الطاعة لصوت الله – الأب مينا ديميتري by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Through wisdom we can overcome our spiritual warfare. Without wisdom, we become lost and lose our virtue. Discernment is how we apply God’s commandments the right way in our real lives. This wisdom comes from Christ Himself and requires our sacrifice, dedication, and commitment. No evil can be hidden forever, no matter how much they try to conceal themselves. Foolishness becomes sin and becomes known to the world. It is important to remember that Christ said in the last days people will uplift evilness. Even now, we need to exercise wisdom when dealing with the world which glorifies sin. The wicked attack the source of nourishment (wisdom) for the righteous. The righteous might fall into sin but they rise again because their foundation in Christ is strong.

These chapters warn us of the dangers of addiction and the lack of self-control. The temptations of alcohol and addiction often arise not from an actual dependence on the substance itself, but from the social environments in which they are encountered. Because of this, it is important to avoid even the places where temptation is readily available for extended periods of time. Our environment is one of the few aspects of temptation that we are able to control. The life of an addict is often consumed by pain, denial, and shame. Helping an addict requires compassion and an honest acknowledgment of their situation. The life of a child of God who seeks to avoid this path should be grounded in wisdom and faithful adherence to the Word of God. Through this foundation, we are able to build a strong life that helps us resist and overcome every temptation.

The Lord invites us to a special type of wisdom. A wisdom that is of sonship. The ways of the world are not trodden at a free cost, but the biggest cost of all is paid: your soul. Once God reveals the truth in your life, don’t sell it. The cost of this road to be trodden is also high but it leads to life.

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Our motives and the way we think form our morals and how close we are able to be with God. The church motivates us to spend time in solitude because it allows us to listen to the Word of God and act on it without external factors. It is important to keep in mind that if we do not keep in mind the commandments of God, his blessings will vomit us out. If we run after the worldly friendships and environments while forsaking the Word of God, we will find ourselves without long-lasting friendships and without the blessings of God. We should run to God alone. When we seek company and friendship, we should seek those we can give to, those we can be selfless with. If we seek friendships with Spirit as our guide, God will unite us. A heart that wants to listen and benefit from God should prepare through love, fasting, and prayer. In the next section, Abouna Mina will discuss what it means to have the right heart to listen to the Word of God.

We have a problem with trusting God. This gives way to a burdensome life filled with anxiety and doubt. The solution to this is to place our troubles in front of God and forget them. By forgetting our worries we can focus our lives on God’s true purpose for us. Our responsibility, as children of God, is to care for those in need. The scripture provides a clear guide for us on how to live our lives with the goal of heaven in mind. This section of proverbs in particular provides us with a variety of sayings on topics like the importance of almsgiving, prayer, and the necessity of discipline in our lives.