Lover Of Knowledge Or Plain Stupid. Series

Lover of knowledge or plain stupid.

Prov. 12:1-10

The topic of wisdom comes up over and over again throughout the pages of Scripture. In fact one whole book (Proverbs) is devoted to the topic . Wisdom seems hard to obtain. Wisdom is different than having knowledge. Knowledge is defined as having information through experience, reasoning or acquaintance. Whereas wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true.

God wants us to have more than knowledge about Him. He wants us to have wisdom. Scripture tells us that knowing the facts is not enough. James says (2:19) “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” Simply put, it is not enough to know the facts but we all have a choice to know about God and believing in His word. I pray that you gain wisdom and understanding as you search for the truth about Jesus Christ.

Proverb 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. . Let’s take a closer look at what this means.

To grow in knowledge, someone must teach you. You must submit your mind and will to them. You admit their superiority in knowledge. You must also admit your inferiority. This requires humility, which most of us do not have. Only noble souls can willingly submit and be taught by another person. In order to love knowledge, you must love to be taught by others.

To grow in knowledge, you must also admit ignorance or error. For either you did not know the truth about a subject, or you held a false position on that topic.

To grow in knowledge, you must change. Progress requires change, but change is humbling and difficult. Change means letting others see you were wrong; change means altering long-established habits; change means explaining your new actions to others.

If you do not like to be taught, you are like an animal. If you chafe under correction, you are like a beast. If you resent being told you are wrong, you are an irrational brute.

Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes Proverbs 12:2.

God can raise beggars out of a sewer and put them on the throne of glory, and He can put the greatest monarch in world history to behave like an animal - (II Sam 7:8; Dan 4:27-33). The true God rewards your conduct in this life – think of David and Nebuchadnezzar; and He rewards it in the next life – think Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).

But His condemnation is a horrible thing. What makes this difference – the great distances be-tween God’s responses?. That is right! Your choices today will either be good in His sight, or they will be wicked. You think you can do what you want? You think you have a right to your own life? You think you can protect yourself from Him? You think you can avoid the consequences of your sin? You think He does not see? Does not care? Guess again.

A good man is made good by God’s grace (Ps 14:1-3; Gal 5:22-23), but God’s grace must be used to be the good man here (I Cor 15:10; II Cor 6:1). A good man finds the favour of God by laying hold of wisdom and obeying it (Pr 8:35). A foolish man rejects wisdom and by doing so wrongs his own soul and chooses death instead (Pr 8:36).

The defining difference between the two persons is how they treat wisdom – God’s instructions for living found in the Bible. Reader, do you tremble before the words of God yet? Will you even take enough time to read and consider the warning of this proverb? Will you do anything about it? What will you do to obey God better?

The difference in His response is enormous; it is immeasurable. Do you see it clearly? He can bless so abundantly and so kindly, and He can destroy so horribly and so painfully.

Did the Lord's favour make a difference in Joseph’s life? An incredible difference! How about Abraham? Ruth? Esther? Job? David? Daniel? Mary Magdalene?

Did the Lord's condemnation make a difference in Saul’s life? What tormenting misery! How about Cain? Lot? Eli? Nabal? Jehoram? Uzziah? Judas? Herod?

Dear reader, it would do you good to read Hannah’s prayer of praise (I Sam 2:1-10). She knew the LORD was a God of knowledge and that He weighed the actions of men. She praised Him for His great work of putting one person up and putting another down. He made a great difference between her and her adversary (I Sam 1:4-8,17-20; 2:18-21,26).

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (Jas 4:10). There is precious favour to be obtained from the LORD God. Some men walked with Him as their Friend, a few walked straight into heaven without dying, and yet others had His benevolent care and protection around and upon them wherever they went and whatever they did. Humble yourself before the Lord and you will love life and see good days (I Pet 3:10-12)!