Monday, March 24, 2014

“SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 24:13-14”


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Cultivate Godly Attitudes: Blessings Not Loss: Proverbs 24:13-14
13) My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:
14) So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.


Solomon now shares with us teachings on the need to cultivate Godly attitudes…

EXPOSITION:
Solomon points our attention to a very important truth… faithfulness to the Lord now, secures future blessings for us.

13) My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:
Solomon, out of love and concern for his students, now teaches us to:
1.  devour honey because it is beneficial and pleasing
2.  devour the honeycomb  because it tastes pleasant to the palate

Many times, we have a tendency to only “live for the moment” without regard for the long term results of our actions.  Solomon reminds us that we are to apply those things that not only give us pleasure, but also long term benefit for our lives.  These are the things that we are to dedicate our lives to obtaining and applying.

Christ, at His first coming, set the perfect example of this principle for us to follow…

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.   Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.  For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.   (Isaiah 7:14-16)


14) So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Solomon now directs us to God’s Word as the ultimate source of current pleasure, as well as long term benefit…  
1.  the practical application of God’s Word to our lives holds lasting benefits for our physical life
2.  when we have come to possess wisdom, we will receive a temporal reward of God’s blessings.  His wisdom will also continue to reap blessings for us into eternity.

The obtaining of wisdom (the proper application of God’s Word to our lives) is of utmost benefit for the child of God, both now and into eternity.  Now, because it will assure our Godly service to Christ, while into eternity it will reap many rewards and blessings for us.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.   (James 1:23-25)



SUMMARY:
One of the greatest motivating forces that will dictate our life that is lived on this earth, should be the consideration of the future results to our current actions.  We should always strive to do today what will reap future spiritual benefits for us. 

A Christian should NEVER simply “live for the moment” without regard for future results of our lifestyle and individual actions.

May we all possess Godly wisdom and live our lives for Him.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.



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