Proverbs 4:1-4(KJV):"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live."

Verses 1-4 These verses contain some important instructions for the present generation. Many children have become disrespectful of their fathers instructions, as well as anyone else in authority. This creates havoc in society. I thank God for the Christian youth who are serving God and are respectful to their elders. These ones are making a difference in their circle of friends. But, at present, they are a minority. We should all remember to pray for our young people. Throughout Scripture, children are admonished to obey their parents. The Bible also instructs fathers to be the right kind of parent. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with a promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-4). Children are exposed to many ungodly influences through humanistic teachings, movies, television, music, and other things. As parents, we must teach them Gods ways. Many parents think that taking their children to Sunday school is sufficient for their Christian training, but Sunday school should be only a supplement to teaching them at home. When I was young, most of the churches, schools, and homes of theWest Texastown in which I was raised reinforced each other in teaching children moral values. It is sad today to see such a deterioration of society. We, as parents and grandparents, must be good examples to our children and grandchildren. We must talk about the Lord, read the Bible in our homes, and practice what it says, if we desire our children to be good Christians. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). If we obey the Lord, weand our childrenwill be blessed. We are to pass the Bibles teachings down to our children just as our fathers passed them down to us. This spiritual inheritance will bless them more than any material thing we could ever leave them. Proverbs 4:5-9(KJV): "Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Verses 5-6 Proverbs often uses poetic imagery to express truths. Here, as in Chapter 1, Wisdom is personified as a woman. Wisdom is to be sought, loved, exalted, and regarded as the principal thing to obtain. Anyone who seeks wisdom must seek her diligently, like a man seeking the attention of the woman he loves. When he wins her, he must not neglect her. Wisdom is not to be forsaken any more than the woman a man wins and marries. The place to find wisdom is in Gods Word. That is also where we shall be able to keep her and forsake her not. Many people ask to be kept in safety by God and pray to that end, yet prayer alone is not enough; we must find and keep the Word of God. If we do not forsake Gods Word, but love it, then that very Word will preserve and keep us safe. Verse 7-9 Wisdom brings understanding. People who misunderstand Gods will and purposes become easy targets for the devil. Satan easily talks some Christians out of their rightful inheritance. Because they have no faith, they cannot receive Gods promises. That is why some Christians are overcomers and some are overcome. God does not love one of His children more than another. He loves us all equally, and is no respecter of persons (Acts10:34-35). However, God is a respecter of His Word. A Christian who knows and applies the Word of God, has an advantage over one who does not. For example, if I read that Jesus died so that I might not only be saved, but also healed (Isaiah 53:4-3; John 1:2-3), I can appropriate healing by faith because God told me in His Word that He has provided healing for me, and He does not lie. However, if I have never studied those portions of the Bible, I may remain ill; deprived of my healing. This does not mean that God does not love me; it simply means that I am ignorant of that promise and may not even know to pray for healing. Proverbs 4:10-13(KJV): "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Verses 10-13 Many of the instructions in Proverbs promote longevity of life. One of those teachings is that children obey their parents. Those who disobey may expose themselves to dangerous situations that can ultimately take their lives. Many young people think they are smarter than their parents; calling them oldfashioned and saying that they do not know what they are talking about. They do not recognize that with age comes something only time can produce: experience. In failing to take advantage of their elders experiences, they miss opportunities to learn valuable lessons that can keep them from harm and prevent them from making the same mistakes that their elders made. The warning to men to stay away from loose women (and women from lustful men) also brings long life if heeded. Those who remain chaste before marriage avoid emotional pain and the risk of sexually-transmitted diseases. Virgins enter marriage free from the emotional scars of previous relationships or the stigma of disease which they could transmit to their spouse. Heeding the admonishment to avoid bad company also adds years to ones life. Getting involved with the wrong kind of people, and choosing their ways rather than the Lords can lead to ruin and even death. It is true that there is no honor among thieves. Members of the wrong crowd commit all kinds of crimes, including theft. If they steal from others, in time they will steal from you, even if they claim to be your friends. They can also stoop to murder, and you could be a victim of their anger and lack of morals. These are but a few of the things that the Bible mentions we should avoid in order to obtain the promise of long life. In following Gods instructions and applying godly wisdom, we will not stumble and fall, but will walk in the pathway of life. When we are determined to walk in Gods ways, He watches over us, keeping us from the evils that Satan wants to bring upon us. Proverbs 4:14-19(KJV): "14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Verses 14-17 Proverbs often illustrates spiritual truths through contrasting statements. God teaches wisdom by warning us not to go the way of darkness, but to walk in the light. Verse 15 stresses that we must avoid the path of sin; not even going near it. Many find themselves on the wrong path simply because they do not stay away from places that lead them into temptation. We must flee temptation so we will not be ensnared by the devil. Jesus taught His disciples to pray that they would not be led into temptation, but delivered from evil (Luke 11:1-4). This does not infer that God leads us into temptationHe never does. We

are led there when we yield to our own lusts. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:13-15). Verses 18-19 The way of the wicked is darkness; those walking therein stumble and fall. Sin always activates the death principle; producing sickness, fear, poverty, strife, jealousy, and so forth. The way of the wicked is contrasted with the path of the just which is as the shining light. The just can see where they are going. When we walk with Jesus, our path becomes brighter; every day we see more clearly to follow Him better. Proverbs 4:20-22(KJV): "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Verse 20 Attend to my words simply means to pay attention to my words. We can hear the Word of God with our physical ears without paying attention to it. Incline thine ear (verse 20) means to listen with our spiritual ears or ears of our hearts. Many times after speaking to a multitude, Jesus is recorded as saying, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (for example, Mark 4:2-9). He knew that no one can hear what the Spirit is saying unless we have a proper heart attitude; willing to hear Him. That is why those who do not know Jesus cannot understand the Bible. They may agree it is a book of history or literature, but cannot spiritually understand it until they are converted. To be converted, we must come to God in humility, accepting that we are sinners who are separated from Him. We must turn from sin and give our lives to Jesus. Until we acknowledge our sins and ask forgiveness for the cause of our guilt, we will never be free from it. It will eventually lead us right into hell. It is not Gods will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was nailed to the cross by ungodly men for no sin of His own. He was innocent of wrongthe only Man who was perfect and sinless. He willingly took our sins by accepting a death that He did not deserve. He was raised from the dead by His Father and given life and authority over the powers of darkness. God now imparts that same life and authority to all who will come to Him and receive His provision for their sin, for ...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Verse 21 We should not only read Gods Word diligently, but hide it in our hearts. If we desire to grow in faith and wisdom and be pleasing to God, we must apply His Word to everything in life.

Verse 22 If we apply His word, we will experience true life. That life is not just a spiritual encounter, although spiritual rebirth is a glorious experience. By applying Gods Word, we can also have physical health. The Lord wants to make us whole in spirit, soul, and body! Proverbs 4:23-27(KJV): "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil." Verse 23 Proverbs is a wonderful book from which to teach our children the wisdom to become overcomers. This verse goes to the very heart of what determines our destinies; the issues of life that come from our hearts. We are born in wickedness, having inherited a sin nature from our forefathers, beginning with Adam. It will destroy us unless we come to Jesus for a heart cleansing. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man (Matthew15:11). Verse 24 We are commanded to guard our hearts; to be cautious of what we embrace and take into our spirits, and to stop speaking things that are not right. Obedience in these two areas determines the kind of life we have on earth. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7a). We must put away a froward tongue and stop gossiping, lying, criticizing, and so forth. Through this sort of talk, we can release curses upon others. Eventually, we will receive them back upon ourselves, because we reap what we sow. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be (James 3:6-10). We will be unable to tame our tongues unless we allow Jesus to help us, for our mouth problem is actually a heart problem. To correct it, we must ask the Lord to cleanse our hearts. We must speak Gods Word over ourselves and others. Verses 25-27 Notice that not only is the heart mentioned, but the mouth, the eyes, and feet. To live righteously and walk in Gods blessing and wisdom, we

must make a total commitment and serve God with all of our hearts, minds, and physical beings.

Proverbs 4:1
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Children, do you attentively listen to your father to learn what he has to teach you? Fathers, do you teach your children? Demand their attention? Give wise instruction? We should all listen attentively to the instruction of our Heavenly Father and His ministers. Children are God's gift to married, godly parents (Ps 127:3). They arrive without understanding (Pr 22:15). They need to be taught and instructed, or they will default to the depraved impulses of their wicked hearts and/or the world's profane ideas (Pr 1:8; 6:20-23). There was no Scripture in the world until 1532 BC. No man had a single verse of the Bible for 2,514 years. All the instruction came by word of mouth, from father to son. With men living as long as 969 years in the case of Methusaleh (Gen 5:27), there was also word of mouth from grandfathers to grandsons! Our proverb was very important! In 1532 BC, God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel. One of them had a promised blessing attached to it: the commandment for children to honor their parents (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16). This honor, which extends to all ages of parents and children, included obedience to their instruction (Lev 19:3; Eph 6:1-3; Col 3:20). Child obedience to parents was enforced in this just and holy nation by the death penalty (Deut 21:18-21). Children, you must pay careful attention to hear and obey the instruction you receive from your parents, especially fathers (Pr 23:22; 30:17). You are a fool if you despise the teaching of your father (Pr 15:5). When you are old enough to think you know something, your father already has more wisdom than you can imagine exists in the universe! Fathers, your duty is certain and important. You must train your children in the fear of the Lord and perpetuate the truth of God through them and their children (Pr 22:6; 29:15; Gen 18:19; Deut 4:9; 6:4-9,20-25; Josh 24:15; Ps 34:11; 71:18; 78:1-8; Is 38:19; Joel 1:1-3; Eph 6:4). Paul presumed that fathers exhort, comfort, and charge children (I Thess 2:11). Ministers are spiritual fathers (I Cor 4:14-15; II Cor 6:13), who are bound to be diligent in their teaching (I Tim 4:13-16; II Tim 4:1-4). And it is the duty of their hearers to attentively hear their instruction and obey it (I Thess 5:20; Heb 13:7,17).

Our Heavenly Father teaches us by the ministry of His word (Luke 8:4-18), by our conscience (Pr 20:27), by chastening (Pr 3:11-12), and by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:17; 3:14-19). It is our solemn duty to attentively hear all that He teaches us by any of these means. Dear reader, are you obedient in the various duties of this proverb? If you are a child, you must heed any parental instruction. If you are a father, you must be teaching and training your children. Both are to humble themselves to hear God and His ministers. The Lord Jesus Christ heard all His Father taught, and attended to all His instruction, for He declared plainly that He always did those things that pleased Him (John 8:29). Even when the duty seemed overwhelming, He heard and obeyed His Father (Matt 26:39).

Proverbs 4:2
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Fathers should teach good doctrine; they should know their doctrine is good; they should tell their sons it is good; and their sons should keep it. Doctrine is teaching and instruction, or the system of principles, which is given as final truth on a particular subject. To be good doctrine, it must be instruction or principles based on God's word. Godly fathers are not confused or timid men. They know they have the truth and wisdom the world does not have, and they give it authoritatively to their children. God said of Abraham, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment" (Gen 18:19). Moses commanded fathers to teach their sons. He ordered, "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deut 6:6-7). David said to his family, "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD" (Ps 34:11). This doctrinal instruction from father to son can have far reaching effects. "Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation" (Joel 1:3). It can guide four generations ... or more! Where are fathers? The typical Christian father today sends the kids to Sunday School for a woman to teach them, attends their Little League games, locks out adult channels on the television cable, brings home enough cash flow for three modest families to subsist on, sends them to a secular university, and pays for a big wedding. He is AWOL!

They are a despised species! They are demeaned at school, ridiculed on television, mocked in movies, and ignored in court. They are browbeaten at home by overbearing wives, who "need to say something." They are the butt of most family jokes. Kids learn to avoid them, conspire against them, steal from them, placate them, and disregard them. Real fathers laugh at the conspiracy. They have an office and mandate from heaven, and they are going to do their job with confidence and zeal. They fear no man, especially their wives and children. They know they have more truth and wisdom than the local school board combined and squared. They say boldly, "I give you good doctrine!" What is their textbook and manual? The Word of God, the Holy Bible, the inspired Scriptures! They know that everything else is mere drivel and twaddle, the babblings of egotistical idiots in love with themselves (Is 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5,20-21). They despise any opinion contrary to God's Word (Ps 119:98-100,128). They know they have wisdom, righteousness, and life to make men and nations great (Deut 4:5-10; 6:24-25; 32:46-47). Where are the pastors to give fathers a holy example? They have abdicated their office to the minister of music, minister of sports, and minister of building programs. They are browbeaten by the deacon board and warned by the denominational headquarters to keep the message watered down to be politically correct and keep the unregenerate attending. They are a despised species! Their heroes in the faith - mighty men who thundered sound doctrine - are ridiculed or ignored as Neanderthal tyrants out of touch with their feminine side, who preached a male view of God and the psychologically-damaging concept of hell. They usually get ten minutes to preach to sleepy hearers in sandals and tank tops, for children's theater, interpretive dance, Jesus rap, and fundraising took most of the service. Real pastors laugh at the conspiracy. They also have an office and mandate from heaven, and they are going to blast the trumpet of repentance, reformation, and righteousness. They don't care about numbers, since they know only eight were in the ark and twenty-three million in the water! They are going to preach the word intensely, in spite of marketing surveys showing universal demand for fables and entertainment (II Tim 4:1-4). What is their textbook and manual? The same Word of God, Holy Bible, and inspired Scriptures! They know they are perfectly prepared for any and all ministerial work with simply the Bible (II Tim 3:16-17). They are not moved by men or angels preaching or suggesting anything else (Job 32:6-10; Gal 1:6-9; II Cor 2:17; 4:1-2; 11:3-5,13-15). Reader, do you love sound doctrine? Or are you part of the feminine movement to replace Bible preaching with entertainment and sharing sessions? Could you stand all day to hear the Word of God read distinctly and the proper sense given (Neh 8:1-8)? Would you? Could you grieve for your sins, but celebrate for joy of understanding (Neb 8:9-12)? Would you ask for the same kind of service the next seven days (Neh

8:13-18)? Do you know how to find sound doctrine? It is only in the Holy Bible. It is your duty to search the Scriptures faithfully to see if what you are hearing is right (Acts 17:11). It is your duty to prove all things and hold fast that which is good (I Thess 5:21). Father, at your disposal is the truth and wisdom of God. You should teach your children; you should do it confidently and dogmatically; and you should enforce it. Your family's future depends on it. Stand up, and be counted among God's mighty men of valor! Child, your father knows more than you can even imagine. Listen to him. When he brings God's Word and his doctrine, pay attention! Humble yourself! Do not forsake forget or neglect or disregard - his law. Honor him for his efforts. Thank him. Pastor, you stand between mankind and their total destruction. You have good doctrine, for the scriptures are profitable for doctrine. Preach the Word! The Lord is with you!

Proverbs 4:3
For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Children are a blessing, but they bring responsibilities. If a man impregnates a woman, and the woman gives birth to a baby, and they raise the child, they have done nothing more than animals - they have reproduced their species. A true father and mother will love each child! And they will make sure they carefully teach wisdom to each child! Solomon's parents were David and Bathsheba. God loved Solomon, and so did David. God chose Solomon from all of David's sons to be the next king of Israel. Solomon knew his father especially loved him - "I was my father's son" - and his father taught him many things (Pr 4:1-9). David's advice at Solomon's coronation was glorious (I Chron 28:1-21), and his deathbed advice was also very wise (I Kings 2:1-9; II Sam 23:1-7). Bathsheba also loved Solomon very much. She tenderly loved him every minute of his life, even though she had four sons. See the comments on 31:2. The greatest men have such mothers - women who love them dearly and do anything to prepare them for manhood. Bathsheba also taught Solomon (Pr 1:8; 6:20; 30:1), and she went to bat for him, when it appeared the crown might be given to a sibling competitor (I Kings 1:11-40). Solomon appealed to the great love his parents had for him to explain the motive for their instruction of him (Pr 4:3-9), for he wanted his children to understand his great desire to teach them as well (Pr 4:1-2). The book of Proverbs is primarily Solomon's fatherly advice to his children, especially his son. And the practical application of parental love in teaching wisdom is the lesson you are to learn from this proverb.

Animals give birth! Animals nurse their young! Animals bring home the bacon! Animals teach their young to survive! Animals assist in a family kill! Animals die and leave a family lair or den to their young! But you are not an animal! If your parenting is primarily reproducing, feeding, clothing, sending them to school, and supporting them financially, you have done nothing more than what animals do. And you have done nothing more than what pagan parents do for their children! Lord, help us! A child is an eternal soul, on loan from its Creator. You must teach each child God's wisdom - the wisdom of Proverbs and the Bible. Homework is not wisdom - the vast majority of it is simply drivel and twaddle! Paying their way through a university is worse - you are corrupting their minds away from God's wisdom! A liberal arts degree is a license to insane thinking! Get real! Teach them something of value! David said, "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD" (Ps 34:11). David and Bathsheba loved Solomon, so they taught him! Do you love your children? It has nothing to do with sentimental feelings and providing food, clothing, shelter, and education for them! Are you giving them moral success before God and good men by teaching them the fear of the Lord and wisdom of God contained in this very book? Father, this is not a choice! Father, this has nothing to do with tiredness at the end of a day! The parts of every day must be viewed as training opportunities. Moses commanded Israel's fathers to diligently teach their children, when they were sitting in their houses, walking by the way, rising up in the morning, and going to bed at night (Deut 6:4-9). If you fulfill this duty carefully and sincerely, you will be the glory of your children (Pr 17:6). How serious is the matter? Life or death or hell! Proper training can save your child from a premature death or a dysfunctional life of hell on earth (Pr 23:13-14). Neglect of this training will bring you perpetual shame (Pr 29:15). Parent, you control the future destiny of your child in this world (Pr 22:6,15)! What kind of a destiny are you giving them today? How serious is the matter? Fathers are commanded to teach wisdom to their children (Eph 6:4), and widows are to be neglected if they have not performed this most important part of being a mother (I Tim 5:9-10). Great women take this job seriously, and they have wonderful children, as Samuel and Timothy (I Sam 1:24-28; II Tim 1:3-5; 3:15). A woman fulfilling this duty carefully and sincerely will be praised by her children (Pr 31:28). Do you love your child? Then you will reprove and spank them, to save them from folly, trouble, and destruction in their lives (Pr 3:12; 13:24; 19:18; 29:17). Do it now, while there is hope! Do it betimes, before they learn bad habits! Do not spare for their crying! The blessed God of heaven declares that you hate your children, if you are not engaged in serious efforts to teach them the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of the Bible. And this matter does not stop when your children move out, for grandchildren are also

your responsibility (Ps 71:18; 78:1-8; Joel 1:1-3). They are only the crown of old men, if they are walking in the way of righteousness and wisdom (Pr 17:6). A foolish son is the calamity and shame of his whole family (Pr 10:1; 17:21,25; 19:13), and a foolish grandson is still the fault of the lazy grandfather, who did not train his son to be a godly father! The world's idea of child training is Benjamin Spock, goofy mobiles, bottle feeding, Dr. Seuss, Sesame Street, forced busing to the public zoo, MTV, dating at fourteen, a car at fifteen, an all-expense-paid-four-year-party at a daycare for the hormonallycrazed in another state, and a gala wedding to some person they "love." Lord, help us! Their idea of education is a scope and sequence devised by God-hating, truthdespising, parent-ridiculing, Bible-deriding, prayer-outlawing, immoral, degenerate descendants of monkeys! Brainwashing them for 20 years from K-3 to a master's degree, they graduate the most morally bankrupt and socially dysfunctional generation the world has ever seen. Do you love your child? Do not measure your affection by the standards of this bestial generation; measure your love by the standard of God's holy and inspired Scriptures. If you have merely raised them and tenderly provided for them, you have done nothing more than gerbils and skunks do for their young. Learn the lesson of wisdom here! Teach them the fear of the LORD, the wisdom of Proverbs, the glory of Jesus Christ, the precious grace of God in the salvation of His elect, and the life-changing hope of eternity! Have you had such parents yourself? Then bless and praise the God of heaven and thank your parents if they are still living. God had great mercy on you in giving you good parents, and you want to thank Him and them. His choice was by pure grace and kindness, for He neither consulted you nor them. Praise His glorious and sovereign name! If you did not have such parents, thank Him for this proverb and break the cycle of ungodly parenting and dysfunctional families in your family tree. You do not have to repeat history and send your children under-loved and poorly prepared into life. You can start a new family tree and create a living illustration of love and wisdom in your family. There is only one perfect parent - God the Father. Viewing the orphanage of sinful mankind, He could not find even one that understood or sought Him (Ps 14:1-3). So He chose to adopt some by pure mercy, paying for them by the death of His Son, creating a new nature in them by His Spirit, and preparing an eternal inheritance in heaven for them (Matt 25:34; Rom 8:29-39; Eph 1:3-12). What is the gospel? The news of this adoption!

Proverbs 4:5
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
What have you done, or will you do, today, to get wisdom and understanding? Solomon exhorted his son to get wisdom, remember wisdom, and follow wisdom. The blessed God has offered wisdom and understanding to simple men. Have you taken advantage of the gracious privilege? If you have even a small desire to learn this proverb, you are blessed. There are three instructions in this proverb. To achieve your maximum success before God and men, you must get wisdom and understanding; you must not forget wisdom once you learn it; and you must not backslide away from keeping it. While these duties could make Solomon's son a great king, they can make you great in the sight of the Lord. The first instruction is to get wisdom and understanding. The only source document on earth is the Word of God, for any other opinion has no light at all (Is 8:20). The inspired Scriptures are perfect for teaching wisdom (II Tim 3:14-17). It is to this more sure word we are to take heed (II Pet 1:19-21). It should be your daily delight (Job 23:12; Ps 19:10). When Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, the eunuch said, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" (Acts 8:30-31). Philip preached Jesus to him; he was quickly baptized; and he went on his way rejoicing. God has given pastors and teachers to guide us in understanding His word (Neh 8:8; Mal 2:7; II Tim 2:2). But without the blessing of God's spirit, neither reading nor hearing preaching will work well. Paul prayed for the Ephesian saints to be enlightened by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know the things of God (Eph 1:17-18). And the Lord has promised to give wisdom and His Spirit liberally to those who ask for them (James 1:5; Luke 11:13). Having used Scripture, ministers, and prayer to obtain wisdom and understanding. It is then our duty to remember what we learn. Paul feared for the Corinthians, for they had forgotten some of his teaching regarding the resurrection (I Cor 15:1-2). It is your duty to meditate upon the things you are taught and not let them slip away (Pr 6:2022; Heb 2:1-4). Holding wisdom tight in your memory, you must also hold it tight in your practice. You cannot decline away from what you have been taught. You must not backslide. You must hold fast the profession of the apostolic faith without wavering and not be moved away from the true gospel (II Thess 2:15; Heb 10:23). There would be no Roman Catholic Church, if the church at Rome had followed this pattern. Our brother Paul taught that the purpose of a local church is to help one another keep the faith (Heb 3:12-13; 10:24-25).

Proverbs 4:6
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
There is a great woman who will keep you safe from pain and trouble. Every man needs her, for his life depends on his relationship to her. She is perfect and beautiful, yet available to any man. He must not forsake her, and he must love her. If he meets these simple conditions, she will look out for him and cause him to prosper. She will keep and preserve him from failure. Who is this woman? She is the wonderful Lady Wisdom. Young men think a lot about women, so David personified wisdom as a woman to get his son's attention with this enticing figure of speech. It is David's creation here, for Solomon had just described his childhood, "For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also ..." (Pr 4:3-4). Solomon encouraged his son by appealing to the relationship and training he had received from his father. We understand David's instruction to Solomon to begin at 4:4, but it is much harder to determine where its ends and Solomon's resumes. Consider this wonderful endorsement of the book of Proverbs! The illustrious David contributed to its valuable content both directly by composing proverbs and indirectly by teaching Solomon. The man who neglects this book, who forsakes Lady Wisdom, is choosing to be a failure in life. Americans appreciate the idea of a great woman protecting them, for they have in New York Harbor the grand figure of Lady Liberty holding aloft her torch to light the way for the tired, poor, huddled, and homeless masses, yearning to breathe free. She has been a beacon of freedom to millions of immigrants and a sign of safety to returning soldiers. Her words are powerful; her image is powerful; and the combination is very powerful. A wise reader will consider David's words, visualize the image, and accept the lesson. Your life depends on how you treat the wisdom you are offered. Your parents taught you wisdom first. After that, teachers and pastors attempted to teach you. But most of all, wisdom is found in the pages of the Bible, which is where the God of heaven has revealed the rules for you to have a successful and prosperous life and eternity (Deut 29:29; Ps 19:7-11; 119:98-100,104,130; Isaiah 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:16-17; 4:14). If you forsake the wisdom your parents, teachers, and the Bible offer, then you will suffer the painful consequences of a foolish life. But if you will hold and love wisdom, it can deliver you from the dysfunctional difficulties that most live with every day. The lesson is simple. What will you do with wisdom? What have you done today with the book of wisdom, the Bible? Have you humbled yourself before its understanding and truth?

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Here is the key verse of Proverbs! These are King David's words to his son Solomon (Pr 4:1-9). They explain the purpose of the book of Proverbs. They describe the greatest goal for any life - the important pursuit of wisdom and understanding. It is mankind's folly and trouble that any other ambition ever competes with this chief goal. It is your duty and blessed privilege to consider this wonderful opportunity and seek wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing - the most important matter in life. Wisdom is the power of right judgment - the ability to choose the correct solution for any situation. It is knowing how to think, speak, and act to please both God and men. It is the basis for victorious living. Without wisdom, men make choices that bring them pain, poverty, trouble, and even death. With it, men make choices that bring them health, peace, prosperity, and life. Understanding is connected to wisdom, and it is also an important goal. Understanding is the power of discernment - to see beyond what meets the eye and recognize the inherent faults or merits of a thing. Without understanding, men are easily deceived and led astray. Without it, men are confused and perplexed. With it, men can see what others miss, and they can avoid the snares and traps of seducing sins. With it, life's difficulties are simple. Here is success defined and exalted! What will you do with this axiom of life for yourself and your children? If you neglect this matter, the most important of life, you will bring dysfunction and trouble upon yourself and your family. If you make it a priority to get wisdom and understanding, you can bask in pleasant prosperity. Finding wisdom brings life and God's favor; neglecting it wrongs your own soul and brings death (Pr 8:35-36). America spends billions on education, but neither wisdom nor understanding is part of any curriculum! Parents sacrifice for their children to "get an education," as if it were the noblest human goal! But they fail to realize learning without wisdom or understanding is worse than worthless, for it gives false confidence in knowledge that cannot protect your life and leads to bad choices. An educated fool is worse than an ignorant fool (Pr 26:12)! It does not matter who discovered Bolivia, nor if it was discovered. And unless you work for NASA, calculus is a waste of time; though it does give students an excuse for a lower grade point average! Regurgitating facts you will never use in the real world is one of the greatest hoaxes ever sold. Wisdom is the principal thing, but it is not in the scope and sequence of any grade, of any state, of any modern nation. A bachelor's degree takes 17 years of formal education, but the degree is granted without any consideration of wisdom. Wisdom and understanding require knowing and fearing God (Pr 1:7; 9:10). Without them, a person cannot even start to obtain wisdom. But these vital prerequisites are

forbidden and ridiculed in our nation's institutions of "higher learning"! What higher learning are they pursuing? Irrelevant facts and insane reasoning! Facts without a valuable context are irrelevant, and reasoning without a First Cause and moral absolutes is hallucination. What are the main goals of our so-called enlightened nation? Pleasure! We are no better than the Epicurean madness of the Greeks (Acts 17:16-34). Money! Which is the root of all evil and drowns men in destruction (I Tim 6:6-10). Health! Which is quite worthless, if your stronger and longer life is used to extend your dysfunctional living (Pr 13:15). Parent! What are you doing with and for your children? Are you teaching them the power of right discernment and right judgment? Do you have these abilities yourself? Or do you think you are a great parent by giving them three squares a day, a few hours of restricted television, and picking them up from soccer practice? What a disgusting shame! Parent! Wisdom is found in the Word of God, and any thoughts contrary to the Word of God are dark ignorance (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5,20). It is your duty to learn wisdom from the Bible, and it is your duty to teach it to your children (Deut 6:49; Eph 6:4; II Tim 3:15). If you do not teach them, do you think Miss Huckleberry at the local Middle School is going to do it? Most pastors and churches don't even do it today! Parent! Wisdom may be summarized as a Bible worldview. The world is drunk with nihilism, naturalism, humanism, and pantheism, among other heresies. Your children should be totally established in a Creator God, Who has revealed absolute truth in the Bible, which is perfect in every part, and contains the factual knowledge of Jesus Christ, the devil, the origin and end of man, eternal punishment, and perfect rules for society. Parent! Wisdom may be seen clearly by comparing it to folly, as many of Solomon's proverbs do. You have daily opportunities in our confused and profane world to identify the foolishness of man and show the answer of wisdom - straight from the Word of God. It is the blessed privilege of the righteous to mock and ridicule the ignorance of fools! Wisdom takes a commitment (Pr 18:1), a commitment to reject your thoughts (Pr 3:5; 17:16; 18:2). It cannot be a part-time pursuit, for it requires the careful diligence that hunting for hidden treasure requires (Pr 2:1-9). You must redeem your time for the pursuit (Eph 5:15-17). Yet it is easy for those who love it and seek it with humble readiness (Pr 8:17; 14:6). May God bless His children to simplify their lives - getting rid of unnecessary noise and distraction - to focus on the principal things - wisdom and understanding. Do not let the world or devil distract you with frivolous and worthless pursuits. Jesus grew in wisdom and in favor with God and man, and these are the right goals for you and your family.

Proverbs 4:8
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Promotion and honor are simple. Exalt and embrace wisdom, and you will be promoted and honored by God and men. Make wisdom the most important goal of your life; love her with fervent appreciation, and she will bring you greatness. What are you waiting for? Solomon here repeated what David had taught him about pursuing wisdom (Pr 4:5-9). He remembered his own father teaching him, and he repeated the valuable instruction for the benefit of his son (Pr 4:3-4). Let every parent understand the importance of such training. The highest goal for any man is to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, Who grew in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). How did He gain such wonderful success? He increased in wisdom, which is the ability to judge and act rightly in life. It is by wisdom that any person can find approval of God and man. Wisdom brings promotion and honor. There are four feminine pronouns in this proverb referring to Lady Wisdom, Solomons personification of wisdom, understanding, discretion, and knowledge. While he warned against the strange woman (Pr 7:5-27; 9:13-18), he also told of wonderful Lady Wisdom and her great benefits for men (Pr 1:20-33; 2:4; 3:13-18; 4:5-13; 7:1-4; 8:1-36; 9:1-5). David, by wisdom, had a heart like Gods, so the LORD made him king over Israel, and all Israel loved him (I Sam 18:5,16,30; II Sam 7:8). Lady wisdom promoted and honored him. Citizens and enemies considered him like an angel (I Sam 29:9; II Sam 14:17). How did he get this glorious reputation? He committed himself to wisdom (Ps 101:1-8). David exalted and embraced wisdom. Consider his great example well. What did he think of Scripture? He thought it more valuable than much fine gold and more pleasant than honey and honeycomb (Ps 19:10; 119:127). How often did he think about the Bible? Day and night (Ps 1:2)! What was his greatest treasure? The Bible (Ps 119:14,111,162)! Where did he want to be more than anywhere else? In church (Ps 84:10)! Who were his only friends? Men fearing God and keeping his commandments (Ps 119:63)! How often did he pray? Three times a day (Ps 55:17)! How did he approach God? In humble self-examination (Ps 139:23-24)! Did he praise the Lord? Seven times a day (Ps 119:164)! How can you exalt wisdom? Make it your top priority (Pr 4:7; 16:16). Diligently pursue it like you would a hidden treasure (Pr 2:1-5; 23:23). Sacrifice anything in order to get it, even friends (Pr 13:20; 18:11). Put it into practice, no matter what others think or what it might cost (Pr 29:25; Dan 1:6). God and men will bless your effort and emphasis.

How can you embrace wisdom? Value and cherish it as a precious asset (Pr 3:15; 8:11). Love it more than anything else (Pr 4:6; 8:17,21). Despise and reject anything that is contrary to it (Pr 8:13; 14:7; Ps 119:128). Avoid anyone or anything that tempts you away from it (Pr 9:6; I Cor 15:33). God and men will bless your effort and emphasis. Joseph was promoted and honored. Though having ten older brothers, he obeyed his father better than any of them. Sold into slavery, he served diligently and faithfully. He rejected a strange woman simply out of fear of God, though at great cost. Much more could be said, but what happened? He rose quickly to be next to Pharaoh in power. Daniel was promoted and honored. Captured, sterilized, and taken 500 miles to Babylon, he rejected the kings religion, no matter the cost. He told the hard truth even when contrary to kings desires. When a new religious law was passed, he disregarded it. What happened? He was the highest administrator in the worlds greatest empire for 70 years! If God and men have not promoted and honored you, humble yourself and confess your neglect of wisdom. Exalt and embrace her in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Seek His Word, His church, and His saints with all your heart. Promotion and honor will come!

Proverbs 4:9
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
What is the one best choice to enhance your life and reputation? Make wisdom and understanding most important in your life (Pr 4:7-8)! Solomon told his children the rule he had received from his father. David and Bathsheba had taught him to get wisdom above all else and not forsake it (Pr 4:1-8). Solomon told his children to pursue the very same goal. No wonder Solomon knew what to ask, when God offered him anything he desired (I Kgs 3:5)! His parents had taught him well. He knew wisdom was the most important commodity on earth. He did not ask for long life, wealth, women, the destruction of his enemies, or any other vain thing. He wanted wisdom and understanding (I Kgs 3:6-10). Because of this incredibly prudent choice by Solomon, God gave him a wise and understanding heart greater than any other man's (I Kgs 3:11-12). And the LORD also gave him riches, honor, and a long life as additional rewards for the wise choice (I Kgs 3:13-14). Solomon was set in every way! And how? By putting wisdom first! David knew about the importance of wisdom. After killing Goliath and entering public office, David's reputation rose rapidly due to his great wisdom in conducting his affairs (I Sam 18:14-16). Compared to foolish and profane Saul, David was a

paragon of virtue and wisdom. Saul envied David, but Israel loved and exalted him (I Sam 18:28-30). Parent, do you grasp this proverb? The most important thing you can teach your children is wisdom, which is the power of right judgment based on God's word. It begins with the fear of the Lord (Pr 1:7; 9:10), and it builds on that by the word of God (Ps 19:7-10). It is learning to think, speak, and act as God would, which is plainly revealed in Scripture. David, the man after God's own heart, knew how to think, speak, and act wisely. If you emphasize academic education of your children, you have missed it. If you exalt their athletic achievements, you have missed it. If you praise their financial or professional successes, you have missed it. A wise and understanding heart comes from walking with God, learning Scripture, and applying it to life situations. It comes from meditating, obeying, and applying Scripture vigorously (Ps 1:1-3; 119:98-100; Heb 5:14). What if your child gets a PhD., plays professional basketball, and plows his earnings into successful businesses that make him a billionaire? Has he achieved success? Have you helped him? No! No! Because none of these things will help him in the important matters of life, or help him secure the favor of God and good men (Pr 22:1; Luke 2:52). Reader, what about yourself? Do you understand the importance of wisdom and understanding? Without them, you will have a dysfunctional life and die lonely. Grace and glory await those who will diligently seek wisdom (Pr 1:9; 3:22; 16:16; 18:1). How did you read this proverb? As a burden? With only casual interest? Or with craving zeal? How many minutes of this day have you dedicated to pursuing the wisdom of God? You cannot cheat the law of heaven! If you seek to find fulfillment or success by any other means, you will be sorely disappointed; and your whole life will be a painful experiment in vain and vexing futility! Seek wisdom and understanding from the preserved Scriptures of God and live a fulfilling and successful life! If you do not even know how to get started, He will liberally answer your prayer for wisdom (James 1:5). Howard Hughes had money, lots of it! But he ended his life a neurotic recluse and dysfunctional idiot! Princess Diana had popularity, lots of it! But her life was filled with loneliness, pain, and turmoil! Ty Cobb had athletic success, lots of it! But he spent his life hating, and being hated. These lives exemplify the horror of not seeking wisdom first. John F. Kennedy, Jr. had great advantages and potential, but folly cut him short. Marilyn Monroe was a star, but her light was put out in obscure darkness! Elvis Presley was adored by pagans, but he died a bloated wreck in the prime of life. These few examples pursued sin to their hurt. They rejected wisdom, and life spat them out like poison! David was youngest of eight sons and a shepherd, ignored by his own family when

Samuel came to anoint a king from Jesse's sons (I Sam 16:1-11). But God saw the inner workings of his heart and promoted him over all his brothers, Saul's family, and every other man in Israel. David exalted wisdom, and it promoted him! He was loved by Israel (I Sam 18:16), Philistines (I Sam 29:9; II Sam 15:18-22), and famous kings (I Kgs 5:1)! But David had wisdom far beyond right thinking, speaking, and acting. He had wisdom to see beyond this life and into the next. He saw and believed God's promises in Jesus Christ, and it was in the sweet comfort of that wisdom he died (II Sam 23:15). The ultimate measure of folly is to exalt anything in this world without regard for the next! David saw his Son and his Lord as the true object for life and death (Ps 110:1)!

Proverbs 4:10
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
Would you like a long life? Many are obsessed with life extension, as shown by the money and time spent on vitamins, medication, surgery, and diet and exercise programs. This proverb offers a long life; but few will be interested, because it requires humility and obedience. Most people would rather pay for placebos and continue in sin and pride. David taught Solomon to crave and value wisdom (Pr 4:3-9), and Solomon taught his son the same (Pr 4:1-2). By the emphasis of two generations - an exceptional father and grandfather - the importance of wisdom was made clear (Pr 4:1-9). Solomon then appealed to his son to hear and receive the fatherly advice he had been taught for a long life. Solomon said, "Hear, O my son." Men have trouble hearing advice, because their own feelings, thoughts, ideas, opinions, preferences, and goals are racing loudly through their selfish and conceited minds. Others are too busy chasing vanity and do not have the time to listen. Only a few have the wisdom to make the time and shut down their own ignorant thinking to learn wisdom from another, whom God has appointed as a teacher (Pr 18:1-2). Solomon said, "Receive my sayings." Men resent correction, instruction, and reproofs, because pride refuses to admit they are wrong. The enslaving power of arrogance and conceit dooms most men to ignorance and failure (Pr 26:12,16). They cannot learn, because they will not reject their ideas to admit another is wiser. Only a few have the wisdom to confess ignorance and learn from others (I Kgs 3:7; Ps 131:13; Jer 1:6; Matt 18:3-4). God, parents, and pastors teach wisdom. The Lord has written a lengthy book filled with wisdom in various literary forms. God gives parents to every child from their first moments to help them avoid the troubles of life. And Jesus Christ ordained true pastors to feed His people with knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15). It is your duty to humble yourself and tremble before these ordained teachers (Is 66:2; Eph 6:1-

3; I Thess 5:20). Learning wisdom will extend your life, and it will enhance your life. There is safety in wisdom that secures you from life's dangers and the judgment of God and men (Pr 2:18; 3:2,16; 5:5; 7:27; 8:36; 9:11,18; 10:2; 11:4,19; 12:28; 13:14; 14:12,27; 16:14,25; 18:21; 21:6). And there is a reward in wisdom that brings glory and honor (Pr 3:16; 4:8-9; 22:4). Do you fully appreciate the value in hearing and receiving the sayings of your teachers? Wisdom will extend your life naturally, especially the sayings of this book of Proverbs. Here are clear warnings against the life-shortening consequences of accidents, anger, a broken heart, capital punishment, crime, depression, disease, divorce, drunkenness, envy, fear, gluttony, grief, guilt, hatred, marital dysfunction, murder, STDs, stress, and strife. It is your wisdom to consider each of these sinful causes of premature death. If you do not think the above things shorten life, you need to think again. Some will kill you directly; some will kill you indirectly. Consider just for starters the enormous power of psychosomatic illnesses - bodily breakdown from mental or spiritual problems. It is a modern medical fact that a joyful and happy person in a monogamous marriage will outlive a single whoremonger of either sex. Wisdom will extend your life supernaturally by securing God's blessings and/or avoiding His justice and judgment. The blessed God will cut off the lives of the wicked (Ps 55:23; Eccl 7:17), but He will extend the lives of the righteous (Pr 10:27; Ps 34:11-16; 91:14-16; 128:6; I Tim 4:8; I Pet 3:8-12). Remember the reward for obeying parents (Eph 6:1-3). When God is on your side by obedience to His word and teachers, you have done more for your future health and longevity than any vitamin or exercise program! Consider the shortened lives of the world's inhabitants (Gen 7:21-24), Sodom's fine citizens (Gen 19:24-25), Er and Onan (Gen 38:7-10), Eli's sons (I Sam 2:25), Nabal (I Sam 25:38), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), Herod (Acts 12:23), and many church members at Corinth (I Cor 11:30)! This is no laughing matter, for we see it throughout the Old Testament; and we see it even among the church members of the New Testament. Solomon wrote elsewhere, "Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" (Eccl 7:17.) It is a known fact that hard living - a sinful lifestyle - shortens life expectancy. What will you do with the sayings of the teachers in your life? Will you hear and receive them and live? Or reject them and die? Son, do you hear and receive your father's sayings? Do you gladly listen to your father and appreciate his correction, instruction, and warnings? Or do you resent him for ignoring your great experience and wisdom? Do you ignore him because he is out of touch with your foolish and vain world? Humble yourself, or die young (Eph 6:13)! Father, do you say wise things to your son regularly? Or do you just bring home the

bacon, vegetate with the television, and become a couch potato. You must teach him the wisdom of God (Ps 34:11; Eph 6:4; Joel 1:3). Do it, or you will cost him years of his life! Why did you have him in the first place, if you are not going to teach him to be wise? The God of heaven has spoken by His word. Will you hear and receive the sayings? He has sent pastors to feed His people from that word. Will you hear and receive their sayings? Natural and supernatural blessings depend on your choice. What will it be? Will you live a long and abundant life? Or will you be cut off early after living miserably?

Proverbs 4:11
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Fathers! Mothers! Consider this noble claim by the wisest parent! Read it again. Will you be able to say these words at the end of your life? Can you say them today? Will God and your children agree with you? What have you done for your children today? Have you taught your children how to have a long and prosperous life (Pr 4:10)? Have you taught them how to avoid the distractions, troubles, and traps of life (Pr 4:12)? Mothers, you are not exempted from this privilege and duty (Pr 1:8; 4:3; 6:20). Our proverb has three lessons - the duty, content, and confidence of good parenting and teaching. Read the Preacher's words, and see all three lessons; and let us apply the lessons today. We must teach; we must teach the right things; we must do it confidently! Graduating from high school or getting a college degree does not impress the Lord, nor does it help your children. Most pagans have college degrees, and most college graduates are pagans. Only 1% of the saints in history even thought of going to college. These humanistic and worldly goals of the N.E.A. are foreign to Heaven and true success! The excellent spirit of Daniel and the unfeigned faith of Timothy are what we must cultivate! The "way of wisdom" and "right paths" are contrary to a liberal arts education. These things, which lead to pleasing God and man in life, are no longer taught. The scope and sequence of today's schools is a curriculum from hell to make little humanists. Parents, we must teach wisdom and true knowledge at home! Neither is the pastor responsible, for a few hours a week does not approach the daily instruction of faithful parents. Are your children gracious? Very diligent at work? With high energy and focus? With sterling character? With financial wisdom? Do they hate sin? Being late? Injustice? Are they socially skilled? Good communicators? Considerate and generous? Do they know the gospel? False doctrine? How to solve problems Scripturally? Is their word as good as gold? Are they merciful and forgiving? Wise and prudent? Holy and pure? Are they esteemed in the real world? Are their names honored? Do they have many friends?

Parent, are you confident like the father in our proverb? Our Creator did not give us the truth for us to apologize for it or minimize it. Read Job 32 and see the godly confidence of Elihu. We must be bold, dogmatic, and critical; for Satan and the world surely are in their efforts to oppose us and abolish truth. We have the only answers, and we should say so. And we should reject anything to the contrary (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20). Fathers, what will you give your family tonight? Read a chapter of Proverbs and explain one verse to them. Every man can do this. One such small point made each day will soon form a mountain of wisdom. If you do not believe this, watch the ants in your yard! Our lesson here is not a suggestion for fathers - it is a commandment (Eph 6:4). Let every man fulfill his charge from Heaven, and let him see the future with the eye of faith. A godly seed to God's glory, the defense of the faith, and the happiness of our families is well worth it. Consider the duty, the content, and the confidence of teaching; and do it!

Proverbs 4:12
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Are you wearing fetters or hobbles through life, which hold you back from success? Do you stumble or fall over things you encounter, ending up in pain and trouble? Solomon gave fatherly advice to his son to save him from life's difficulties (Pr 4:1011). Wisdom has incredible value (Pr 4:1-9). Because there are many pitfalls in life, wisdom and instruction are needed to save you from them. It is high time you appreciated knowledge more. Consider the proverb. If you learn wisdom, your steps will not be straitened when you go through life. What are straitened steps? It is a hard life that is limited, restrained, or tied up from enjoying the best in pleasure and prosperity. As a strait jacket binds and keeps a person from moving, natural foolishness binds and keeps a person from joy and success. A great life - a truly successful life - can only be had through wisdom, which is why David taught Solomon that wisdom was the most important thing (Pr 4:7-9). He promised that wisdom would bring his son promotion and honor, if he would exalt and embrace it. Paul taught similarly by saying, "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (I Tim 6:6). If a man chooses to remain foolish, he will miss a prosperous or successful life. His folly will hurt his relationships, so that his marriage and children are painful and troublesome. By not working wisely, he will never move far in his profession. Vulnerable to financial scams and poor investments, he will squander the little bit of money he does earn. Loving sleep and foolish pleasures, he will always be in the hole and feeling desperate.

What is running without stumbling? It is progressing rapidly through life, without all the adversity, pain, and trouble that fools suffer for their entire lives. Every man will meet obstacles in life, but wisdom will save the prudent man from most of them. He will not trip and fall over difficulties like the fool. He will not fall flat in shame very often. Life is short, and only wisdom will save you from the troubles that can ruin your life. Foolish men find that life is like a hedge of thorns - very difficult to get through (Pr 15:19). It is an axiom of human existence that fools will have a hard life (Pr 13:15). Without wisdom, man has no light to direct him, and he will stumble over life's surprises (Pr 4:19)! If a man chooses to be a fool, he is asking for misery and pain (Pr 8:36). Friends may entice him into a crime, and then he is a felon for life. A strange woman, looking ever so good, may ruin his marriage and reputation. A vain talker may deceive him into quitting a real job to purse a business scam. Mooching friends may bankrupt him with cosigned loans. Wisdom brings promotion to honor and safety from trouble (Pr 4:1-11)! What more do you want? Where do we find wisdom? In the Bible, from parents, from pastors, and from wise counselors! What are the conditions? You must humble yourself to receive correction and instruction from these sources, and you must apply yourself to practice what you learn. If a man humbles himself before the word of God and his teachers, and if he accepts and applies their instruction, then the great God will guide him, protect him, and prosper him (Pr 10:17; 13:18; 14:27; 15:32; Ps 32:7-11; 34:11-22; 128:1-6). The way of the righteous is blessed! Why would you choose any other way? Humble yourself today, and come meekly to Scripture and your teachers to find easy steps and smooth running for life.

Proverbs 4:13
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Instruction is your life. Everything you know you learned. Everything you need to know you must learn. Everything right and true that you learn should be held on to tightly. Your life depends on being corrected from error and taught truth to know how to live. If you love and retain instruction to obey it, you will be blessed; if you ignore or reject it, you will be cursed (Ps 50:16-17; Pr 6:23; 8:32-36; 15:32). Learning wisdom should be more important to you than anything else you can desire (Pr 3:13-14; 8:10; 16:16; 23:23). You cannot know anything without being taught, which means humbling yourself to

teachers, whether they are God, parents, pastors, or others. A wise man craves instruction so he can be wiser (Pr 1:5; 9:9; 19:20). Fools despise it to their ruin (Pr 12:1; 13:18). When you find good teachers, learn everything you can from them (Pr 18:1; Acts 10:33). Grab the lifeline, and do not let go! You can make it! You can live! If you were drowning at sea, would you obey these words from a sailor in a rescue boat? You would, for the consequences of not obeying would be certain death. You would, for holding a line is a very cheap price to pay, and an easy effort to make, to save your life. You may never face drowning at sea; but you will face drowning in the sea of life, when the storms of a foolish and sinful world occur. Only by keeping instruction will you survive the storm. God has instructed you by parents, pastors, and His word. Have you grabbed hold of this teaching to save your life (Pr 3:18,22; Eccl 7:12; Deut 32:45-47)? The proverb teaches you how to listen to instruction. You must grasp with understanding what you hear and not let it slip away. The instruction of wisdom is what will save you from dilemmas and dangers of life. You must hold it tight and not let it go. You must retain what you learn. Do not sell it for any price (Pr 23:23)! See the comments on 3:1. Jesus described good hearers as those who took His sayings and built their lives on them (Matt 7:24-27). He told of two men, one who built his house on the sand, and one who built his house on a rock. The storms destroyed the house built on sand, but the one built on a rock easily withstood the storm. What do you do with instruction, dear reader? How much have parents and pastors taught you over the years? How much of it have you retained? Or is most lost, and you need to hear it again? Do you make the same mistakes over and over? Can you quickly and easily apply previous teaching to situations you meet in life? Can you defend what you believe? Here is the lesson: your life is dependent on your retention and application of the instruction you are given. Be a good learner! When you take fast hold of instruction, you fasten it in your grip. It cannot get away. You secure it in your mind in such a way as to always have it. You commit your life to it. You submit to learn from your teachers, and you promise to not forget their words of wisdom. Do you prove, review, and reflect upon teaching? Do you analyze and meditate upon it until it is part of your very soul and being? If not, why not? It is for your life! Why must parents, pastors, and other teachers use so much repetition? Most hearers are lazy, stubborn, and easily distracted. They do not appreciate instruction, and therefore they do not make the effort, or take the steps, necessary to keep it. Effective learning requires attention, submission, retention, and application. See the comments on 12:1. Reader, do you love to be corrected and told how to live? Can you reject your

instinctive thoughts to consider the thoughts of the wise? Measure yourself by these questions. This is instruction! It is knowledge and rules by which you can save your life. But they only benefit those who retain them. It is for your life! Love correction and instruction! Instruction is a great blessing from heaven, for most men have been left without much of it by the sovereign judgment of the great God of heaven (Ps 147:19-20; Is 44:9-20; Matt 10:6; 15:24; 13:9-18; II Thess 2:9-13). God says His ministers have beautiful feet for the instruction they bring you about eternal life and your duties to God (Rom 10:15). All churches today would hold perfect apostolic doctrine, if church members had held fast the instruction they were given by the apostles! But men let those precious things slip away to where there are thousands of errors taught today in the name of Christianity. The warning had been given clearly (II Cor 11:3-4; I Thess 5:21; II Thess 2:15; Jude 1:3). By far the most instruction you have been given is in the Bible. It is a divine library of sixty-six books inspired by God to instruct you completely in all you need for time and eternity (II Tim 3:16-17). This is especially true of the book of Proverbs (Pr 1:17; Eccl 12:9-11). How much do you emphasize learning and obeying the Bible, for your life depends on it (Ps 19:7-11; Jas 1:21-25)? What will you do with the Bible today? If falling from Old Testament truth brought judgment, how much more will falling away from New Testament truth deserve (Heb 2:1-4; 10:26-31; 12:25-29; Rev 2:1416)? Since Jesus Christ alone has the words of eternal life, have you retained them (John 6:68)? Since the Bible can make the man of God perfect, are you guarding its truth in your life? Jesus said those who are given much will be accountable for much (Luke 12:47-48). If you have had godly parents and/or pastors, you will be judged according to this blessing of instruction. Have you retained and kept it for the salvation of your life? In the great Day of Judgment, God will examine how you responded to the instruction He sent you.

Proverbs 4:14
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Wickedness is wrong! You know that. But you must also avoid association with wicked persons and reject their lifestyles. Solomon warned his son against evil friends and their habits, for he wanted him to stay in the way of wisdom and right paths (Pr 4:10-13). The way of the wicked is dangerous and hopeless (Pr 4:16-19). Stay far away from it (Pr 4:15)! You cannot embrace Lady Wisdom and enjoy her benefits while walking with sinners. This simple rule is crucial, especially for youth, because they are most susceptible to evil influences of peer pressure. They are more impressionable by what they see on

television, which is nothing but glamorization of the way of the wicked. They are more vulnerable to the insinuations and subtle instruction of false teachers. This simple rule is crucial! "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners," (I Cor 15:33). Why the warning about deception? Most think they can resist the seduction of ungodly persons. Others think they can influence evil friends to righteousness. Both are wrong: a white glove in mud will always get muddy, but the mud will never get glovey! Be not deceived! David put it this way: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Ps 1:1). This rule would have saved Lot (Gen 13:10-13), Dinah (Gen 34:1), Solomon (I Kgs 11:1-10), Jehoshaphat (II Chr 18:1-3; 20:35-37; 21:1-6), and Peter (Matt 26:58). What about you? Do not even enter the path of the wicked. But if you find yourself there, do not go any further with them. Get out! Now! Are you compromising this crucial rule? Where do you work out? Will you only marry in the Lord? What school have you chosen? How righteous are your friends? What do you read? Can you avoid a subdivision, if you have children? What music and television do you choose? Is there family you should avoid? God is serious about separation from the wicked (Pr 9:6; 13:20; 14:7; 22:24-25; II Chron 19:2; Ps 101:3-8; Rom 16:17-18; I Cor 5:1-13; II Cor 6:14-17; Gal 1:6-9; Eph 5:11; II Thess 3:6; I Tim 6:5; II Tim 3:5; Titus 3:10-11; Jas 4:4; Rev 18:4). You cannot go out of the world (I Cor 5:9-10), but you must not conform to it (Rom 12:12; I John 2:15-17). What is the lifestyle of the wicked? Habits and preferences that promote sin! You can judge activities and places by those using them. Without analyzing rock-n-roll music directly, its artists, producers, and listeners condemn it - for they are generally wicked. There is no reason to study nightclubs; those who build them and use them love darkness. How can you pray, "Lead us not into temptation," but neglect, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation"? Do you need friends? Then make them good men who will provoke you to godliness (Pr 13:20; Ps 119:63,79; Titus 1:8). A true church of Jesus Christ will provide more friends with godly influence than you can ever rightly love and serve!

Proverbs 4:15
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Get away from it! Can't you see the warning? He repeated it four ways! The lifestyle of the wicked must be strictly avoided (Pr 4:14). Do not follow them. Do not learn their habits. Do not befriend the world. Reject their society. Go in wise and right paths (Pr 4:11-13).

Every parent worries about the peer pressure facing their children, and it was no different for Solomon. He told his son to walk in the way of wisdom and in right paths (Pr 4:11-13), and he warned him against the path of the wicked and the way of evil men (Pr 4:14-15). Many excuse their sin by saying, "But everyone is doing it!" Wisdom answers back, "That proves it is wrong!" For this world lies in wickedness (I John 2:15-17; 5:19). Jesus said things highly esteemed by this world are an abomination to God (Luke 16:15). And to follow a crowd into sin and moral compromise is specifically condemned (Ex 23:2). To avoid it is to keep clear of it or away from it, to have nothing to do with it, to shun it. To pass not by it is to keep a safe distance, to not approach it, to choose a course in another direction. To turn from it is to change direction when you realize you are near it, to quit and get away from it. To pass away is to keep moving away, to put distance between you and it. His words teach how we must reject the lifestyle of this world. Jesus called us to enter the strait gate and walk in the narrow way (Matt 7:13-14). As a straitjacket is very restrictive, tight, and difficult to remove, so the way of wisdom is restrictive, tight, and difficult. The few that find and desire it must press into it by violent repentance and transformation (Matt 11:12; Luke 16:16). And to do so requires avoiding the wide gate and broad way that leads the foolish masses to destruction and hell. Though inviting and popular, God's saints will not even touch the unclean thing (II Cor 6:14-17). A man blessed by God, a man walking with God, will not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful (Ps 1:1). He will not have anything to do with them. He despises their thoughts and their lives. He knows that friendship with this world is to be God's enemy (Jas 4:4). So he gets as far away as he can; he does not even want the temptation to join them in sin (Rom 13:14). Reader, do you know how vulnerable you are to the opinions and influence of others? Paul said, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (I Cor 15:33). You may think you can resist the lifestyle or philosophy of the wicked, but Paul denies it! You have to get away from them. You must hate their folly and pleasures alike. Go in the opposite direction and save your soul. See the comments on 13:20 and 19:27. Wisdom will choose the way of righteousness and limit friends to those who fear God by their actions (Ps 119:63). You may have few friends here, but you are united to a great company of angels and just men waiting with Jesus for you in heaven (Heb 12:22-24).

Proverbs 4:16
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Wicked friends and associates will destroy you. If you desire to grow in wisdom and godliness, you must avoid foolish companions. Evil communications corrupt good manners (I Cor 15:33). Solomon soberly warned his son to stay far away from evil men (Pr 4:14-15). Their hearts are controlled by sin and their thoughts dedicated to it (Pr 4:16-17). Good and evil are opposites, and good men and evil men are also opposites. They are perpetual enemies (Pr 29:27). Wise and just men see clearly to live successful lives, and God blesses them with light (Pr 4:18). Foolish and wicked men live in darkness, stumbling through a dysfunctional life by the blindness of their arrogant and ignorant hearts (Pr 4:19). There are two kinds of people on earth - the righteous and the wicked. While the wicked may perform outward acts that appear good, they come from a heart that is only evil in God's sight (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:9-18). While the righteous may sometimes live foolishly, yet they have a righteous heart that is vexed by sin (Ps 73:16-22; II Pet 2:7-8). This proverb and the next are Solomon's warning about the depraved character of wicked men (Pr 4:16-17). Mischief and wickedness are more important to them than sleep. They cannot rest nor be content unless they have corrupted and hurt others. Wickedness and violence are their bread and wine. They must eat them every day to satisfy their hunger! There are no neutral men. Righteous men are the followers of Jesus Christ and godliness, and wicked men are the captive slaves of Satan and sin. Men either base their lives on the absolute terms of the Bible, or they base them on the world's lies received from the devil. It is this great antagonism that makes worldly friends impossible for dedicated Christians. The NEA, ACLU, PTA, NOW, MTV, CNN, FNN, UN, PETA, ECM, AFL-CIO, UAW, USA, DNC, RNC, and organizations of this world are dedicated to the overthrow of Bible Christianity. They work day and night for mischief and to cause men to fall from righteousness and truth. They cannot sleep until they get rid of Jesus Christ, His disciples, and His doctrine from the earth. Take a strong stand on any Bible subject and find out! The God of heaven and the wisest of men command you to avoid the world, reject their opinions, despise their lifestyle, and hate their offers (Ps 101:3-8; Rom 12:1-2; II Cor 6:14-18; Eph 5:7-13; Jas 4:4; I John 2:15-17). No matter how subtle the insinuation or seductive the temptation against the absolute authority of the Bible, you must turn away with all your strength to avoid being corrupted (I Cor 15:33; I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:1-5).

Proverbs 4:17
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Some people feed on wickedness. It is their diet. They get anxious and irritable, when they cannot sin and hurt other people. They have no pleasure in righteousness, for it does not satisfy their cravings for mischief and harm. They invent evil things, for their minds are always working to take advantage of others (Rom 1:30). The world has many such people, and a wise man will do all in his power to avoid them and their ways (Pr 4:14-17). The Bible is a figurative book, often using figures of speech and words in secondary senses. It is a spiritual book, often expressing itself by natural words. There are two metaphors in the proverb, which can be converted to similes. The proverb then reads, "They commit wickedness like eating bread, and they love violence like drinking wine." The previous proverb indicates this form of the metaphors is to be chosen (Pr 4:16). The heart of a wicked man is never content - he must be about his sinning. He cannot rest easily or sleep contentedly, because he must do mischief and cause others to fall (Pr 4:16). His nature craves iniquity and trouble, like other men crave bread and wine. His appetite, inherited from Adam, is for sin and rebellion, not righteousness and peace. The wicked go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies (Ps 58:3; Rom 3:9-19). What causes such depravity? Men are born in the likeness of their father Adam (Gen 5:3). They are born dead toward God, but alive toward the devil (Eph 2:1-3). He was a destroyer and murderer, and they follow his example and impulses (John 8:44). They are fools in love with malice and wickedness: they are hateful and hating one another (Titus 3:3). They are past feeling, and they greedily pursue lasciviousness (Eph 4:17-19). David loved Solomon, and Solomon loved Rehoboam. Both fathers exhorted their sons to get wisdom, for it is the most important acquisition in life, and it would bring many blessings on their lives (Pr 4:1-13). They went further and warned very strictly about the grave danger of having evil friends or companions (Pr 4:14-17). David and Solomon knew that evil friends could easily corrupt their sons' good manners (Pr 9:6; 13:20; I Cor 15:33). What is the lesson? Stay far away from such persons! Consider Solomon's words! He wrote, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Pr 4:14-15). Look at his words! There is no room for any compromise with these kind of wicked persons. You cannot even go near them. You must be intolerant of them, their ideas, and their practices. They will corrupt your good manners and take you down to destruction and hell with them. Stay away! Reader, you are no different from these cursed souls by nature. You were born just like them, and you lived just like them, until you were born again by the grace and power of God (Eph 2:1-3; Titus 3:3-7). Eliphaz said of you and all men, "How much

more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?" (Job 15:16.) Only the Lord Jesus Christ can save a man from his horribly depraved nature (Rom 7:24-25).

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Pay attention, reader! This proverb is for your life! God confronts every man with truth at a few crucial points in his life. Most men rebel and reject it, and He justly blinds them in perpetual darkness to some or all truth. Good men rejoice and obey the truth He offers, and He rewards them with further light and understanding. His light leads them ever onward to more truth, until they reach the day of perfect understanding in heaven. Solomon in context warned his son against the path of the wicked (Pr 4:14-17). He told him not to enter it or pass by it; he told him to avoid it, turn from it, and get away. And after giving him the wonderful description of the path of the just in our proverb, he told him that the path of the wicked is darkness; they don't even know what trips them (Pr 4:19). There is sufficient evidence in the visible creation to know there is a God with eternal power and a Godhead (Rom 1:18-20; Ps 19:1-6). Men are without an excuse. But when they become vain in their thoughts and reject this knowledge, God darkens their hearts and gives them up to ignorant thinking and conduct (Rom 1:21-23). This is the root cause and source of the perversion of sodomy (Rom 1:24-27). Quite a dark path! Consider Pharaoh. He rejected the LORD, even though Moses had brought powerful signs and plagues upon his nation. Therefore God hardened his heart, and he foolishly took his chariot down into the Red Sea to his own destruction. What blinded him to the obvious danger of such a choice? The LORD blinded him (Ex 14:4,17)! God also confronts men with truth from the Bible. If they reject the truth for any reason, He will blind their understanding and leave them to the deceit and delusions of their own hearts and other men. God promised to deceive prophets when men came to inquire of them with idols in their hearts (Ezek 14:4-11). Jesus spoke in parables to harden the hearts of the Jews (Matt 13:10-17). And God sends strong delusion to cause men to believe lies, when they reject the truth He offers (II Thess 2:9-12). Is God the author of confusion? Absolutely and certainly! He owes no man the truth, and He will withhold truth and light from the man who squanders or rejects truth shown him. The Tower of Babel and the confusion there are not only true historical facts, but also an indication of His holy judgment on men pursuing their own agenda (Gen 11:1-9). But the same sovereign God will bless just and good men. As our proverb declares, He will provide a shining light that reveals more and more truth, as they obey what He has already revealed. This is one of the greatest incentives to obey all truth that

you are shown. He will either bless your obedience with more light, or judge your disobedience by taking away the light you think you have (Luke 8:18). Take heed, dear reader! This light is not furnished to every man, for it shines only upon the path of the just. It is not for the backslider, the hypocrite, or the carnal compromiser. The spiritual light of God, which brings wisdom, truth, and understanding, is for the just - the man who turns from his own foolish thoughts to do the perfect will of God (Pr 3:33; 9:9; 11:9; 12:13,21; 14:14; 20:7; 21:15; 24:16). How does a perfect day develop? It begins with a dull glow in the east, which seems quite weak in the blackness of the night. But the darkness soon gives way, as the glorious sun rises from the horizon to drive away all remains of the night. As it climbs powerfully into the sky, its light increases in intensity and angle until everything is bright and clear under a noonday sun. So is the LORD upon the path of the just; He shines more and more unto perfection, as a man does justly and walks humbly with his God (Micah 6:8). Your car headlights only shine a short distance. But as you drive, they shine farther and farther. When you leave a dark garage, you cannot see all the way home. You begin driving in the light provided, which shines a little way ahead. But as you trust your lights and drive forward, your lights shine farther ahead, until you reach your destination. Your lights guided you all the way home, as you trusted them each mile of the way. Solomon did not have car headlights, but he did have lamps for pathways (Ps 119:105). Like these two pictures of a shining light, the blessed God sheds more light and reveals more truth, as we move forward in obedience to the truth He has already given (Pr 2:1-5; Job 17:9; Ps 84:7; Hos 6:3; II Cor 3:18). For this reason, Solomon warns over and over again in many proverbs for us to be attentive to instruction and obey it (Pr 1:23; 8:32-33; 10:17; 12:1; 28:9; 29:1). The consequences of disobedience are severe. Wisdom and truth are not dependent on intellect or teachers. They are dependent on faith and obedience. Intellect and worldly education can be a severe handicap in learning God's wisdom (I Cor 1:19-20). A young man can easily exceed wise old men, if he fears only God and trusts Him completely (Job 32:6-9). You can easily exceed your enemies, teachers, and the ancients by trusting God's word (Ps 119:98100). Our blessed Lord taught our proverb in these words, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17). If we obey the will of God, we will know the true doctrine of God, for He will reveal more truth to us and confirm it in our hearts. Nathanael, the apostles, the eunuch, and Cornelius found much light after obedience (John 1:45-51; Luke 24:32; Acts 8:30-35; 10:6). Many men have faced the truth of God and rejected it for love of tradition, fear of man, job security, and other snares (Pr 29:25). How many rejected Bible baptism and ended up in the infant-sprinkling brothel of Rome and her daughter churches? How

many rejected sound doctrine and ended up babbling with silly women and effeminate men in white suits? How many loved rituals and ended up with baptismal regeneration? How many chose the altar of free will and ended up trusting emotional appeals for decisional regeneration and drowning in the carnal consequences of easybelievism? How many sought government assistance and ended up in a dead, national church? The consequences on your soul, family, and church from how you react to this proverb are enormous. If you stubbornly choose your own way, the LORD of heaven will blind you. If you humbly submit to His word, He will bless you with light and truth. Dear reader, where are you rejecting truth and conviction in your life? Where are you holding on to tradition or fearing men more than you fear the Lord? What is wrong in your life, family, or church that you are not correcting? God will not be mocked! Solomon warned, "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead" (Pr 21:16). See the comments on this sober text. Most of the churches in our once glorious nation are now such congregations, for they have left the Word of God for fables and entertainment (II Tim 3:4-7; 4:3-4). You may be saved from this horrible death of ignorance by taking careful heed to the more sure word of Scripture, which is as a light shining in a dark place, and which is more sure in its integrity than reports of hearing God's voice from heaven (II Pet 1:1621). And by doing this you may be confident of a day of knowledge dawning in your heart through the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, both now and at His glorious appearing. So let us desire the sincere milk of His word (I Pet 2:2; II Pet 3:18). The path of the just man extends beyond this life. A day is coming in which he will know with perfect knowledge. He shall be in the presence of the Lord Jesus, and he will know all things. Until then we trust in His shining light and obey what we see, and we pray for the Spirit of enlightenment (Eph 1:17-18). Thank you, Lord, for truth and light!

Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Are you appalled at the stupidity of the human race, especially the present generation? You should be! Due to the depravity of their hearts and ignorance of their minds, they live in darkness as to truth and wisdom. They keep hurting themselves with what they cannot see, and their lives become more and more dysfunctional each passing day. Solomon concluded a parallelism here. In the previous proverb, he described the life of a just man as the shining light, which increases until the full light of the day is seen (Pr 4:18). As a man learns and applies truth and wisdom, God gives him more understanding in the same way a sunrise chases away darkness and eventually brings full and clear daylight. But the wicked cannot see at all, for they walk in darkness. They do not know why

they trip and fall, for they cannot see the errors in their thinking. Their arrogance is a great curse, for there is more hope of a fool than a man who thinks he is right (Pr 26:12). They rush on in sin, until suddenly it shocks them with painful results (Ps 36:1-2; 50:21-22). There are many examples of this proverb. Wise men consider the world and go humbly to Scripture, lest they become as confused and ignorant as those around them. Wise parents show the world's folly and its painful consequences to their children. The sons of God should despise the children of darkness (Pr 29:27; Gen 6:1-2; Ps 139:21-22). God owes truth and wisdom to no man. He revealed His eternal power and Godhead in His creation (Rom 1:18-20). When they reject this offer of knowledge, He justly darkens their hearts and leaves them in confusion (Rom 1:20-23). The curse of sodomy and many other corruptions are God's judgment on rebellious men (Rom 1:24-32; Eph 4:17-19). Enjoy God mocking idolaters - who take leftover wood and worship it! They have a lie in their right hand and cannot let go (Is 44:9-20)! When men do not love the truth they are offered, God sends them strong delusion to believe lies and be damned (II Thess 2:9-12). He deceives prophets to teach lies, when a man comes with idols in his heart (Ezek 14:1-11). And He sent a lying spirit to Ahab, who had chosen wickedness (I Kgs 22:19-23). Consider. The lazy fool pampers himself by sleeping in, but he is frustrated he cannot afford anything (Pr 21:25)! The fornicator thinks he has found the ultimate pleasure, until he wakes up the loneliest man on earth (Pr 5:3-5)! The modern mother chooses to coddle her children rather than train them, but they disgrace her to shame (Pr 29:15)! A prudish woman defrauds her husband of frequent love, and she wonders why he is bitter (I Cor 7:1-5)! The lustful fool dates a woman for her body, and he cannot grasp how he ended up in marital hell (Pr 11:22; 30:21-23; 31:30)! The college coed defied the administration, yet now she resents her husband's adultery! Politicians offer welfare to buy votes, but they are confused by falling productivity and increasing outlays! The carnal Christian watches television every night, but he blames the pastor for preaching boring sermons! The modern woman aborts two unborn babies, but she suffers a nervous breakdown when her neighbors get in a fight! The evolutionist teaches man came from monkeys, but he wants police protection from the baboons in the hallway! The Arminian adores decisional regeneration, but he asks why there is no fruit! The intellectual rejects the idea of a Creator and ends up following Freud's insane infatuation with his own body waste! The abortionist sucks unborn babies apart with his vacuum wand, but he painfully frets about baby seals in Antarctica! Union workers rejoice at the pay increase they force from their employer, but they are shocked when the plant closes and leaves them unemployed! The teenage gunman slaughters fellow students and teachers, but no one thinks to outlaw the violent music, movies, and video games that entertain and

program such teenagers. The world is not becoming enlightened. Only educated idiots of the past few generations believed evolution. Only the blind admire Picasso! Only the darkened read Nietzsche! Evil men and seducers are worse and worse (II Tim 3:13). Man's moral decay is obvious. Simply view its art, listen to its music, read its books, watch its youth, count its divorces, measure its contentment, calculate its chemical dependency, number its suicides, etc. Reader, there is light in Scripture! It can save you from the dark insanity of the world. Listen to the psalmist. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps 119:105). "The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Ps 19:8). "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles" (Ps 43:3). There is light in the proverbs! "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life" (Pr 6:23). Isaiah wrote, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Is 8:20). The Bible is better than God's voice from heaven! "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (II Pet 1:16-21). Jesus Christ is the light of the world. But only those drawn by His Father - the elect ever come to His light (John 1:5; 3:19; 6:44-45). If you can comprehend and appreciate Jesus Christ, it is by God's free mercy (Matt 11:25-27; 16:15-17; John 10:26-29). You must already be born again, for prior to regeneration a man cannot see or hear anything spiritual (John 3:3; 8:43,47; I Cor 2:14). Cast yourself humbly on God's mercy in Jesus Christ, and He will give you light (John 8:12; Eph 5:14). Thank you, blessed God!

Proverbs 4:20
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
For you to be great, you must listen and learn. Being attentive to instruction is the great secret of wisdom, just as Solomon wrote in his introduction (Pr 1:5). The better a man listens and learns, the greater he will be. Rather than think of what you would like to say or what you do not like about the person speaking, you should focus all your powers on humbly listening to every word. Your success in any endeavor depends on it. How well do you pay attention to instruction? Do you hear what you are taught? Solomon was a great king, the wisest of man, and a loving father. He knew his sons success depended on learning from his vast experience and wisdom. He had seen his son shortly after birth, had watched him during childhood, and had witnessed his foolishness during puberty and adolescence. His son knew nothing and had everything to learn!

Proverbs is the book of wisdom, designed to teach understanding. Since all men arrive as helpless and ignorant infants, there is a great learning curve to take them from the breast and diapers to be the sober and successful leaders of others. Solomon knew the keys were humility and attention to the instruction of parents and teachers, so he emphasized these points often (Pr 1:8; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1-5; 5:1,7; 6:20; 7:24; 8:32-33; 19:20; 22:17; 23:12). Consider your own progress. You did not know your own name for many months, were fed from a bottle, and dirtied your own clothes and bed. It took you a year to learn how to stumble. Tying your shoes and learning to ride a bicycle were difficult tasks. Spelling words with four letters and adding numbers with four digits were hard assignments. You were intimidated by your first written examination to get a drivers license. But you learned your name, how to eat, how to use the toilet, how to walk, how to tie shoelaces, how to ride a bike, how to spell and add, and you eventually passed your drivers test. How did this progress occur? You were taught and trained by others with more knowledge and understanding than you. You had to listen and learn, for children kept alone in a room without instruction will not acquire these basic learned skills. Life has much greater challenges than riding a bike. What is the basis of wisdom? Is working hard important? What does God hate? Does pride affect judgment? How is a beautiful woman dangerous? Can offended rulers be appeased? What makes a good wife? How are children trained? Can I get ahead on my job? What are bad financial risks? How is tattling wrong? Am I a true friend? These questions and many others like them are only answered by wise instruction, which you must hear, comprehend, retain, and apply. Public education teaches children to believe and think as the state deems best. Since a Creator God with written Scripture is a threat to humanism and social experiments, children are taught they came from monkeys. They are also taught the contradictory lies of socialism, self-love, free expression, rights of the individual, animal protection, child abortion, human progress, sodomy is normal, and so forth. Living in a modern world with mass media, parents must teach and warn children often against such profane nonsense. Are you a good listener and learner? Or do you daydream? Or are you already thinking of your next words? Here is the difference between success and failure. A wise man listens well, because he knows that is the only way to learn. A fool, thinking he already has the answers, refuses to listen and remains an ignorant loser for the rest of his miserable life. Wise men always listen better than fools: they get wiser, and fools stay foolish (Pr 9:7-9). A sure proof of wisdom is your humility to hear instruction and apply it to your life. The Lord Jesus Christ told Pontius Pilate that He came into the world to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). Pilate, like most educators and politicians, scornfully rejected the idea of truth (John 18:38). Jesus told His hearers to be careful how they listened to the truth. If they were diligent and eager, He would bless them with more truth; if they were negligent, He would take from them the little truth they thought

they had (Luke 8:18). Hearing is not a take-it-or-leave-it offer, when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and He expects His preached and printed words to command your attention and obedience. He promised to punish His own people Israel for not hearing (Is 30:8-14; Jer 13:16-17; 22:5-9,20-26; Mal 2:1-3; Acts 3:22-23). And things are only worse today, when so-called Christians will not endure sound doctrine but instead follow after entertainers that will satisfy their lusts with fables (II Tim 4:3-4). It is now common for children to yawn, sleep, scorn, or leave when parents try to correct, instruct, or warn them. It is common for church members to doze, daydream, look around, read their Bible, or leaf through a hymnal while the pastor preaches the truth of Gods word. The certain rule is that such children and church members are always losers. Your only hope for success is to humble yourself and learn the instruction and wisdom of first parents, then pastors, and always and only as defined by the infallible word of God. Rather than think of listening and learning as a burden, think of it as a blessed privilege. Very few today consider a long sermon a blessing (II Tim 4:3-4). But hear Israel under Nehemiah and Ezra after returning from a 70-year captivity in Babylon, And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them (Neh 8:12). Adult reader, once you repent of arrogance or stubbornness and are ready to listen and learn to make rapid and great progress, you must find where truth and wisdom are taught. Where can you be attentive to truth and wisdom and incline your ear to them? God has ordained that He will communicate His wisdom by preaching in the local churches of His Son Jesus Christ (I Cor 1:19-21; I Tim 6:3-5,20-21; II Tim 3:16-17; Titus 1:1-4). There is a famine for real preaching of Gods word today (Amos 8:11-12), but the witty inventions of the Internet allow a search better than ever before. You need to find a God-called man that boldly and plainly declares Gods truth without regard for the opinions of men. God is able and willing to help you, so pray for it (Acts 8:26-40; 16:6-15). May God bless those with sincere and honest hearts to find and prosper under the words of truth.

Proverbs 4:21
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
What are you looking at? Aiming for? Holding dear in your heart? Solomon had sober words of advice and warning for his son (Pr 4:20-22). Childhood and youth are vanity: the eyes and hearts of young men are easily distracted with foolishness (Pr 17:24; Eccl 11:10). This wise father tried to focus his son on the great goals of wisdom and understanding.

Your eyes are the means of sight for your whole body. Vision is the ability to see what is in front of you and direct your body accordingly. Men take great pains and pay great prices to see clearly, for their physical skills are only as useful as their ability to direct their bodily movements by their eyes. Hand-eye coordination is considered a most precious gift and a certain indicator of physical aptitude. From the importance of physical eyes, men make a figurative use of mental eyes setting priorities and making choices for life. For example, when the coach or instructor says, "Keep your eyes on the goal," it is understood to mean that everything in that person's life should be directed toward the chosen objective. It does not mean that the athlete or student should stare without blinking at some visual object. Focused sight on one goal, with all choices serving that goal, is the road to success in any endeavor (I Cor 9:24-27). Your mental eyes direct your life and set your priorities, so your eyes must be focused on one object - wisdom, or you will lose in life. Jesus Christ taught it by these words: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.... No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt 6:22-24). But there is another figure of speech in this proverb. Solomon told his son to keep his fatherly words and sayings in the midst of his heart. Your physical heart is the basis of life for your body, for it pumps the blood that is the life of your flesh (Pr 14:30; Lev 17:11). Your figurative heart is the seat of your affections, where you choose what you will love and value. A wise man will choose to love wisdom and value it highly (Pr 4:6; 8:17,21,36). Just as with your eyes, your heart must be single - it must be focused on one goal. Since wisdom and pleasing God are contrary to all that is in this world, you cannot succeed trying to obtain both goals. You must purify your heart from being double minded to a single goal (Jas 4:8), because a double minded man is unstable in all his ways (Jas 1:8). How focused are you, in eyes and heart, toward pleasing God (Deut 6:4-9; Heb 12:1-3)?

Proverbs 4:22
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
The words and sayings of wisdom are crucial for your life. If you find and keep them, they will bring prosperity and success to your life. If you find and keep them, they will bring function and vitality to your existence. You must first submit yourself to the instruction of wisdom (Pr 4:20), and then you must retain what you have been taught (Pr 4:21). You have seen lives so messed up that it is easy to think death might be a mercy. You have seen lives so dysfunctional and painful that it is easy to wonder why they were ever born. You have seen lives so distressed and troubled that it is easy to describe

their lives as hell on earth. Wisdom saves men from such terrible and wasted lives. It is life to those that find it, in that wisdom teaches a person how to live joyfully and successfully. Most men think that eliminating laws and rules would bring happiness and success. They foolishly think that freedom to do as they wish would bring pleasure. They are fools. What do they think will keep their neighbors from killing them for their wives and houses? They think the laws of God's Word are onerous and restrictive; yet it is by wise precepts and statutes that people live together most happily, prosperously, and securely. Most men think that eliminating laws and rules would bring happiness and success. They foolishly forget that they arrived in this world totally ignorant and messing on themselves. Without divine guidance in the form of commandments, they would not know how to treat parents, spouses, children, neighbors, magistrates, or employers. They would not know how to make marriage, family, business, church, or society work at all. Without the knowledge or restraint of wise laws, humanity might practice polyandry, witchcraft, cannibalism, incest, child sacrifice, sodomy, insect worship, necrophilia, or a host of other abominations, as has happened in many nations not having the light of God's laws. There is glorious wisdom taught in the inspired scriptures of Jehovah! What do these profane activities do? Bring health and happiness, wealth and progress? No way! They promote wars, disease, death, dysfunction, poverty, misery, and ignorance. Nations long without the Word of God are third world, or even fourth world! They are unbelievably backward and/or morally corrupt. Light and progress are by the Word of God alone, and the nations that promote it are blessed indeed (Pr 8:12-21; Ps 33:12; 144:15). Moses told Israel, "And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it" (Deut 32:46-47). Do you see it, reader? The words of God's law are your life! To live your life without God's words is insanity, as the abominations and degradation of much of the present world still proves so clearly. Moses told his successor, Joshua, that he could achieve success and prosperity by remembering, meditating upon, and obeying God's law (Josh 1:7-8). Jesus came bringing even greater light than Moses, and He promised life and life more abundant for keeping His sayings (John 1:4,17; 10:10). Do you consider the Word of God more valuable than fine gold and sweeter than honey (Ps 19:11)? Why not? Do you consider His words more than your necessary food (Job 23:12)? You should. They are life and health for body and soul. Neglect His Word to your own peril and pain! Instead, read it today for your great pleasure and profit.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Your heart is your most valuable asset. And it is much more than the muscle beating 70 times a minute in your chest. You need to consider the inner, decision-making part of you that loves certain things and chooses to do them over other things. You can keep your heart good, or you can let it become bad. You can be diligent in this project, or you can be lazy. As a child of God, your old man tempts you toward evil, and your new man exhorts you toward righteousness. Your heart chooses between them. It is a series of choices that every person makes each day. What are you going to do this day? Whatever is in your heart comes out in your life. If your heart is full of good things, your life will show that goodness; if your heart is full of sinful thoughts, your life will show them. The large tests and decisions you will face in life are dependent on your heart, and so are the small choices that we make hundreds of times a day. Have you kept it pure? Are you working hard to keep it pure today? Do you know that laziness in this matter will bring severe trouble and pain to your life? The Lord Jesus condemned the Pharisees for emphasizing man's outward appearance; and He emphasized man's heart instead. He said the following in two different places: O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matthew 12:34-35 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. Matthew 15:18-19 Sin begins in the heart. Lust for a sin attracts your heart, so you think about it. If you think about it enough, you will do it. And the result of this choice is death. You can protect yourself by keeping your heart diligently from sinful thoughts (James 1:1316). How can you keep a pure heart? Protect it from outside influences toward sin (Ps 101:3; I Cor 15:33), and supply it with outside influences toward holiness (Ps 119:11,63; 101:6). Since even thinking of foolishness is sin (Pr 24:9) and desiring another woman is adultery (Matt 5:28), you must often examine your heart with the Lord's help (Ps 139:23-24). Because the Lord Jesus sees your heart clearly (Heb 4:12), your diligence will be rewarded (II Chron 16:9) and your laziness will be punished (Ezek 14:3-8).

David, the almost-forgotten eighth son of Jesse, was chosen over all his older and successful brothers to be king of Israel, because he had a pure heart like the Lord's. What a glorious goal! Dear reader, is this your holy ambition today?

Proverbs 4:24
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Rule your speech! Guard your tongue! Mark your words! After keeping his heart with all diligence, from which are the issues of life, Solomon warned his son to reject ungodly speech (Pr 4:23). Beginning with the thoughts and intents of the heart, wisdom demands you govern your speech (Pr 4:24), your eyes (Pr 4:25), and your feet (Pr 4:26-27). Precious advice! It is impossible to have godly and gracious speech without a pure heart, for it is the content of the heart that feeds the mouth (Matt 12:33-35). You can tell a good heart by kind and holy words, and you can tell a bad heart by harsh or carnal words. Jesus said it; believe it! Kings love the perfect man who speaks graciously from a pure heart (Pr 22:11). This proverb is not warning you to stay away from those with froward mouths and perverse lips, for that is given elsewhere (Pr 14:7; 19:27; I Cor 15:33). It is warning you to get rid of your own froward mouth and perverse lips. The context is ruling your own heart, lips, eyes, and feet (Pr 4:23-27), not avoiding others with sins in those areas. Solomon addressed his son and told him to listen and submit to his fatherly instruction (Pr 4:20). He then exhorted him to keep his advice directly before him and firm in his resolve (Pr 4:21). And he encouraged him by saying that it would give him life and health (Pr 4:22). Then in order, he told his son to guard his heart, lips, eyes, and steps (Pr 4:23-27). A foolish mouth will ruin your reputation (Eccl 5:3; 10:12-14). An offensive mouth will get you in trouble with men (Pr 12:13; 13:3; 14:7; 18:6-7; 22:10; 24:9). And then you will give account of every idle word in the Judgment (Pr 6:16-19; Matt 12:36-37; Eph 5:3-6). Kind and wise speech will build your reputation (Pr 15:4; 18:20; 24:26). Appropriate words will enhance your relationship with men (Pr 10:32; 15:23; 16:13; 25:11). And the blessed God is pleased with constructive and helpful words (Pr 12:22; Eph 4:29; Col 4:6). You can improve your speech by cutting your words in half, if you tend to talk more than the average person (Pr 17:27; Jas 1:19). You then must rule your spirit, for it can kindle the fire from hell (Pr 16:32; Jas 3:3-8)! And you have to avoid arguments (Pr 26:4-5; II Tim 2:23).

If you keep your heart at peace with the Lord and man, it will be difficult for you to spout harsh or painful things. If you keep your heart pure with the Lord and man, it will be difficult for you to have foolish or carnal speech. If you fill your mind with noble things, you will have precious material for conversation (Phil 4:8). Lord, guard our tongues.

Proverbs 4:25
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
How is your vision? Forget detail, distance, or depth. How is your directional vision? Do you see straight ahead, or do you have peripheral vision? Peripheral vision, or seeing things from the corner of your eye, is a good thing for driving and sports, but it is horrible for saints. You must see only one object - God, His kingdom, and His righteousness. Having told you to keep your heart with all diligence (Pr 4:23), the Preacher warned against peripheral distractions, either left or right (Pr 4:26-27). You must establish your direction straight ahead and keep going in that direction - to the single goal of pleasing the Lord. "Eyes" and "eyelids" are synecdoche, where part of a thing represents the whole. Solomon did not care about the little flap of skin that covers your eyeballs. He wanted your heart and mind and soul. He wanted all of you. In the last eight verses of this chapter, he lists ear, eyes, heart, flesh, heart, mouth, lips, eyes, eyelids, feet, and hand. Your eyes select objects and direct your movements toward them, but it is your heart and mind that give and receive feedback from your eyes. Heart and eyes cannot be separated. It is your overall person, eyes included, you must keep in the way of wisdom. The Lord Jesus taught against spiritual peripheral vision with similar language. And you should look unto Him as the great example of perfect vision for your soul (Heb 12:1-4). The context of His words will let you learn their sense and application (Matt 6:19-24). "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:22-23 Consider the context well. He condemned laying up treasure on earth, when you can lay up treasure in heaven, for your heart will follow your treasure (Matt 6:19-21). And He denied any man can serve two masters - God and mammon, or money (Matt 6:24). He reasoned, if a man's natural vision directs his bodily movements, then a blind eye is a horrible thing, for the body cannot know where to move. Considered spiritually, an eye with undivided honesty and zeal for God will lead to holiness, but a double eye

of hypocrisy and worldly lusts will lead to destruction. Mark the Saviour's warning! Consider an obscure reference to soldiers in Chronicles. Zebulun brought 50,000 fighting men who were of one heart for David (I Chron 12:33). They had no mixed emotions. They were not thinking about going home. They were not thinking about anything else. Jesus rejoiced to see Nathanael, for his heart was free from duplicity, hypocrisy, and a double mind (John 1:47). He was an Israelite indeed, fully committed to his God. The Christian life is a race (I Cor 9:26; Heb 12:1). To win, runners must look straight ahead without being distracted by competitors or other things. Paul pressed forward, not looking sideways, to win the prize of God's high calling (Phil 3:13-14), and he described those with peripheral vision for worldly things as belly worshippers (Phil 3:18-19). Wicked men have a double heart (Ps 12:1-2). They are not totally committed to the Lord and spiritual things. Their hearts still lust after this world and its things. They are carnally minded, and they show little evidence of grace in their hearts. You can easily spot them, for they never talk about the Lord with the same passion as their own things. James warned twice against being double minded - or having more than one objective for your life (James 1:8; 4:8). He said a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, and he exhorted saints to diligent efforts to reduce their objectives to only one (James 4:8-10). Eve was seduced by her wandering eyes (Gen 3:6). Lot's wife could not keep from looking back (Gen 19:17,26). Achan saw Babylonian goods and money that cost him his life (Josh 7:21). And David took what he saw one night from a rooftop (II Sam 11:2). Your prayer should be for God to keep your eyes from seeing vanity (Ps 119:37). The lust of the eyes is one of the great temptations of man (I John 2:15-17). So careful was Job in his pursuit of holiness, he made a covenant with his eyes against thinking upon young beautiful women (Job 31:1). Contrast him with false teachers (II Pet 2:14). The first church, under the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost, had a single mind with God and each another (Acts 2:46). They were undivided in their dedicated and solitary ambition of serving the Lord. Things in the corner of their vision did not distract them. Godly men serve masters with single hearts (Eph 6:5; Col 3:22). Their solitary goal is to please the Lord on the job, regardless of what men may think or do. They do not seek a raise or promotion as their principal objective, for they see only God's reward. Dear reader, what distracts your vision and progress? You need only one goal pleasing God with a holy life and preparing for heaven. Put on your blinders and keep your eyes and motion straight ahead. Look only forward - only upward - and only heavenward!

Did the Lord Jesus have any other objectives in His life on earth? None! Did things around Him distract him? Never! Though he had food, honor, and glory offered to Him by the devil, He remained absolutely faithful to His one goal - pleasing His Father by a perfect life and death! Glory! Follow this great Example and His singular vision!

Proverbs 4:26
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Wise men do not let life happen to them. They act with careful thought and sober reflection. They plan and manage their lives. They choose wise goals and the means to achieve them, and they compare their progress to them. Other than rare acts of God they cannot avoid, they control and direct their circumstances to serve them, not vice versa. Rather than bouncing from one goal or direction to another, prudent men fix their lives in one steady course. They discipline all aspects of their lives toward their chosen goals. They carefully consider every part of life. They question, evaluate, and muse upon each choice they make to keep their overall objective before them and steady progress to it. Reader, where are you going? Ponder the path of your feet. Is getting older all you are doing? Is life happening to you, rather than you directing it? Your daily and weekly routines should have a solid purpose and noble objective. Or are you on a treadmill in a rut - not making any progress? Step back. Ponder the path of your feet. Examine yourself (II Cor 13:5). Consider your ways (Hag 1:5). Commune with your own heart (Ps 4:4). What does it mean to ponder? It means to weigh a matter mentally, to consider it carefully, to think about it, to muse over it, and to meditate upon it. Most are too busy with too much noise and activity to stop and think soberly about their lives. Instead of musing, they seek amusements - activities designed to stop all thinking. Instead of quiet time to reflect on their lives, they have radios in their cars, televisions in their homes, and cell phones in their pockets. "God is not in all his thoughts" (Ps 10:4). They do not know where they are going, why they are going in a certain direction, or the consequences of it. They are victims of circumstances rather than managers of them. But wisdom cries, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10). "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah" (Ps 4:4). "I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search" (Ps 77:6). "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him" (Hab 2:20). These are the activities of wise and holy men. It is the fool who lives without thinking, walks without meditating, and chooses his

path without pondering. Christians are called to walk circumspectly - examining their path from all angles! Only by this discipline can they understand and apply God's will to their lives (Eph 5:15-17). It is your duty to make straight paths for your feet (Heb 12:13). What should you ponder? Are you walking with God and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ? Are you bearing much spiritual fruit? Is your marriage what it should be? Do you have activities in your life that create temptation and lead to sin? Are you single minded for the kingdom of God? Do you live with eternity in view? If you were to die today, would Jesus Christ find you in the way of righteousness? Is your life leading toward the holy objective of pleasing Christ? Does your path on Sundays include a faithful church where all doctrine and practice matches the Scriptures? Are your priorities consistent with those Solomon lists in this book? Do you read, meditate, pray, and sing in private on a regular basis? Ponder the path of your feet. Father, have you pondered the path your wife and children are taking? It is your duty before God to lead, guide, and correct them into the right way of the fear of the Lord. The true measure of your duty and love is to prepare and perfect them to meet the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you helping them keep their feet in the pathway of righteousness? What keeps you from pondering the path of your feet? Whatever it is, it is not worth the danger of wandering out of the way of understanding and ending up in the congregation of the dead (Pr 21:16). See the comments on 21:16. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Pr 14:12; 16:25). And reader, if you do not ponder your ways, the LORD is pondering them, especially the sexual ones (Pr 5:21)! See the comments on 5:21. Do not neglect or forget this sacred duty to ponder your feet! The LORD, Jehovah and Jesus are His names, calls to you no less than to Abraham. "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect" (Gen 17:1). If you will answer this call, the LORD will send you visible and invisible teachers. "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Is 30:21). The psalmist said, "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies" (Ps 119:59). Reader, will you join the psalmist in this frequent duty of pondering your life? "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD" (Lam 3:40). Make it a part of your daily exercise in prayer (Ps 139:23-24). Your flesh, the world, and Satan will daily lay snares in the way. You will face many even today. They will seek to tempt and trap you in your thoughts, your speech, your relationships, your job, and everywhere else. It is your duty to consider your ways carefully and avoid those snares. It is your duty to turn away, quickly, from every

tempting and threatening situation (Pr 4:14-15; Rom 13:14; II Tim 2:22). After pondering the path of your feet, it is your duty to fix and secure all your ways in the fear of the Lord. How do you identify the fear of the Lord for your life? By the Holy Scriptures! They are the lamp for your feet and the light for your path (Ps 119:105). The sure rock of Christ's sayings must be the foundation of your house (Matt 7:24-27; II Pet 1:19-21). Establish - fix and settle permanently - all your ways in the Lord! And the grace of God is able to bless you toward this glorious life (I Pet 5:10; I Thess 3:12-13)! True disciples continue in the word of Christ (John 8:31). They are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, but rather continue in the faith grounded and settled (Col 1:23). And it is by this confident and established perseverance in the truth that we show we are the true brethren of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 3:6,14). Lord, keep us by your grace!

Proverbs 4:27
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Do not wander through life. Once you know where you should go, do not vary from that direction. Get away from every wrong or tempting thing. Set your eyes on pleasing God in each part of life, and do not be turned away by anything. Solomon earnestly told his son how to have a prosperous and successful life before God and men (Pr 4:20-27). The way of wisdom the road of righteousness the highway of holiness the path of purity leads straight forward (Pr 4:25-27). The warning is clear! Do not veer from the road into the swamp of sin on either side. And the remedy is clear! If you have already veered into the swamp, then jerk your foot out of the mess and leap back onto the road. The blessed God laid out a path for every saint to walk. It is clearly defined with bright markers and warning signs in the Bible (Ps 119:105). And He sent teachers to make sure you do not misread the roadmap. He promised they will help by saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left (Is 30:21). Solomon taught his son to keep his eyes looking only forward. He said, Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee (Pr 4:25). The world offers many enticements to leave the highway and venture into the swamp of lust and sin. The allurements and invitations are very deceiving and catchy. You cannot even look at them. He also told his son to carefully consider where he was walking, and to walk only where he had solid reasons to do so. He said, Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established (Pr 4:26). It is the duty of every Christian to prove

everything he does by the word of God and reject any contrary opinion or activity (Is 8:20; I Thess 5:21). Most men do not like a restrictive way of life (Mat 7:13). They want to do their own thing; they want to have it their way. They want to taste the pleasures of sin. The swamp billboards are too appealing! There are very few like Moses, who gave up great worldly advantages to stay on the road to heaven with the people of God (Heb 11:24-26). Most men resent sound doctrine and dogmatic preachers telling them what they should or should not do (II Tim 4:3-4). They want entertainers, who will tickle their ears with nice stories. They are tired of the strait and narrow way (Matt 7:14), so they find teachers that will lead them into the swamp of carnal Christianity (Is 30:8-11). There are many today and easy to find. Real preachers require a hard search, but the result will be worth the effort. Their beautiful feet and treasure will help you (Rom 10:15; II Cor 4:1-7). The LORD gave the word it is absolute and final. Variations are judged severely. Ask Cain, who thought God would like his clean offering (Gen 4:1-5). Ask Nadab and Abihu, who tried contemporary worship (Lev 10:1-2). Ask Moses, who thought smiting the rock was close enough (Num 20:7-13). Ask Saul, who pleased the people with an innovation in worship (I Sam 15:22-26). Ask David about moving the ark on a new ox cart (II Sam 6:1-9; I Chr 15:13-15). Ask Uzziah, who thought he had a ministry (II Chron 26:16-21). The LORD has already ruled regarding most aspects of your life. Do not even think about looking or turning any other way. Trust Him and His word! Reject your own thoughts (Pr 3:5-6). Love His commandments regarding all subjects, and hate any other opinion (Ps 119:128). Do not even think about adding something from the worlds religious practices (Deut 12:29-32). Remember that He counts the world and its friends His enemy (Jas 4:4). If you have already foolishly turned aside after the world and entered the swamp of sin, either in private habits or lusts or public worship, there is only one remedy. Repent! Get out of your sin and back on the road of righteousness now. Repent! Cut out your sinful habits. Repent! Leave your compromising church. Repent! Remove thy foot from evil. The LORD gave the word it is absolute and final. Variations are judged severely. But repentance can save you. Ask David, who was forgiven adultery and murder (II Sam 12:13). Ask Manasseh, who was forgiven the most heinous sins (II Chron 33:1213). Ask Nineveh, who saved their city from total destruction (Jonah 3:10). Ask the church at Corinth, who saved their lives and church by godly repentance (II Cor 7:911). The way of wisdom the road of righteousness is straight. Do not turn even a little. Do not modify Gods commands even a little. Do not think for a second a new millennium justifies a new look at Scripture. Do not listen to the clamor on all sides for more tolerance at innovations in doctrine and practice. Turn not to the right hand or to the left!

Proverb: 4 -1
Exodus 18 Instruction: 19 listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the peoples representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. Psalm 78:1 1O my people; hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter hidden things, things from of old Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Proverb: 8:10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, Proverb 8,32,33 32Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. 33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. 34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. Proverb 10:17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Proverb: 12:1 whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. Proverb 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. Proverb 22:19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you. Proverb 23:13 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Knowledge: 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Good Doctrine: Deuteronomy 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Proverbs 4:2 for I give you good doctrine, forsake not my law.

1 Timothy 4 6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. Proverb 4:4 Law in Heart: Prosperity After Turning to the Lord 1When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3then the Lord your God will restore your fortunesa and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. 5He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. 6The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. 7The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. 8You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, 10if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. Psalm 40:8 I delight to do your will, O my God: yea, your law is within my heart.

Proverb 4 1

Its Value, 1778 Exodus 18: 20- 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.

Psalm 78: 1 - 1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable Proverbs 6: 23 - 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life. Proverbs 8: 10- Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Proverbs 8: 33- 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 10: 17- 17 whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. Proverbs 12: 1- 1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns Proverbs 13: 1 -- 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19: 20 Proverbs 22: 19 Proverbs 23: 12 Proverbs 23: 19 Ecclesiastes 12: 11 Jeremiah 6: 8 Jeremiah 35: 13 1 Corinthians 12: 1 Colossians 3: 16- 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him A Help, 2022

Proverbs 2: 3- 5 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 3: 13 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding Proverbs 4: 1 1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight Proverbs 4: 5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Proverbs 4: 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life Proverbs 8: 5 5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense Proverbs 8: 10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold Proverbs 10: 14 14 The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near Proverbs 15: 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly Proverbs 19: 2 2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Proverbs 22: 17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge Proverbs 23: 23 - Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding

2 Peter 1: 5 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self- control, and self- control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Peter 3: 8 - 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance

PROVERBS 4
Proverbs 4:5-13 The World Wide Web I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. --Ecclesiastes 2:13 Brewster Kahle has a vision for the Internet. He dreams of universal access to all human knowledge. As Digital Librarian and Director and co-founder of Internet Archive, Kahle believes we have only begun to tap the vast potential of the Internet to change and improve our world. "My interest," he says, "is to build the great library. . . . It is now technically possible to live up to the dream of the Library of Alexandria." He's referring to a huge vault of writings in ancient Egypt that was said to house all the world's knowledge. But knowledge is not the same as wisdom. King Solomon was a man of vast knowledge (1Ki 4:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34). In his better moments, he used his God-given capacity to collect information and insight from every corner of life. In unguarded moments, however, he showed that all the knowledge in the world does not keep a person from missing the purpose of life (Ec 1:16, 17, 18). In spite of his knowledge, Solomon married many women, and when he was old he built altars to their gods (1Ki 11:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). His foolishness eventually led to his downfall. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. Don't get caught in a web of knowledge without true wisdom that comes from the fear of the Lord (Pr 1:7; 9:10). --Mart De Haan Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) True wisdom is in living Near Jesus every day; True wisdom is in walking Where He shall lead the way. --Anon.

Wisdom gives wings to knowledge Proverbs 4:1-13 Foolish Knowledge - Our Daily Bread Proverbs 4:1-13 A Dad Looks Back | Our Daily Bread Proverbs 4:5-13 The World Wide Web | Our Daily Bread Proverbs 4:7 First Things First During World War II, I served as an orthopedic technician in a hospital in England. One day we were cleaning up after putting casts on fractured limbs when I noticed some co-workers goofing off instead of helping. I didnt hesitate to show my displeasure. Such incidents are why I usually find myself saying a few words in defense of Martha whenever I preach on Luke 10:38, 39, 40, 41, 42. Youll recall that she was distracted with much serving (Lk 10:40), while her sister Mary did nothing but listen to Jesus. Its easy for me to see Marthas point of view. In Proverbs, more than a dozen verses rebuke the slothful. And when some first-century Christians quit working and started to freeload off others, Paul laid down the rule: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat (2Th 3:10). Our approach to work must be balanced. Proverbs 4:7 says, Wisdom is the principal thing. Martha could have said, Mary, dinner can wait. Ill join you in listening to Jesus before getting started in the kitchen. Work is vital. But we should not be so obsessed with it that it crowds out worship and spiritual instruction. Work hard, but keep first things first. Herbert Vander Lugt Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) For Further Study For more on this topic, read the online booklet Mary & Martha: Balancing Lifes Priorities Dont be so busy doing good that you neglect to do whats right. Proverbs 4:7a A series of cartoons in a New York newspaper depicted a young woman, garbed in cap and gown, holding a diploma with much pride. With her head held high she is looking down her nose at "Mr. World," while that cold, cruel cynic is saying, "Well, who do we have here?" Next, with shoulders thrown

back, the young lady replies, "Certainly you know who I am. I'm Cecelia Shakespeare Doaks, a graduate of Prestige College. I have my A.B." "My dear child," Mr. World says in reply, "come with me, and I'll teach you the rest of the alphabet!" Now, we certainly would not discourage the quest for learning, nor the desire to pursue an education to meet the demands and opportunities of life we would encourage it! But it's important to remember that there is more involved in a well-rounded education than the completion of some college courses. Four years of classroom instruction, even under the most competent teachers, doesn't make one all-wise. The "school of hard knocks" often makes a far greater impact than the "university of hard facts." Even with the best education and down-to-earth, practical experience, however, a man or woman really "knows" nothing apart from God. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9:10). Knowledge is the acquisition of facts. Wisdom is the ability to use this knowledge rightly. A person may acquire much knowledge, but without wisdom his acquired storehouse of facts will do him little good; in fact, it may even be spiritually harmful to him. Get an education? Yes, but also seek for that wisdom which is from above. James tells us, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God . . . and it shall be given him" (James 1:5-note). "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good life [behavior] his works with meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13). Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) A man may store his mind with facts, Till knowledge from it overflows, But lacking wisdom from Above, He's still a "fool" till Christ he knows.Bosch True wisdom consists principally of two parts: the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of ourselves! John Calvin Proverbs 4:10-27 The Path Of Wisdom | Our Daily Bread Proverbs 3:1-12 A Huge Difference | Our Daily Bread Proverbs 4:14-27 Smart Dad A hard-working single dad named William Jackson Smart was the inspiration for the creation of Father's Day. His wife died in 1898 while giving birth to their sixth child, and the Civil War veteran was left to raise the children alone in rural Washington. In May 1909, Smart's daughter, by then a married woman named Sonora Dodd, heard a sermon enumerating the virtues of motherhood. It was Mother's Day, a new American holiday that had begun the previous year. Sonora decided to honor her dad's dedication to his children by seeking to

have a Father's Day designated on the calendar. The day caught on, but it wasn't permanently established as an annual holiday in the US until 1972. What a vital role fathers can play in the home as they train their children to follow God's ways! Proverbs 4 gives these nuggets of wisdom that dads can pass on to their children: "Do not enter the path of the wicked" (Proverbs 4:14). "Keep your heart with all diligence" (Proverbs 4:23). "Put away from you a deceitful mouth" (Proverbs 4:24). And finally, "Remove your foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:27). We honor our godly fathers by obeying their instruction. And we should pray for all dads to recognize their God-given role of training in the home. Dave Branon Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) We're thankful for good fathers, Lord, They're special gifts from You; Help us to show we honor them By what we say and do. Sper Good fathers not only tell us how to livethey show us Proverbs 4:14-15 Watch Out For Pebbles My kids enjoy rollerblading. My 13-year-old son likes jumps, rails, and anything else he can do tricks on. But my daughters like long excursions on smooth paths. Straight-line blading has its hazards too, my daughter Julie explained to me. She said that when she blades, she stays alert for big obstacles ahead like a large rock or a limb on the path. But she said that most problems are caused by small pebbles she doesn't see while watching for the big objects. Then she made this observation: "It's like that in life. You keep watching for the big problems, but then a little one surprises you and causes trouble." She's right. Most of us are on the lookout for life's big difficultiesthe big sins. But we allow what might be considered a less serious problem to trip us up. An angry word, a dirty thought, a hateful feeling toward someonewe see these as small indiscretions. But to a holy God, all our sins are serious. Look at Uzza. He may have thought that touching the ark of God was a small infraction. But it wasn't, and he died instantly (1Chr 13:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). "Little sins" can cause us to fall down in our forward movement toward maturity. Sure, watch out for the big problems, but don't forget the pebbles. Dave Branon Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) It's "little" sins that trip us up

And cause an unexpected fall; That's why we need to stay alert To every sin, both large and small. Sper Little sins can add up to big trouble. Proverbs 4:14-27 Smart Dad | Our Daily Bread Proverbs 4:14-15 Watch Out For Pebbles | Our Daily Bread Proverbs 4:14-27a Sand In Your Shoes Imagine the obstacles a person would have to overcome to walk from New York City to San Francisco. A man who had accomplished this feat was asked about his biggest hurdle. He said that the toughest part of his trip wasn't walking up the mountains or crossing hot, dry, barren stretches of desert. "The thing that came the closest to defeating me," he admitted, "was the sand in my shoes." This reminds me of how we can be spiritually defeated by what begins as a little irritant. We let an unkind word, a small setback, or a misunderstanding get us down. Or we allow people around us to influence us in little but wrong ways. Instead of being determined to avoid evilbig or small (Pr 4:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27), we compromise. We neglect to go to the Lord for forgiveness and help. Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English explorer who had sailed around the world, was crossing the Thames River when a violent storm threatened to capsize his boat. He cried, "Shall I who have endured the storms of oceans be drowned in a ditch?" We would be wise to ask ourselves, "Shall I, who have come so far by faith, be defeated by 'sand in my shoes'?" We must answer with a resolute no! Richard De Haan Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Lord, grant us strength to overcome Life's greatest trials that we may meet; And grant it also when we face Those little trials that would defeat. D. De Haan We stumble over pebbles, not mountains Proverbs 4:18 Treadmill In bad weather I get my exercise on a treadmill. But it's so boring! When the odometer says I've walked a mile, I've actually gone nowhere.

Life without God is like being on a treadmill. Generations come and generations go (Eccl. 1:4). The sun rises and sets day after day, year after year (Eccl. 1:5). The wind follows a repetitive course as it blows and swirls over the earth (Eccl. 1:6). Rivers flow into the sea, but it is never full (Eccl. 1:7). Like these natural phenomena, life is always moving but never arriving, always encountering changes but never finding anything really new. Then comes death. People without God are without hope and know they will soon be forgotten. What a dismal prospect! How different for those who know God! Yes, they too sometimes experience routine, monotony, and difficulty, but instead of being on a treadmill they are on a journey. That's how Ernest Pike, an 83-year old friend of mine, viewed his life. Shortly before he died, he greeted me with a smile and said, "All my Christian life I've been preparing for heaven. Now I'm about to go there." You too can have that hope. Admit you are a sinner. Receive Jesus as your Savior. He'll transform your life from a monotonous treadmill into a meaningful journey. Herbert Vander Lugt Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) If we commit ourselves to Christ And follow in His way, He'll give us life that satisfies With purpose for each day. --Sper Life without Christ is a hopeless end; life with Christ is an endless hope. Proverbs 4:18a The light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily This may be referred to the work of God in the heart. He who commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. A little glimmering ray at first, Gods light in the soul grows ever from less to more, revealing Himself and manifesting ourselves, so that we are growingly attracted from the self-life to circle around Him. But probably it is true also of the graciousness of the believers life. At first it shows itself in little acts of blessing on children and the poor; but the range of influence is always apt to increase, till what was a glimmer of helpfulness becomes as the sun shining in strength. The Sunday-school teacher becomes the preacher; the visitor among the poor becomes the philanthropist; the witness to the Gospel in the factory is called to witness in the great theatre of the world. See to it that there is a steady obedience to Gods least promptings and monitions. Follow on to know the Lord, and to be conformed to his allwise purpose. Once again, notice the comparison in its exquisite beauty. Light is so gentle, noiseless, and tender. There is no sound; its voice is not heard. So is the

influence of the holy soul. Its life becomes the light of men. As with the angel over the plain of Bethlehem, it sheds a light around those whom it will presently address. Like the Gulf Stream, which changes our climate from northern rigour to the temperate zone, so a holy life gently and irresistibly influences and blesses the world. The world is no worse than it is, not because of the holy words spoken on the Lords Day, but for the holy lives of obscure saints. Proverbs 4:18 J R Miller Christian old age should be beautiful. It should have the mellowness of autumn, after the heat and toil of summer. Youth has its beauty, and so has manhood, but there is a loveliness in good old age which is more winning than aught in any other period of life. "There is a beauty Youth can never know, With all the lusty radiance of his prime, A beauty the sole heritage of time, That gilds the fabric with a sunset glow, That glorifies the work it soon lays low! There is a charm in age, well-nigh sublime That lends new lustre to the poet's rhyme, As mountain peaks are grander crowned with snow. How gay the laugh of Youth! But, oh, how brave The stately weakness of a reverend Age!" Proverbs 4:20-27 Spiritual Checkup Given a choice, Id probably not voluntarily visit my doctor for a physical exam. Im inclined to assume that everything is okay and not bother my doctor about it. But since my wife is a nurse, I dont have a choice. I go in for regular exams. And given a choice, many of us are a little afraid of spiritual checkups as well. After all, if we check our spirit too closely, we might have to change a habit or two. We might need something like an attitude-ectomy. I suggest that we get over our reluctance. With Gods guidance, lets undergo a spiritual checkup, using Proverbs 4:20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 as a checklist. Ears (Proverbs 4:20): Are we hearing Gods Word clearly and with understanding? Are we doing what those words tell us? Eyes (Proverbs 4:21,25): Are we keeping our eyes on the teachings that will guide us toward righteousness? Heart (Proverbs 4:23): Are we protecting our heart from evil?

Tongue (Proverbs 4:24): Is our mouth clean and pure? Feet (Proverbs 4:26): Are we walking straight toward Gods truth without wavering? How did you do on your examination? Are there areas where you need to take action? Regular checkups will help to restore your spiritual vitality. Dave Branon Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Create in me a clean heart, O God, Show me the way that Jesus has trod; Then I will tell of Your saving grace, Until the day when I see Your face. Hess A spiritual checkup is the key to spiritual health Proverbs 4:20-27a Healthcare For The Heart If you're over 40 years old, your heart has already beat more than 1.5 billion times. I know that when my heart stops, it will be too late to change my ways. So I've been trying to control my weight, get exercise, and watch not only what I eat but also what's eating me. This last point relates to another vital organ called "the heart"our spiritual heart. It too has throbbed millions of times with thoughts, affections, and choices. In the heart we determine how we will speak, behave, and respond to life's circumstances (Proverbs 4:23). Will we trust the Lord and choose to be gracious, patient, and loving? Or will we yield to pride, greed, and bitterness? Today's Scripture reading emphasizes the importance of caring for our heart. Are we keeping spiritually fit? Weight: Do we need to lose the weight of unnecessary burdens and cares? Pulse: Are we maintaining a steady rhythm of gratitude and praise? Blood pressure: Is our trust greater than our anxiety? Diet: Are we enjoying the life-giving nutrients of the Word of God?

Have you checked your heart lately?Mart De Haan Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) O Lord, You see what's in the heart There's nothing hid from You; So help us live the kind of life That's filled with love for You. D. De Haan

To keep spiritually fit, consult the Great Physician See In Depth Study on Proverbs 4:23 Proverbs 4:23 Spiritual Heart Care - Our Daily Bread Proverbs 4:23,26 The Cost Of Neglect | Our Daily Bread

Proverbs 4:23 Care Of The Heart My father-in-law took a rocky, barren hilltop in Texas and transformed it into a beautiful homesite with a shaded green lawn. After removing thousands of rocks, he added topsoil, planted trees and grass, and kept it watered. Since his death, it has lacked his consistent care. Today when I visit and work around that house, battling the invading thistles, thorns, and weeds, I ponder the state of my own heart. Am I like that neglected yard, or perhaps the field and vineyard described in Proverbs 24overgrown with thorns, covered with nettles, its stone wall broken down? (Pr 24:31). The owner is lazy and lacks understanding (Pr 24:30), perhaps putting off todays tasks for a more convenient time. Along with the practical instruction about diligence in work, I find an application for the care of my soul. The thistles of self-interest grow naturally within me, while the fruit that pleases God requires constant weeding and watering through prayer, confession, and obedience to the Lord. Without these, the soil of my heart will become choked with the thorns of trivial pursuits and greed. Keep your heart with all diligence, Solomon wrote, for out of it spring the issues of life (Pr 4:23). That requires constant care. David C. McCasland Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) One little sin, what harm can it do? Give it free reign and soon there are two. Then sinful deeds and habits ensue Guard well your thoughts, lest they control you. DJD The garden of our heart needs constant weeding and care. See In Depth Study on Proverbs 4:23 Proverbs 4:23a THE FORTRESS OF THE HEART F. B. Meyer. Our Daily Walk

IN MOST of the old castles there is an inner keep, which is protected, not only by mighty walls and bastions, but by the portcullis at the gate, and sentries at every approach, who challenged every one that passed in and out. So the heart is continually approached by good and evil, by the frivolities and vanities of the world and the insidious suggestions of the flesh. It is like an inn or hostelry, with constant arrivals and departures. Passengers throng in and out, some of them with evil intent, hoping to find conspirators, or to light fires that will spread until the whole being is swept with passion, consuming in an hour the fabric of years to ashes. We need, therefore, to be constantly on the watch; we must keep our heart above all else that we guard, for out of it are the issues of life (R.V. marg.). Our Lord says that "out of the heart of man come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts," etc. The devil and the world without would be less to be feared, if there were not such strong tendencies to evil within--many of them inherited from long lines of ancestors, who, alas! pass down to us the worst features of their characters equally with the best. Keep it Clean. Just as the eye of the body is perpetually washed with tearwater, so let us ask that the precious blood of Christ may cleanse away any speck of impurity. Remember how delicate a thing the heart is, and how susceptible to the dust of an evil thought, which would instantly prevent it becoming the organ of spiritual vision. Sursum Corda! Lift up your hearts! We lift them up unto the Lord! The Sentinel of Peace. Then the Peace of God will become the warden or sentry of the heart, and it passeth understanding! We can understand the apparent peace of some men. They have made money, and their gold-bags are piled around them as a fortress; they have rich and influential friends, within whose protection they imagine they will be sheltered and defended; they enjoy good health, and are held in high esteem. We can understand such peace, though it often proves ephemeral! But there is a peace that passeth understanding! It is to this that our Lord refers when He says, "My Peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth." "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." PRAYER - Keep me, Heavenly Father, as the apple of Thine eye; defend me by Thine Almighty power; hide me from this strife of tongues and the fiery darts of the wicked one. May my heart be as the palace which the Stronger than the strong man keeps in perfect peace. AMEN. Proverbs 4:23b SELF-WATCH! F. B. Meyer. Our Daily Walk SAID PETER to our Lord, "Spare Thyself this death of which Thou speakest-this bitter suffering and anguish shall never be Thine!"

These words are continually spoken still, and many are the voices that bid us spare ourselves--the voices of our friends who love us; the voices of prudence and worldly wisdom; the voices of our own wayward hearts. Do not spare your judgment of yourself. Never permit yourself to do things which you would be the first to condemn in others. Never suppose that there are reasons for you to do a wrong, which, under no circumstances would you tolerate in your neighbour. Do not spare yourself in confessing your sins and mistakes. Confession is one of the tests of nobility. Not a few are willing to confess to God, who never attempt to confess to men. It is a serious question whether that sorrow for sin is genuine and deep enough which does not lead the offender to ask his fellow-man for pardon, even as he asks his God. Nothing could be clearer than Christ's words, that whenever we remember that our brother has aught against us, we are to leave our gift at the altar, and go first to seek reconciliation with him, before we offer our sacrifice to God. The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater but in the smaller incidents of our character and practice; not what we are when standing in the searchlight of public scrutiny, but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes; not what we are when some clarion-call rings through the air, summoning us to fight for life and liberty, but our attitude when we are called to sentry-duty in the grey morning, when the watch-fire is burning low. It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by dally inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin. You cannot really help people without expending yourself. The only work that tells must cost you something. Gold, silver, and precious stones can never be built into the new Jerusalem unless you are willing to part with them from the stores of your own life. PRAYER - Most loving Father, may love fill and rule my heart. For then there will spring up and be cherished between Thee and me a likeness of character, and union of will, so that I may choose and refuse what Thou dost. AMEN. Proverbs 4:23c SPIRITUAL HEART CARE You're up at the crack of dawn, doing your exercises. You're not going to let your heart get weak! You've trimmed the fat from your diet. You get regular cholesterol checks. And you're exercising four times a week to keep your cardiovascular system in peak condition. But you've let your spiritual heart turn to mush. Preoccupied with the temporary, you've neglected the eternal. You seldom read the Bible anymore. Your prayers are lists of requests to God to make your life more comfortable and pain-free. By the time you reach the church door after the sermon, you can't recall what the pastor said because you were thinking about something else.

If this describes you, it's time to get into a spiritual heart-care program. It begins where David (a man after God's own heart) was in Psalm 139 -- by acknowledging that God knows all about your heart. It continues in Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God." And it results in the prayer of Psalm 19:14, "Let...the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord." Taking care of your body makes sense, but it makes even more sense to gain spiritual fitness by walking with the Lord. That's an exercise program with eternal value!-- David C. Egner Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Dear Jesus, take my heart and hand, And grant me this, I pray: That I through Your sweet love may grow More like You day by day.-- Garrison To keep spiritually fit, keep walking with the Lord. Proverbs 4:23d HEALTH CARE FOR THE HEART Being over 40 years old, my heart has already beat more than 1.5 billion times. When my heart stops, it will be too late to change my ways. So I've lost some weight, gotten more exercise, and begun watching not only what I eat but also what's eating me. This last point relates to another vital organ called "the heart" -- our spiritual heart. It too has throbbed millions of times with thoughts, affections, and choices. In the heart we determine how we will speak, behave, and respond to circumstances (Prov. 4:23). Will we trust the Lord and choose to be gracious, patient, and loving? Or will we yield to pride, greed, and bitterness? Today's Scripture reading emphasizes the importance of caring for our heart. Are we keeping spiritually fit? Weight: Do we need to lose the weight of unnecessary burdens and cares? Pulse: Are we maintaining a steady rhythm of gratitude and praise? Blood pressure: Is our trust greater than our anxiety? Diet: Are we enjoying the life-giving nutrients of the Word of God? Have you checked your heart lately? Martin R. De Haan II Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) O Lord, You see what's in the heart--

There's nothing hid from You; So help us live the kind of life That's filled with love for You.--DJD To keep spiritually fit, consult with the great physician. Proverbs 4:23 J R Miller Every one carries in himself the elements of his own happiness or wretchedness. It is the heart that gives color to our skies and tone to the music we hear. A badly kept heart makes pain for the life. A well-lived life stores away memories which make celestial music to cheer the declining years. Norman McLeod said: "Nothing makes a man so contented as an experience gathered from a well-watched past." We can insure full happiness only by living no day whose memory will make us ashamed or give us pain, when we sit in the eventide and recall it. The time to secure a "well-watched past" is while the early days of life are fleeting. We never can change any yesterday. An unholy life yields a harvest of wretchedness in old age. But a life of obedience to God, of faithfulness to duty, of personal purity and uprightness, and of unselfish, Christ-like service, will make old age like a garden of fruit and flowers. Proverbs 4:20-27b Hostile Heart Beware the hostile heart. That's the warning of Dr. Redford Williams from Duke University's Behavioral Medicine Research Center. He has been saying for years that having a hostile personality can kill us--most often by heart disease but also by injuries and accidents. Anger speeds the heart rate, raises blood pressure, and disrupts the coronary arteries. Some indicators of a hostile heart are impatience with delays, mistrust of coworkers, annoyance with the habits of family members or friends, and a persistent need to have the last word in arguments or to get even when wronged. In Proverbs 4, a wise father urged his son to listen closely to his words. He said, "They are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (vv.22-23). Our wise heavenly Father issues the same call to us about His life-giving words recorded for us in the Bible. The transformation of a hostile heart begins as we listen to God, meditate on His Word, and allow Him to alter our behavior and speech. It's a prescription I need to follow today. How about you? David C. McCasland Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

I want my heart to be in tune with God, In every stage of life may it ring true; I want my thoughts and words to honor Him, To lift Him up in everything I do. --Hess Let God's Word fill your mind, rule your heart, and guide your tongue. Proverbs 4:23e Dean O'Bryan Guard Duty - Click Full Sermon Imagine a mountain village sitting at a high elevation. The little village is situated such that its water resources are very limited. Aside from collected rain water, it has only one source -- a sparkling clear, spring-fed lake just up from the village. Every person and animal in the village gets drinking water from that lake. Water for cooking, washing, crops -- and every other need, comes from that single source. Theres no where else to get the life-sustaining substance. Because its the lone source, that spring-fed pool is essential and valuable. Every attempt is therefore made to protect it from any kind of pollution -because of the significant impact the pollution would be so significant to everyone. The Bible describes your heart in a similar way. It informs us that the heart is a critical center of life which touches and impacts all we are and all we do... Somebody wrote this: heart worship, heart love and heart obedience are far more difficult to recognize than the outward forms and duties of religion, because they are unseen, unrecognized and unrewarded of men. Not only is heart work difficult, it is constant. Proverbs 4:23, 26 The Cost Of Neglect I read about a Detroit man who couldn't find his house. He had gone to the right address but all he found was an empty lot. Completely baffled, he asked the Detroit Free Press to help him figure out what was going on. A newspaper reporter learned that not only was the house gone, but the deed to the empty lot was in someone else's name. What had happened? For one thing, a few years had passed since the homeowner had left the city without providing a forwarding address. In addition, he had failed to make arrangements for someone to keep the property in repair. So the house was torn down because a city ordinance called for the removal of neighborhood eyesores. The homeowner's neglect illustrates the practical truth of Proverbs 24:30-34. Neglect leads to loss. This principle also applies to our daily walk with God. If we neglect our times of prayer and fellowship with the Lord, our relationship

with Him will deteriorate and we will no longer experience His favor. We would never want that to happen, but we allow it when we become preoccupied with anything that comes between us and Christ. We need to establish priorities that honor God. Then we'll avoid the loss that comes from neglect. Mart De Haan Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Unless we're occupied with Jesus And seek to do His will each day, We're sure to know the loss and sorrow That comes when we neglect His way. Anon. If you shirk today's tasks, you increase tomorrow's burdens