Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs (Part 32) Laying Aside All that I might Have Christ
It seemed that my study came to a standstill when I reached Proverbs 18:1 and not because of how I originally saw it. Instead, as I began to look at other translations and other paraphrases; I was baffled. The more I have read, the more confusing it became. It would appear that many have been just as baffled and that indeed people translate this into two very distinct and different ways. I will present to you briefly the two interpretations and then I will return to that which I initially believed and found many who did concur. Then I will leave it that you and God may need to discuss this verse and how it relates to you.
The verse as found in the King James Version is as follows:
Proverbs 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
The most popular of interpretations and commentaries is that of: “Men who withdraw themselves to seek after their own desires and thus become quarrelsome against true wisdom.” In each of those it was that the word intermeddleth was viewed as always having a negative connotation and hence all these views hinged upon that. However, the original Hebrew reportedly is somewhat vague and even after an exhaustive search, I have found that within the commentaries there remained this great divide. I have prayed long and then turned to the Geneva Bible for some possible guidance. For history sake the Geneva Bible predated the King James version by more than 50 years and is the first mass produced English translation. It was the Bible that was brought to the United States when first settled and the one used by John Bunyon. It was the first to be divided into chapter and verse, as well as the first with extensive marginal notes written by such reformists as John Calvin, Miles Coverdale, and William Whittingham.
Proverbs 1 (GNV): 1 “For the desire thereof he will 1 separate himself to seek it, and occupy himself in all wisdom.” 1He that loveth wisdom, will separate himself from all impediments, and give himself wholly to seek it.
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Am I willing to count all loss for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus? Am I willing to lay aside everything else to be able to see Him in all His Glory? Is He my greatest treasure—my fullness of Joy?
Let’s read what Paul wrote:
Philippians 3 (GNV)
7 But the things that were [h]vantage unto me, the same I counted loss for Christ’s sake.
8 Yea, doubtless I think [i]all things but loss for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have counted all things loss, and do judge them to be dung, that I might [j]win Christ,
Do I truly count all else loss? Do I willingly lay aside everything that might hinder my walk? Or do I sometimes pout or complain? Do I cling to things so tightly that God must pry them from my hands so that I might see Him? Last year with grave pain, I left behind what was familiar to march forward on a pilgrimage journey. I was stripped of pride in my position, financially ruined, downsizing and letting go of possessions—leaving behind all pride. At least I thought so; but, the truth was I believed that my act of obedience and my acceptance of this all as God’s will would bring some reward. I believed that God had a plan to turn it all around quickly; but, He didn’t. Was I still willing to truly count it all as loss for the sake of knowing Him? Do I truly seek Him (the only true wisdom) with all of my heart, my mind and my spirit? Do I recognize that He, alone; with nothing added is my fullness of joy? I feel the aging of my body. The fatigue from so many years of chronic illness wearing at me; yet, He has not opened the door to my speaking career to which I thought He called me. Do I willingly accept the loss of dreams and hopes as well? If truly all that I do is for Him; shouldn’t I be overwhelmingly joyous for the grand opportunity to write about Him, even if no one reads it? Ahh, you see that is where I am now. I am embarrassed to say, I have struggled with that and even fought against the darkening pit of a brief depression when all seemed to fail. Yet, I know as I read back over the writings of the last few months that it was His Grace that gave me words to write. It was His Grace that allowed my testimony to still stand as He dealt with my heart. Such grace is more than I will ever understand. Finally, as is always the case, I had to search out the sin which caused my depressed state (for it is always sin). There in the recesses of my heart I found jealousy, anger and a failure of faith. I confessed it all before Him and miraculously my joy abounds once more—I know that He is all I need. My faith restored. I can continue to say with the Apostle Paul that nothing matters as much as knowing my Precious Lord and were He to take it all; I will praise Him as long as I have Him. There is nothing He could ask for but what I will lay it at His feet. There is no suffering too great, no trial too difficult; if that is what it takes for this heart to see Him in all His Glory. This entire life on earth is but a blink of the eye compared to the eternity I have with Him.
And so, do I desire Him who is all wisdom so greatly that I would separate myself from all else that I might intermingle with perfect wisdom?
Deuteronomy 4 (GNV)
29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thine [a]heart, and with all thy soul.(a. Not with outward show or ceremony, but with a true confession of thy faults.)
So, my question to you; is there anything that you cling to more than Christ? Is there any counterfeit joy that you are seeking more than you are seeking Him? I challenge you to separate yourself to be alone with God for 10 minutes every day. Soon you will find that 10 minutes will become more important than any other and, my guess, will grow.
In the end, All I Have is Christ and that is enough.
All I Have is Christ – An Animation
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(GNV) Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press.
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws. If you desire copies please go to:
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New International Version (NIV)
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