Though I dearly love the King James Version with all its poetic beauty I know that some of my readers find it more difficult to understand.  As I move forward I will try to keep a balance that I hope to be helpful for all my readers by incorporating other versions at times, by separating the scriptures so that you may jump past to the narrative, and by providing at times only references to the scripture verse that I am referring to without including the actual verse.  At one point, I included every verse just in case someone did not have a Bible.  Silly me, if you are reading my blog; you have internet; therefore, you do have access to Internet Bible Sources such as  http://www.biblegateway.com  Please feel free to give me feedback so that we may grow together; as certainly, this pilgrimage life journey is one where we all need each other.  There is so much to learn and so much joy to experience as we walk this wonderful journey with God. 

The book of Proverbs is one which will take us some time to complete; but, I sincerely believe will be worth our while.  The first 7 chapters are Solomon’s instructions to his children, a wise Father urging and pleading that his children to seek after, cling tight to, and forever be lead by God’s wisdom.  He has provided instructions, provided exhortations that include promises and described the magnificent benefits of life that come from clear discernment based on wisdom.  In chapter 5, he had pleaded that they not allow their eyes to wander losing sight of their first love; because they could lose everything with the resultant emptiness, depression, and disillusionment that certainly would follow.  In this, he had referred to more than just the marital state. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

The greatest loss that we can face is the loss of our passion, love and desire for God as our greatest treasure.  When we as Christians lose that because we have run after other loves; the resultant heartbreak can be nearly unbearable as life starts sifting through our hands with no purpose, joy, or hope.

Without that passion and love for God to awaken us fresh each morning, we begin to just go through the motions of each and every day—life becomes drudgery or a constant chasing after anything to bring back that sparkle.  Are you there?  Perhaps you could understand it or at least explain it when you know you strayed and you were the one who blatantly chased after something else.  But what about those moments when you think you have been following God, He has been first in your devotion, you have done all that He has asked, and life becomes that same “going through the motions” with no passion?  You want to cry, you long to trust, and you need something to

Continue reading Tidbits of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs, part 10: I’m Broken, -What now? →

As we come to Chapter 5, Solomon warning against sexual folly and all the pitfalls of seeking after “strange woman”.  Did Solomon write this chapter in his youth before he fell to his own failure to heed these words?  Or did Solomon write this chapter nearer the end of his life?  Most commentaries say that Proverbs was written in his youth or during the middle years of his life; but, as a gathering of much of his wisdom the descriptions found in chapter 5 seem to come from a man who learned from bitter failure.  It seems as a Father who is pleading, “Don’t fall into the same failure I did”. 

photo courtesy of @istockphoto.com

Beware when you have reached your greatest mountaintop with God, lest you fall.  On that mountain top do not forget it was God’s Grace that got you there.  Sometimes our most difficult test is when we have all we desired.

This became true of Solomon. Let’s begin with the warnings in Proverbs 5.

Continue reading Tidbits of Wisdom- A Study in Proverbs- Part 9-Have you left your first Love? →

Once more as we turn to Chapter 4, Solomon urges his children to “get wisdom”.  He pleads that they listen and learn of all that Godly wisdom would teach them; because there is where they can find the paths of peace, hope, and happiness.  He knows too well how easy it is to stray or for their feet to wander off the path.  He knows all too well how easy it is to let their eyes stray from the truth.  Temptations and folly are always surrounding them.  The very nature of the human heart bends toward that “which is easy”, that which gives immediate gratification, and toward dissatisfaction with what one has.  So, once more he pleads that they search for wisdom and with it understanding. 

Illustration courtesy of @istockphoto.com

Whatever the cost, seek God and His wisdom. You may say, but my life is too busy to take the time to study my Bible, to invest in Bible Study, or to spend time in prayer.  As Chapter 4 of Proverbs points out, gaining God’s Wisdom and understanding is the fundamental part of all that you do; without which all your busyness will count toward nothing.

Continue reading Tidbits of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs-Part 8 Get Wisdom at all Cost(2) →

As Solomon has just finished his plead for God’s wisdom being so precious that we be willing to suffer whatever trials are needed in order to learn of God.  He pleaded with his sons to keep focus upon God’s love, God’s righteousness, God’s justice, and God’s Grace. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

As he finishes this plead, suddenly he turns and provides these warnings—“Owe no one, Injure No one, Argue with No one, and Envy Not those who prosper by evil”. As though suddenly, he remembered the predicament of the human heart and it’s propensity to evil.

Proverbs 3: ²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. ²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”

As though, don’t become so complacent with God’s grace toward you that you ignore that which is just and right.  Indeed, Solomon is reminding his son’s of what had already been written in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.  When you hire a

Continue reading Tidbits of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs-Part 7 Owe No one, Injure No one, Envy No One →

So, we are beginning to understand the importance of gaining God’s wisdom and that it needs to be written upon our hearts that we might grow in peace and the joy of God.  So, we want to say “ok” just pour the wisdom into my brain, let’s go. Yet, it doesn’t work that way.  Just like children learning to walk, to run, or to ride a bike; we need to study, to practice, and to fall down sometimes.  Athletes would say, “there is no gain without pain.” Then why do we Christians think that we can grow to be strong spiritually without studying and without going through trials, suffering, and pain at times.  Solomon wanted his children to understand this, for that reason with the next exhortation; he stops and explains once more the value of the lessons to be learned. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

Learning the wisdom of God at times requires that we go through trials; there is no other way to transform a self-exalting heart into one that can be filled with the love of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, when we are going through chastening or training; we must not lose sight of the prize.  When we recognize that God has ordained the trial because He loves us; then, we can accept the trial as good.

  Instead of pleading only that the storm stop, we can begin to ask God, “What do I need to learn from this?”  We are then able to change our focus and our

Continue reading Tidbits of Wisdom A Study in Proverbs—Part 6 Trials-God’s Love →