Message: I’ve readProverbs 4 over and over since we go through
the book each month. Today I found it to be the most refreshing thing I read.
Verse 6 says “Don’t abandon wisdom and she will watch over you. Love her and
she will guard you.” The end of verse 7 says “and whatever else you get, get
understanding.” As we go through more growing pains and hard lessons in our
country everyone is on social media just blasting each other and demanding a
certain standard and agreement. I have been so saddened to see people that I
have seen in relationship just attack each other over differing views. It’s
truly as heartbreaking as the deaths and losses. We are fighting a civil war of
words and it seems nobody is winning. While I have plenty of opinions of my own
and it’s tempting to jump into internet arguments I hear this word in Proverbs calling
me back to wisdom. Back in Romans Paul said he had determined not to know
anything else but Christ crucified. I don’t believe Paul was calling for
ignorance but as believers we have got to step back and see the bigger picture
at stake. We need to be diligent learners and less eager to set someone else
straight. None of us as it all together and we all have something to bring. If
we would ask God for wisdom in our encounters and strive to gain understanding
before inserting our opinions we would actually provoke each other to be
better. If we truly care about social justice we have to accomplish this by
caring about the relationships around us and stop trying to persuade strangers
or acquaintances on the internet. When we value each other even in our disagreements
and strive to understand instead of dismissing and disqualifying people we will
gain the trust to influence people, and we will be in a much better position to
do that.
