Palace of wisdom: God's mobile home

It has been said that all roads lead to the palace of wisdom. This may be true ... but nobody has ever finished walking the path. One might say that Jesus started there, and the rest of us make our meandering ways trying to get there. One might even say that Solomon was given a road map to there, as well as the keys to the palace. Unfortunately, Solomon also decided he liked the environments surrounding the palace more than the palace itself and eventually chose not to dwell there. I have not heard that God gave those keys to any other human.

Another approach to wisdom it to evaluate what associates itself with wisdom. In so doing, by having more of those things, wisdom itself will be more likely to be present. From scripture, it seems that wisdom is not understanding itself, but is often paired up with it. This suggests that wisdom is the knowledge upon which understand is built. In other words, wisdom might be defined as the right knowing of something. This complements the understanding nicely - you might know what you are supposed to do but never discern why.

Because wisdom concerns itself more with the realities of God's will for your life, even a cursory look at where wisdom shows up will be rewarding. We might concern ourselves with how one might acquire wisdom. Scripture reveals the simplest manner of acquiring wisdom is to petition God for it. There are other ways, to be certain, but the simplest and most direct way to gain wisdom is to ask God. Clearly, this does not mean you will be given the information in your own time - but it gives you an explicit application of the relationship with Jesus and a means by which He can be glorified!

Another approach is found in Philippians chapter four. In this chapter, we are given a list of components to edifying thought-life. The list offers constructive boundaries for determining whether your own thought-life is aligned with God's intent for your thought-life and offers a simple means of gauging often your own thoughts are leading you away from God.

[Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.]

I posit that, although these components are not an explicit means of obtaining and being guided by wisdom, your actions will likely reflect wisdom by dwelling on these things. Add in a few gallons of steady prayer and your life will never be the same!

Call to action
Listen to your thoughts
Today, keep a journal with you. Write down whatever pops in your head, particularly anything upon which you spend more than a moment.

Pray about your thoughts
Ask God to reveal to you which of your daily jottings correspond to which of the points from the fourth chapter of Philippians. Also, ask him for guidance in the areas revealed by those thoughts that have little or no association with the points from the fourth chapter of Philippians.

Offer your thoughts
There will be a point, if you ever consider your thoughts in this manner again, that you will realize that God's plan for even your thought-life is better than your own. In that moment, please consider offering every thought to God. Know that each of us could be more aligned with God's plan for our lives if we would keep every thought captive. A way to do this is to gauge their worth and value by the standard offered in Philippians.

Let none fall

In third chapter of the first book of Samuel, Samuel is first visited by God. Now it was an expected thing to readers of this testament - he had been prayed over, been offered (by his mother!) for the purpose, and had been growing in acceptance, presumably because he was prudent - all signs that God's hand was in his life. If I may, I would like to draw your attention to the nineteenth verse, where it says "And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground."

Consider this - several things are happening in this single verse.

"Samuel grew ...."

It does not say he is aging, or maturing, or gaining knowledge, so we do not, at first clause, know in what manner he is growing. Likely, though it refers to all three - this is validated in the following verse, where it indicates he was established to be a prophet of the Lord. This likely was a blow to Eli, but Eli had been prepared to some degree, and God had already told Eli some of what was soon to happen, and this was complemented by what God told Samuel - in particular, that no matter the sacrifice or offering, Eli's house would not be cleansed of the sin that he and his sons had engaged in.

"... the LORD was with him ..."

This is amazing in and of itself, and in this day and age would be considered an immense blessing. During the time of the writing, it was far more rare - the word of the Lord was precious in those days. Consider a world where the Holy Bible, the anointed Word of the Lord, was not a collected work, not in a single tome, but still split asunder. Consider how amazing it is that anyone would fear the Lord without the infrastructure we normally associate with Godly families and the church. Then consider that God was with Samuel while he was growing up. Samuel must have had miracles follow him, and likely prepared him to be the prophet for the Lord that he soon would be.

"... [Samuel] did let none of his words fall to the ground."

It is this part of the verse that struck me, something that hit me home, and something that I note for all of us. How many of you who read these words have been prophesied over, have had a word of knowledge about the future in any way, or (at the very least) have had an inkling from God how your life will unfold? Have you put any active thoughts into it? Samuel did. Samuel put into action and realization the guidance God was giving him. We do not know exactly what he did, but we know that Samuel was growing, that the Lord was with him, and that Samuel let none of his words fall to the ground. Would you have been that faithful?

Call to action:

Spend some time in prayer, whether by reading scripture or silent reverie or whatever God has called you to in that regard, and seek God's guidance on some matter. It may come from the Bible, it may come from a license plate, it may come from some accidental utterance on behalf of a co-worker.

Listen for God. He will take as long as He needs to and will speak. This part of it is often more difficult than any other, as it calls for an active inactivity - to be seeking God's voice without doing anything to achieve the connection. Now you can inhibit your connection, but the point here is that you are trusting God to provide the means and connection, but being open for its establishment.

Keep Him in your heart. There will be a point where you have some awareness that God has spoken to you. It also often comes with some guidance, or at least a word of knowledge. If you do not have peace, go back a step and listen for God again. He can and does work miracles, so how He will handle that is up to Him. I have experienced Him not talking for a few seconds or minutes, waiting to see if I were faithful, sometimes hours as well. Regardless, wait upon God.

If you DO have peace about this word of knowledge, this connection with God, then act on it. Store it in your heart. Plan on it coming to pass and let none of the words of the Lord fall to the ground.

May your life never be the same.

A Royal Downline

Moabites were a pagan people in Biblical times. They followed their own gods and were not Israelites, yet when the two sons of Elimelech found themselves living in the land of Moab with a newly-dead father, they married Moabite women.

For about ten years, everything was fine. The two men and their widowed mother lived in Moab until they, too, died leaving no children. It was at this point that the mother decided it was time to go back to the land of Judah, pointing out to her daughters-in-law that she had nothing to give them – no more sons to raise up children to her dead sons’ names, no husband, nothing.

One of the women, though distressed, left to return to her people and her religion while the other insisted on going with her mother-in-law. “Whither thou goest, I will go;” she said.

This simple step of faith and dedication launched Ruth on the path to greatness. Her obedience and submissiveness to her mother-in-law opened the doors to a future I’m sure she never imagined. Not only did Ruth and Naomi end up living off the gleanings from Boaz’ field, but he “just happened” to be a near kinsman and therefore entitled to marry Ruth and raise up seed to Naomi’s sons.

Ruth listened to Naomi’s advice time after time, even though it seemed at times to be inappropriate or questionable. God blessed Ruth’s quiet submission and obedience by giving her, not just a husband and future, but a place of honor in the lineage of Jesus – one of three women mentioned.

Jesus was born of the line of David, but without Ruth, there would never have been a David. If she had decided to do her own thing instead of waiting on God’s timing, the chances are that she would never have met Boaz, let alone marry him.

She was strong in a quiet way, supportive, faithful, and loyal. Nothing she did seemed remarkable, yet her choices to do right did not go unnoticed or unrewarded. With faith, she worked and obeyed… towards a reward which had never entered her head.

Hope Deferred...

Oh Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
For my soul is full of troubles...
…I am as a man that hath no strength:
Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me… I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
I am afflicted… while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Reaching out to me from the intense beauty of the Psalms, I found someone had already experienced and eloquently expressed my state of being.

The day I actually read this reading, this Psalm and verse from Proverbs didn’t strike me as hard as they did today… when I went back to write up what I had taken away from that day’s reading.

Today, this reading meant so much more.

I was up very early this morning; up and driving some people to the airport. The drive back from the airport was lonely and very quiet… not much traffic and a gentle rain. What better use for this time than to pray. As I started praying, I was struck by the weariness with which the words left my mouth as I prayed them. Part of me was concerned I didn’t really mean what I was saying, yet I knew the fervency of my heart was true – just didn’t sound that way.

Time passed and with its passing, my prayers became more intense… not in volume of tone or in energy of speech, but in the sheer fervency with which my heart communed with God. Tears flowed down my face as I beseeched Him for solutions, for mercy, for intervention.

Later, as I opened my Bible to catch up on my journaling, I realized that God had taken me to a very special spot… April 19. I realized that not only was this the anniversary of my Grandma’s death, but it also contained a perfect prayer for me within Psalm 88. Combine that with the verse the Lord has given me day by day for about two years now (Proverbs 13:12), and I realized the Lord had heard my cries and my prayers.

It’s not easy waiting and it’s not always easy to have faith and hope… but I know it will be worth it in the end. If I can have a little strength, can keep the faith, and not deny His name, I know I will be able to walk through that door which He has opened; that door no one can shut.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes… oh… what a tree of life!!

A Few Pithy Observations

There can be no more beautiful phrase then that which Jesus uttered and which Luke dutifully recorded in the nineteenth chapter of his Gospel – “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

In one brief sentence, Jesus summed up his entire reason for being on earth; his mission was to look for, to find, and to save the lost. No wonder he spent so much time with sinners and unwanted persons. Throughout his ministry, Jesus was called to task time and time again by the Pharisees, the Saducees, and the Biblically-literate elite. And for what cause? Because he repeatedly violated the letter of the law in eating with sinners and tax collectors and prostitutes, in healing the sick and diseased and demon-possessed on the Sabbath, in not washing his hands before eating to make a point.

All these “violations” were, in fact, Jesus’ way to make his point… he had come to seek and to save that which was lost and the only way to do that was to put aside the legalism of the day and show them what true love and forgiveness was.

***

A friend pointed something disturbing (and something I’ve NEVER seen before) in a parable Jesus told about pounds.

Essentially, a nobleman decided to go away to claim a kingdom. Before he left, he charged ten of his servants to occupy until he returned, giving each ten pounds. Apparently, the citizens of his new kingdom didn’t care too much for this nobleman and sent a message letting him know they would not have him reign over them.

After the nobleman returned, having secured his kingdom, he called his servants to see how much they had gained by trading. The first one had gained ten pounds on the one and the nobleman put him in charge of ten cities with deepest thanks because he had been faithful in a little. The second servant had gained five pounds and the nobleman put him in charge of five cities. When the third servant approached, he returned the original pound wrapped up in a napkin and accompanied by protestations of fear of the nobleman.

The nobleman takes the pound away from that servant and gave it to the one who had ten, not heeding the protestations of others who pointed out that the guy already had ten pounds.

The tragic part of this parable – the part I’d never seen before – relates to the remaining servants. What happened to them? There were seven more, yet they are not even given a passing nod or mention. I’m not sure what happened to them, but it is tragic that they are never mentioned again, having fallen out during the wait.

***

God does not condemn increase of wealth. As a matter of fact, He encourages it throughout the Bible. It should be noted that the increase of wealth God encourages must have the correct reason for being gathered and that the heart of the gatherer must be to-Godward.

In Proverbs 13, the point is made that wealth accumulated by vanity or non-meaningful ways will be diminished, but it is the gathering made by one who labors that will increase.

God blesses labor and honest work of man’s hands and brings to nought and confounds the vain increase of those whose hearts are not right toward Him.

Do you want to be in that number?

In Like 19, we have the parable of the pounds - wherein a certain nobleman gives ten servants a pound each, leaves for a time, and returns to investigate his servants. Three servants are shown, one has turned his pound into ten, one has turned his pound into five, and one has turned his pound into one - has in fact hidden the pound away out of fear. Each servant was rewarded based upon what they were able to do with their respective pound, the first being given ten cities to be over, the second being given five, and the third was given none, and the first was told to take away the pound that the third had been given.

I have always understood it to mean that we must be a faithful steward of the resources under our control. I was tying it into the parable of the talents, as well as the parable of the 10 virgins - each of which have spoken to me about being mindful of our responsibilities and being prepared to ready instead of just being ready.

I took another at the parable of the pounds - there were TEN servants, each given a pound, and only three showed up when the nobleman came back. I always discounted this as Jesus being efficient, as the ten-five-one were effectively three "edifying" ways of responding to their shared commission. This never satisfied me, and I never saw why until today - what about the other seven? What did the other seven do and what did the nobleman say to them?

I believe this is actually revealed in Luke 19 as well and they are alluded to in versus 14 and 27 - his citizens hated him (14) and he calls that his enemies (which he defines as those which would not that he should reign over them be brought hither to be slain). There are, then, FOUR categories.

• The faithful, who when given a single pound are able to do much with it, and are given much in return.


• The seekers, who when given a single pound bear fruit - they are not as focused on the will of God but are still doing mighty things.


• The believers, who when given a single pound bear no fruit, focus only on the manifestation, and not the will of God.


• The others, who when given a single pound bear no fruit, lose or waste the fruit they have, and are called to be slain.

By proportion, this is a 70% attrition rate, and if we see these as representatives of the human population, this equates to:

• 70% not accepting the gospel of Christ at all, and are actually hateful toward Jesus


• 10% accepting the gospel of Christ and, through distraction, bear no fruit


• 10% accept the gospel, do some good works, and are blessed for it


• 10% accept the gospel, daily die to self, and claim the greatest blessing

So today’s call to action is simple:

1. Ask yourself which you number yourself among. Pray and be as objective as possible.


2. Ask yourself which number you wish to be among. Also pray and be objective.
   Clearly, as a believer, we are called to be among the top 10% of believers, but we have a wide proportion available - and God's grace is great.


3. Pray for a change of heart to line up more literally, fully, explicitly, and abundantly with God's will for your life so that can be a perpetual witness of God's love AND so that you can be among the number to claim those ten pounds!

anti-idolatrous constitution

We are called, each of us, to have no idols, that is, to serve no god but Jesus. This is a given for every believer, and it comes directly from our constitution, as defined by Moses' stone tablets. In short, our attention is called to be drawn only to God.

I believe the most ironic thing about the remainder of the commandments is simply that, were we to take the anti-idolatry commandment to heart, and put it into literal practice, most of the other commandments wouldn't need to be included.

On a related note, I have found a simple definition of worship that I think will tie in nicely to both idolatry as well as faithfulness. In short, worship is to have a focus, and to attend to that focus. We can say that one's idol (or God) is the focus and attention to that focus is faithfulness.

Applications of idolatry, then, can include the fanaticism of popular music and sports, hearkening to other literal gods and goddesses, and many kinds of abstractions, to include overly focusing on one's family. Clearly, the more abstract an idolatrous relationship is, the harder it is to detect, and yet the idolatry itself is merely an indicator - which you've chosen, on some level, to fall away from God.

So my challenge to you is simple and has two parts:

(I) Answer this question:

What would your perfect day be?

Put some serious thought into the question and answer it as clearly and completely as you can. The goal here is to paint the picture with as many details as possible.
When you are done, take an objective look at your painting. Those elements in your day will include those things you are most passionate about. And they will likely include those things that have the most potential for separating you from God.

(II) Answer this question:

Have I ever chosen anything from my perfect day over God?

It is likely you have – so draw your attention to this possibility.

Set aside time and pray, talking with God about your goals and rebuilding your relationship with Him. Yes, we are called to take care of things and be good stewards of resources and families – but that is not to be a justification to choose those things over Jesus.

Importunity Knocks

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

With this string of dramatic metaphors, Jesus sums up one of the most beautiful reminders for us in the Bible… the reminder that we are allowed to ask things of God. Not only are we allowed to ask, it is expected and even desired by Him.

As part of teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus used a specific metaphor to show us how he expects us to pray for things. He described how, if you had a friend show up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, you would want to see to his physical needs. However, if you didn’t have anything to eat, you would ask your neighbor if you could borrow some food.

Jesus pointed out that the neighbor would not deny your request, no matter how absurd the hour or how indisposed he might be in filling your request. He would lay aside much and even go through personal discomfort to make sure you had what you needed, just because you asked it of him.

What really struck me this time as I read this passage was the explanation Jesus gave of WHY your neighbor would respond to and fulfill your request… because of your importunity.

The dictionary defines “importune” as the following:

To press or beset with solicitations; demand with urgency or persistence.
To make improper advances toward (a person).
To beg for (something) urgently or persistently.
To annoy.
To press; impel.
To make urgent or persistent solicitations.
To make improper advances toward another person.

“Importunity” is defined as “the state or quality of being importunate; persistence in solicitation.”

This is interesting because it gives a very clear picture of how Jesus wants us to ask for things. He wants us to be insistent, persistent, and urgent… even to the point of begging or being annoying. Even your neighbor, because of your insistence and urgency in getting what you need, will take himself out of his comfort zone to help you – just because of your importunity.

The next verse confirms and strengthens the very case Jesus had already set forth to his disciples,

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Ask. Seek. Knock. That couldn’t be more clear and yet there’s a promise attached to this importunity…

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

What should we take away from this? The simple fact that we are expected to ask for things from our Heavenly Father. We are His children in the most childish sense of the word and He expects us to be His children in deed and in fact. Fathers supply their children’s needs and don’t withhold.

It is with this mindset we are to approach our Father in Heaven. If He is our provider (and He is), we need only but ask. Sometimes we need to look harder for the answer and sometimes we need to stand knocking on His door. But never to fear or to doubt because He WILL provide and will not trick us or give us something that will not satisfy the need we have placed before us.

Go before Him with importunity and ask with confidence.