Proverbs are “rules of thumb” for living a life of faith in God's world. In today's message here on “Lessons for Living”, Pastor Mark shows us that Solomon addresses the son and encourages him to listen to the “rules of thumb” his father and mother teach him, because this instruction will prove to be a great prize for him. On the other hand, parents, especially fathers, should not ignore the emphasis in this book on their role in teaching their kids. Parents are the primary educators of their children in Proverbs, and that role should not be neglected.

When the reality of God's true nature has caused us to fall down in worship, we are then in the right position to gain wisdom. Wisdom is merely seeing life from God's perspective and responding accordingly. Wisdom is a priority, and we are told to seek it above all else. Proverbs is know as the wisdom book. Pastor Mark tells us that until our hearts are in a right relationship with God, we are unable to have the wisdom that Proverbs talks about. Without the fear of the Lord, we may gain knowledge of earthly things, but we are missing the one key that defines a wise person.

The link between the fear of God and wisdom means we cannot possess wisdom if we recreate God in our own image. Too many people want to “tame” God into a non-threatening nobody. But, if we redefine the Lord as a God that makes us feel comfortable, a buddy who exists simply to bless us and give us what we want, we will not fear Him in the way He deserves to be feared. The Lord God Almighty is far greater than that, and the fear of the Lord begins when we see Him in His majesty and power. Today Pastor Mark will challenge us to look at God in this way.

God promises to give this wisdom and instruction to those that will humble themselves in a simple way and to those that become childlike in their approach to God. We must not take a prideful, nor a haughty attitude if we desire to receive knowledge and discretion from God. He gives His instruction only to the teachable and those that depend on God and not their own human reasoning. However, it does mean that we are not to just rely on our own logic and reasoning, but to bring God into our daily affairs so that we have access to the mind of Christ with His guidance and His wisdom.

We must know the author of the Holy Bible to be able to understand its Words. The Book will mean nothing to us without a relationship with Jesus Christ, God's Son. King Solomon gained the wisdom that he had because he had this relationship with God. We too, can become wise if we seek God with our whole heart and read the Book He gave to us. Pastor Mark will ask us if we have a right relationship with God? This is the key to understanding the writings from Solomon in the Book of Proverbs. The truly wise person is the one who fears the Lord.

Solomon was endowed with both spiritual and practical wisdom. When we have God's wisdom we will know what to do and how to do it. This will cause us to not only avoid those things that produce destructive results, but it will also help us to engage in those things that produce life and blessings. Wisdom is linked with instructions, so if we are to be wise we must follow the instruction of God written in the Bible. If we ask God to give us wisdom, we will receive not only His wisdom, but the ability to understand.

Solomon was endowed with both spiritual and practical wisdom. When we have God's wisdom we will know what to do and how to do it. This will cause us to not only avoid those things that produce destructive results, but it will also help us to engage in those things that produce life and blessings. Wisdom is linked with instructions, so if we are to be wise we must follow the instruction of God written in the Bible. If we ask God to give us wisdom, we will receive not only His wisdom, but the ability to understand.

We can see the truth. We can tell the truth. So what is this truth? The truth is we are not beings without wills. We are beings capable of making decisions. We are beings capable of choosing between right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan. The truth is, when we choose God, when we choose right, when we choose good, then we inherit God's protection.

We see it played out everyday. When we go to a crime ridden neighborhood, we can see how choosing crime brings its own terrible punishment. But at the end of a Christian's life there is a great and precious prize...heaven.

There are books upon books and volumes upon volumes written about Jesus Christ and eternal life. But all of those could be summed up in this, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” We are sinners and our sin separates us from God. The penalty of our sin is death. But driven by perfect love the just God became the Justifier. Being fully God, Jesus was the only one who could provide a sinless sacrifice. Being fully man, Jesus was the only one who can die on our behalf. Life...now and forever...is found in Jesus alone. Pastor Mark will give us an opportunity to have this eternal life.

A Christian is not someone who does all the right things. A Christian is someone who has Jesus Christ in their heart, someone for whom Christ has come and died for. If you are unsure of where you are with Jesus, remember three things: the blood, the water, and the Spirit. The blood was for you. Blood had to be shed so our sins could be forgiven. The water signifies a new beginning and a desire to live a life like Jesus. Through the presence of the Spirit, we can be sure that Jesus is in us, for the Spirit comforts us when we doubt. The Spirit and Jesus are inseparable.