Proverbs 2:1

The last blog was designed to be one to encourage each of us to be mining the treasures of the Word of God with due diligence.  It is very common for us to see or hear the Word of God approached much like it was in that blog.  It is fine to do so but there is a significant difference between writing a motivational devotional using a text and a study of the text.  When we look into the differences between these two you might think that what you are commonly hearing from the pulpit in the 21^st Century is primarily motivation devotionals.  It seems that as I visit churches I am not hearing as much of the expositional form of preaching as I once did.  Oh, it is being called expositional, but when the difference is understood these sorts of motivational devotionals will begin to seem more like a snack than a real meal.

What the previous blog did was illustrate a motivational devotional.  There was nothing inherently wrong with it but it was not the sort of thing that left you full and energized for very long.  It could be compared to the pep talk a coach gives before a game or the pep rally that was so common on Friday afternoons at the end of the school day in high school.  They are meant to get us excited and often do.  But the pep rally doesn’t win the game.  It was the hard work of the players, the skills that they had worked on all week, and the coach’s knowledge of the game that could account for the victory that we experienced.

So how differently can we approach Proverbs Chapter 2?

An over all reading will give us the sense that there is an outcome that is to be gained from a proper response to wisdoms appeal.  I’ve entitled my outline of Proverbs 2 as:

STABILITY RESULTING FROM

A RIGHT RESPONSE TO WISDOM’S APPEAL.

The opening appeal utilizes the simple qualifier “if” letting us know that there is a condition to be met.  “If you will receive my words” (vs. 1).  Over and over we need to be reminded that the New Testament parallel to Proverbs is the book of James. James 1:22 tells us to “be doers of the word and not merely hearers only, deluding ourselves.” Receiving God’s instruction from throughout Scripture always requires a response.  Each time we read or hear the Word of God we have a response.   We either respond with a “yes” or a “no”.  We are either willing recipients or stubborn rejecters.  It is easy to be a rejecter and still be so self deluded that we are convinced that we are obedient servants.  It is quite common to listen to Biblical advice, be excited about what we should do, but then seek out other “advisors” that will give us a reason not to follow sound wisdom.  Usually they are a peer that has about the same perspective on life as we do and not an older wiser brother.  Often and wise teacher of the Word will share some truth with us and we feel as if we are in agreement only to find that we have subtly subverted the truth by acting on a contrary advise.  Why do we do such a thing?  The Scripture illustrates this well in the garden.  Adam and Eve had a “better idea”, and look where it got them.  It always comes back to our pride.  We want to be in control of “our” universe and place ourselves in the place of God.  As silly as it may sound to think we can take over Gods role as sovereign of the universe, it is exactly what we do more often than not. 

Repentance is the call of the day.  I need to repent, we need to repent, everyone needs to repent and let God be God.  Who owns the universe?  Who created it?  Who sustains it?  Did I invent money?  Did I invent my brain?  Am I master of my destiny?  Until we repent of our proud, self-centered approach to everything and repentance becomes a way of life we will struggle with who is lord.  I may say Christ is Lord, but act in ways that says I am.  Who is the “I AM”?  Not me!

Proverbs 6:23 says, “The commandment is a lamp and teaching a light and reproofs for discipline are the way of life”.  Not “a” way of life but “the” way of life.  God’s ways are right.  My ways are wrong.  “Lord You are right and I am wrong! Please forgive me. “

So, as we consider the difference between a motivational devotional and really digging into the Word what can you discern?  The answer should be clear.  Motivational devotionals are OK, but OK is weak when compared to a thorough look at the Scripture.  A motivational devotional may seem to cover a dozen verses but exposition will give us feast from one word or one verse.  If you are a student of the Word or a teacher of the Word my appeal to you is: dig. Dig out the precious treasure that we all need so desperately.  The church is becoming anemic from a diet of fast food motivational devotionals.  Prepare a table before those in your charge just as God has. Awaken to the Word and the Word Giver!

What A Joy To Know Christ As Lord!!!