Category Archives: Wisdom

Making sense of it

21 Wednesday Mar 2018

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There is no meaning to life without there being meaning in life; but meaning in life is generated from one of two sources. It is either something generated from within, or it is something generated from without. Solomon sought to determine meaning to life from the source within (“under the sun”), but he could make no sense of it. He determined that meaning in life can only be understood when there is recognition that life comes from God, and only this way can one make sense of the perplexities of life that man has contributed to and corrupted so badly, and even then he can hardly make sense of it. Nevertheless, the recognition that life came from God is important, but it is only the foundation from which one builds his/her life; the follow-up is to obey the “giver-of-life,” or God.

Many people (most people) assign meaning to life, but they are not sure if the meaning individually assigned is correct, and British philosopher John Powys saw this clearly in his reply to Will Durant’s inquiry; in the meantime, a person does the best one can. In the end, however, one perhaps wonders why he/she even existed in the first place! What is my place in the world? Why was I born at this time and in this place? What did I do to make the world better? Why did I use this standard of right/wrong rather than that standard of right/wrong? Will anyone remember me? What is my legacy? And on and on the questions are asked. Without clarity of knowledge and understanding, the last remaining bit of hope is taken away when life is over because the individually assigned meaning is vanity.

A Word to the Wise

19 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by in Proverbs, Wisdom

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A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated (Proverbs 14:17, ESV). We have seen it time and again, the quick-tempered man is the one who puts a wedge between himself and others. It is not because the quick-tempered one is wrong in his thinking or opinion, but that he thoughtlessly reacts or replies with a disposition and words that pushes the one with whom he has conversation against the figurative wall. Whatever good may have otherwise come flew away because the evil device (quick-tempered) got in the way of words that could have been well placed.

A Word to the Wise

04 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by in Bulletin Article, Proverbs, Wisdom

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The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps (Proverbs 14:15, ESV). The word “simple” is given a better translation “naïve” in the NET. The Contemporary English Version reads, “Don’t be stupid and believe all you hear.” This is the idea, but lest one think more than should be thought, take note of the Lord’s word elsewhere. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18, ESV). Critical thinking is to be an identifying marker of the saints (cf. 1 John 4:1). The saints in Berea challenged Paul by critical thing, and saints should do the same today. Thus, it is not wrong to challenge the integrity and veracity of the Scriptures, but it is wrong when one sees that they do stand the test of critical thinking and then fails to obey the Lord’s New Testament will revealed therein. The apostle Paul went into the Jewish synagogue each Sabbath day to “reason” with the Jew from the Scripture concerning Jesus, and New Testament saints today will reason with another concerning the same.

A Word to the Wise

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

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The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways (Proverbs 14:14, ESV). This is another way of saying one will reap what he sows. The backslider is not one that sins on occasion, for we all do, but sliding back away from the Lord is not our intention. On the other hand, those who sin have put themselves in position to slide down that slippery slope where no traction can be gained. Before long, one’s thinking and life swirls out of control. A good man, however, has the path of righteousness plainly laid before him, and all obstacles are easily seen. Thus, he avoids the slippage. When he does sin – for all sin – then he goes straight to the Lord in penitence because the Lord has not allowed the traction of his feet to be worn away. The Lord’s fruit is sweet.

 

WORD TO THE WISE

18 Tuesday Nov 2014

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Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief (Proverbs 14:13, NKJV). There is an old proverb that says laughter is the best medicine. Surely we can see value in this, but is that always the case? Others have said they had to laugh at something because if they didn’t they would cry. In both cases, laughter has associated with it some unfortunate circumstance in life that receives attention. Some, unfortunately, laugh at sin. These people think their sinful action will go unchecked by the Lord. They fail to understand that the Lord has a mind like a “steel trap.” Nothing escapes. One can be sure their sin will find them out.

 

A Word to the Wise

07 Friday Nov 2014

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There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV). One of the great things about life is the fact the Lord gave to each of us a mind; a mind wherein we can think whatever it is that we want. Many have used their minds to think of great and inventive ideas, while some have had destructive thoughts. Whatever it is that is thought by man, that which is the most important is his standing before the Almighty. It may be that man does not think this is important, but in time, his thoughtless thought will reveal itself in a particular action. This is destructive (of course). The unfortunate thing about those destructive thoughts is just how unaware people are about this way of thinking. One can find the truth, however, if he looks outside himself. Until he does, all that will be found (or thought) is a way that seems right. Not much to hang one’s thinking cap on!

 

 

A Word to the Wise

23 Thursday Oct 2014

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The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy (Proverbs 14:10, NKJV). In his prayer of dedication, Solomon appealed to the Lord to hear the prayers of all who turn toward to newly built Temple, reflecting the affliction in the land and in the hearts of those plagued with sin (1 Kings 8:38, ESV). Who has no affliction of the heart on occasion? Perhaps there are more who struggle with this than others know, but certainly the Lord knows! Those who don’t struggle in the same way, be sure to pray for those who do. The heart of a person is where the very issues of life are stored (Proverbs 4:23). Those issues are both the joys and sorrows that all carry. When the joy is overwhelming, let us praise the Lord. When the sorrows are weighty, let us turn to the Lord, for only He can relieve us of our burden (1 Peter 5:6-7).

A Word to the Wise

17 Friday Oct 2014

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Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance (Proverbs 14:9, NKJV). The NKJV is literal, but I like the way the KJV reads: “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” The Good News Bible reads: “Foolish people don’t care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.” Regardless of the translation, the point is clear: foolish people regard sin as inconsequential, something that won’t condemn them. The humble one before God, and declared righteous by Him, looks upon one’s failings much differently. The foolish one is generally avoided because of callousness and the lack of wisdom, while the humble one is much more readily accepted.

 

Letter to editor

03 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by in Editor, Morality, Wisdom

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Is it not interesting to hear atheists/agnostics speak of morality? In their elitism, they speak about that which they do not subscribe, as if they even know about that which they speak. The arrogance of it is a marvel. We are told, “[t]he very thought that there are no moral absolutes, in spite of what many religious leaders and other claim, is anathema to them.” I wonder if this is an absolute, and she is certain of it!

As has been said many times previous, morality comes from man, or not man. These are the only two options available for intelligible conversation. If it comes from man, then all is subjective, and Hitler (Stalin, etc.) did nothing morally wrong. If one asserts that they did, by what standard will the judgment be made?

If morality comes from “not man,” what is the source? Since atheists and agnostics have no source outside their personal “I think,” they are then unable to ascertain a source that can have any objectivity, and thereby benefit man. Would they offer rocks and dirt as the source, or the beasts of the field? Perhaps they would offer us the moon and the stars as a source?

Atheism, as an ideology, is devoid of a moral code that can, or will, benefit man. All the atheist can do is adopt the Christian moral code, and then ridicule others for their adoption of it. But, then, should we be surprised by such an empty ideology?

Printed 10.1.2014 in the Mattoon Journal-Gazette

A Word to the Wise

01 Wednesday Oct 2014

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Not long ago my uncle and I were visiting when I mentioned that one’s perception is not reality, but to the one who perceives it is reality. He concurred. What does that mean? It means that though one perceives, judges, and concludes concerning a situation, that which is perceived to be the case is not always so (though they believe it is). This plays well into the words of James 4:11-12, concerning brethren who render judgments against another brother concerning what they perceived to be the case. It was not only EVIL, but it placed on in position that did not belong to the “judger.” He shared with me how for years one would not talk to him and his wife because they (the perceiver, judger), in truth, misjudged badly a situation. If one can’t learn a lesson from this, I wonder if the heart is too hard!