Sunday Class: Truth Misunderstood in Bible Times
                                                                                  Sunday AM:    Truth Misunderstood Today (1)
                                                                                  Sunday PM:    Truth Misunderstood Today (2)
                                                                                  Monday:          The Truth Concerning the Truth
                                                                                  Tuesday:         The Truth Concerning Suffering
                                                                                  Wednesday:    The Truth Concerning Jesus as the Son of God
                                                                                  Thursday:       The Truth Concerning Christ and the Church
                                                                                  Friday:             The Truth Concerning Salvation by Grace through Faith

Proverbs 17:24, “A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth” (RSV).

Using one’s mind to search for, acquire and apply wisdom represents a great quest in the book of Proverbs. Wisdom is found with those that are lowly and who fear God (11:2; 9:10). Such people recognize that wisdom is “better than rubies” and getting it better than gold (8:11; 16:16). They further understand that wisdom is not caught like a virus. Rather, it comes from hearing counsel and receiving instruction as well as by walking with wise men (19:20; 13:20). It is, therefore, with “the well advised” (13:10). More importantly it delivers a person (28:26). This hopefully will make the reader want to understand a little more about wisdom and just how it “delivers”.

The psalmist wrote, “The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple” (19:7). And again, “Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me” (119:98). God’s word makes one wise. Those that refuse wisdom will come to calamity, distress, anguish and, finally, eternal misery (Prov. 1:26,27,32; Matt. 25:46). By contrast, those that learn and love wisdom are delivered from the subtleties and paths of sinners, thus avoiding their woeful ends  (Prov. 2:10-20). Guidance from God and from the wisdom of his inspired writers helps one plan for the future in ways earthly wisdom will not. It helps one prepare for situations in life which present opportunities to serve God as well as for those which lead away from Him (Ps. 119:11,105). Having looked at the source of wisdom and its importance, we now ask a question directly relevant to our proverb.

Where are the minds of the two people considered in the text we are studying? The man of understanding is homed in on wisdom – learning it and living it. He recognizes its importance above all else. Whereas a fool’s eyes betray his own estimation of the importance of wisdom.  “Eyes” here “signifies concentration or attention …. Wandering eyes on the contrary, betray a lack of attention (Prov. 17:24)” (Stendebach, TDOT, XI, 34,35; cf. Ps. 123:1; 25:15; Jer. 22:17). A fool’s attention will be anywhere at any time instead of where his view should be constantly and steadily fixed. When we recall the importance of wisdom the difference in the focus of these two people is critical. The fool’s focus should bring to our minds the many tools Satan has to turn our attention away from the pursuit of divine wisdom (2 Cor. 2:11; Lk. 4:1-13; Jno. 8:44; Acts 5:3).

In light of all this we must discipline our minds. We must with the psalmist pray, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in thy ways" (Ps. 119:37). We must recognize the future rewards of wisdom rather than, like fools, being distracted by the temporal things of this earth, no matter how enticing they may be. Moses clung to wisdom when he “looked unto the recompense of reward” refusing “to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,” “the pleasures of sin,” and “the treasures of Egypt” (Heb. 11:24-26). His focus is admirable and worthy of imitation by all. Such concentration will help one to forget “the things that are behind” and “press on toward…the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14). Wisdom is not just something to learn, it must be used. Forgetting to apply the wisdom you have is like forgetting to bring your money when it is needed.

We close with a question which we hope weighs heavily on the mind of the reader at this point. Where is your mind?

-The Way of Truth and Life, (V:23), June 8, 2104

World Wide Web of Sin

Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 1:10-16

1. Old computer programmer’s adage: “Garbage in, garbage out.”
2. The internet makes the accessibility, attraction and attachment to sin very immediate. 1 Ths. 5:21-22
3. “A culture obsessed with technology will come to value personal convenience above almost all else, and ours does." (Robert Bork)

I. SINS OF THE FLESH. Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-5; Col. 3:5

  A. Pornography.
    1. Driven by fantasy and fed by lust, pornography makes an idol of sex, Matt. 5:28.
    2. “Pornography is basically propaganda for fornication.” (Maggie Gallagher)
    3. To resist, walk in love of Christ, Eph. 5:1-2. To overcome, repent, reform and refresh, Psa. 119:9-11; 27:13-14; 57:1.
  B. Gambling, 1 Tim. 6:6-10 (Lk. 12:15).

II. SOCIAL MEDIA. Prov. 14:29; 15:21

  A. Sins of the Tongue are Posted and Maximize Hurt, Prov. 11:13; 26:20; 13:3; 18:21; Eph. 4:29; 5:3-4; Eph. 4:31-32.
  B. Unrighteous Judgments. Jno. 7:24; Prov. 18:13; 15:28; 25:8-10; Jno. 7:24; Matt. 7:12.
  C. Self-Destructive Trends. 1 Cor. 15:33-34
  D. Harming the Ability to Communicate. Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6; Gal. 6:1-2; Prov. 27:17.

III. FALSE RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE/HUMAN WISDOM.

  A. Must be Discerning and Test with God’s Word, 1 Jno. 4:1, 6.
  B. Human Wisdom Disguised as Bible Teaching, Col. 2:8. Blogs, etc.

IV. TIME-BANDIT. Eph. 5:16; Jas. 4:14

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