Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 11, 2011: Making Right Choices (Proverbs 4:1-27)

Job 12:13
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.





Job 9:4
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?





Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.





Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.





1 Corinthians 2:7
No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.





James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.







“Common Sense”. As a child, I didn’t have any. I had no inner, guiding ‘beacon’. No innate sense of ‘the right thing to do’. It was hard for me to understand sometimes (sometimes it still is). I can still hear my mom saying,” Wayne, don’t touch that iron. It’s hot!” right as I placed my whole hand on its surface. I still remember the blinding pain that came with that oneL Subsequently, as a child, my parents ‘watched’ me close. I was very ‘accident prone’. I can still hear my dad saying, “One of these days boy, you’re going to step off in a hole and break your @#$# neck!”, something I eventually almost accomplished… twice! In my time, I’ve fallen off buildings, capsized boats, wrecked cars, stumbled and fallen countless times (I’ve got the scars to prove it). I’ve done some dumb stuff and I’m blessed to still be here to tell you about it. For me, listening may have really been a matter of life and death.

God’s Word speaks to us in the same way and with the same intent that my parents words had when they instructed me as a child. Their words provided me a barrier of safety: a refuge of protection, sometimes from myself. They were really concerned for my long term safety and they actively worked to see to it that I made it to adulthood. Similarly, God provides for all of mankind, through His Word, a path to life, abundant life. We tend to go astray, like sheep, following our own whims and desires. We go with ‘what ever seems right’ in our own eyes, what ever feels good. The real problem is: paths of our own choosing will oftentimes lead us to our own … destruction. God knows this and loves us so much that He gave us His Word as a guide.

If we will choose God, if we will choose to obey His Word, He will give us the wisdom necessary for us to succeed in life; He promises us that. I eventually made it to adulthood and I eventually exchanged the guidance of my parents for the Wisdom of God’s Word. I hold it close to my heart, cherishing the intimacy with Him that His Word provides. God has something for each of us Beloved: Wisdom to accompany us along life’s journey. Does that mean that bad things won’t happen? No, not at all. It does mean however, that in the face of difficulty, God will be there with us. If we trust Him, He’ll see us through. The real beauty is that in God’s eventuality, eternal life and blessing await. I made it to adulthood with the guidance of my parents. We will make it to Eternity with God’s guidance. Get Wisdom: it’s the principal thing! Get it from God’s Word! Enjoy the lesson.





Blessings,



.wb







2 Chronicles 1:10
Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”