure is attractive and desirable and leads to death.
Two different paths; two different destinations.
Choose well!
Remaining open to take in wisdom spoke to me. And it’s not a static open it’s a searching and finding wisdom. How? By finding men who are wiser and willing to teach, rebuke, train. Another way for me is going deeper into scripture and having someone wiser than I challenge me and what the word means
Let the Holy Spirit guide you, trust the nudges that you get and turn from the wayward ways of this world.
Verse 12 spoke to me as I am prone to be a scoffer. V12: If you are wise, you are wise to yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Great advice and easy to memorize.
This really hit me, when it says you will be alone. That is sobering and a gut check , when I catch my self scoffing.
Great conviction John.
Wayne, I really consider you a very close brother.
Steve thanks for saying this. We men, need to say this more frequently and more unashamedly
Vs 8&9 – The dangers to reprove a scoffer and blessing to reprove a wise man. I need to work on not reproving the scoffer but loving on them. We are often tempted with becoming the scoffer vs wise man, when it’s not our idea.
I have a face-to-face today, though I do like those times of shoulder-to-shoulder!
Thinking about Folly it is interesting how powerful a temptation the “bread eaten in secret” can be. Yet we also have some of our strongest relational time with God in the quiet places where we are alone with God. Satan knows that our meditative time is powerful and is on the offensive.
Day16:
Boy…this really reminds me of heaven and hell. The imagery of both scenes sets that up in my mind. Both promise fun and look appealing, but only one in the end leads to fulfillment and comes through on its promise. The other ends up in destruction. Choose Life!
Meeting on Saturday with 3 men.
I was convicted today by “bread eaten in secret” in the reading today. I prayed for God to remind me of those words to help expose things/actions in my life that are not from Him.
Verse 10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Lord give us more fear, more respect, more reverence for who you are and what you have done.
V10 – “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” So true. If we start there it anchors us for the rest of the day.
Wisdom will always exceed foolishness.
I also have recently been face to face with a new brother in Christ. I recently attended a men’s group seminar on Who’s Got Your Back and we continue to assist each other in Christian ways. Willing to continue fellowship with this Christian man to stay wise in my ways.
Working on it
A mocker, pride has given me the label to be a mocker. Dear god help me to be wise thank you for your word , your words of wisdom. Help me to be humble so I can accept your words. Amen
I picture two women calling out to us guys. Ms. Wisdom and Ms. Folly. Folly is loud, pretty, and extremely seductive. Wisdom is quiet, plain, and non-sexy. I have walked past Ms. Wisdom in the past without even seeing her because my eyes, ears, and loins were glued to Ms. Folly. Thankfully, God smacked me in the head with a 2X4 and got my attention corrected. All of my desires are now glued to Ms. Wisdom!
Wisdom is a Key ingredient
Complete
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
Proverbs 9:9 I consider myself a life long learner. Read/Bible studies/small group studies/conferences/classes/etc. The more I learn, I find the less I know.
V 7 and 8. Scoffer and wise man conversation. Looking in the mirror and those I interact with, is the response with hate or love. Wow! Wise man will increase in learning, but not the scoffer.
Sin and temptation is all around us and can be very inviting. Do not fall into the trap of sinful ways, their paths lead to destruction. Gain wisdom in the Lord and live for Him through His Word, this shall lead you to life everlasting.
The wise person will view someone correcting them as another way to learn more, and gain more wisdom. The wise welcome the chance to grow in their wisdom.
There are many distractions in our daily walk. We must be diligent in keeping our eyes focused on God. He will lead our steps.
Stay focused. Our world we live in has an amazing amount of things to distract us. Self discipline is my crutch, help me lord improve in this area.
So dont bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.
I have experienced this. Even yesterday i did not turn on red because it was hard to see. Im glad i didn’t because i would have gotten hit by another car. The car behind me was mad and honking. After i pointed to the red light he flicked me off and drove around me over double yellow lines, only to stop for traffic. Thank you lord for taking care of this for me,
Verse 9. I am blessed to have several wise teachers
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:9 ESV
I like verses 10 & 11. Wisdom begins with knowing God. He gives us insights into living the best life. We are also instructed to not be deceived — sin is dangerous.
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
I want to be this man, I want to be someone that is approachable and willing be corrected or taught. It can be difficult to receive constructive criticism but I hope and pray that I am always open to it.
Walk in God’s truth and word and you shall have eternal life. Spread His word.
Interesting how it explains trying to correct a scoffer leads to abuse. Yet a wise man will love you. I take it to help me appreciate I need to be more receptive to correction and love those who are trying to help me!! Can be quite difficult at times!!
We need to be disciples to one another and continue to give each other the wisdom of the lord
The Word says that wisdom will add to my days and years to my life if I pursue her.
I have set up Wednesday evenings after work to meet with a Christian brother.
Can’t overstate the benefits of wisdom over folly.
Fear of the Lord is the Foundation of Wisdom. The closer I draw to Jesus as I read His Word and pray, the easier Wisdom and Understanding finds a home in my heart.
I very much enjoy the man to man Fellowship encoraged by this study.