Walking in wisdom
I neglected to add another book, or two, to that previous list of change-your-way-of-doing-life books I’ve been reading. Late last year I went to a Christmas event and the lady speaking (I’m not sure if she’d like it on the internet so I will let her remain nameless) gave a little bible talk and in it mentioned that she and her husband read the book of Proverbs every month, a chapter a day (with there being 31 chapters they get through it, more or less, each month). This lady and her husband are folks who, as far as I have had opportunity to observe, have walked through innumerable difficult situations with wisdom and grace, and been a balm to many a hurting soul and a quenching rain on many a hissing fire. Consequently, I thought that reading Proverbs every month sounded like a good idea. So I have been doing that this January. A couple of weeks ago I was in our local Christian books shop to get two birthday gifts and I unintentionally (at least I hadn’t intended buying something for myself when I went in there) left with Tim and Kathy Keller’s latest devotion, because it happened to be on the book of Proverbs (it’s called The Way of Wisdom), so I have been using that too. Lord knows I could grow in wisdom. Devotions based on small pieces of the bible can be a curious beast, but there have been some gems so far from the Kellers. Here’s a little from January 22. They are commenting on that famous verse in Chapter 3, vs 5:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Then it’s classic Keller in pointing out the problems that arise from idolatry, but after discussing how we can put our functional trust in things other than God, it says this:
What does this have to do with wisdom? Everything. There are excessive emotions surrounding things you make the functional trust of your heart, whether it’s your career, wealth, spouse, children, or some romantic relationship. You will be inordinately shaken, anxious, angry, or despondent if anything threatens them. They cloud your judgment, distort your vision of yourself and the world. Idolatries of the heart lead to foolishness in the life. The ultimate remedy for idolatry is the gospel. We won’t need to justify ourselves by works – by success or romance or achievement – if we are freely justified by faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-24).
I have read the like, and probably posted it too, before, but need that reminder at the start of every year.