BUT FIRST, GET WISDOM. AVOID CONSEQUENCE.

November 17, 2017

BUT FIRST, GET WISDOM. AVOID CONSEQUENCE.

Proverbs 23:22–35

Lynn Pointer

Central Truth

Jesus' love, mercy, and grace is abounding, unchanging, and never surprised. He gives us free will, wisdom, wise counsel, the right to choose what we do, how we live, and who we follow. What will you choose? Will you choose to "buy instruction, wisdom, and understanding" that comes from the Father?

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
(Proverbs 23:29)

22 Listen to your father who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad;
    let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe^{1

23:26
Or delight in} my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit;
    an adulteress^{2

23:27
Hebrew a foreign woman} is a narrow well.
28 She lies in wait like a robber
    and increases the traitors among mankind.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
    Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your heart utter perverse things.
34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
    like one who lies on the top of a mast.^{3

23:34
Or of the rigging}
35 “They struck me,” you will say,^{4

23:35
Hebrew lacks you will say} “but I was not hurt;
    they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
    I must have another drink.”

Footnotes

[1] 23:26 Or delight in
[2] 23:27 Hebrew a foreign woman
[3] 23:34 Or of the rigging
[4] 23:35 Hebrew lacks you will say

I look at the person mentioned in verses 29-35. Woe, sorrow, strife, complaints. Wounds that are without cause. Red eyes that see strange things and a heart that utters perversions. This person doesn't remember the pain when he awakes, yet he cannot wait to do it again.

A few years ago, that person was me. Broken, addicted, lost, living for self, and hurting while I hurt others.

Scripture warns of the effects alcohol can have. As an unchurched adult, I had never read these verses. I did not know or follow Christ until my late 20s, which made for plenty of time to cause a lot of wreckage.

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Once I met Jesus, I was in love, but I still chose to hang on to my stubborn, rebellious ways. I was not choosing the abundant life He had to offer. I was still being "enticed by [my] own desire" (James 1:14). The pain of isolation, broken relationships, and ways of this world had brought me to my knees. Matthew 26:41b tells us, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." My spirit was willing to submit to the One who could fill the void I had been filling with substance, drink, and inappropriate relationships. Like a good Father, He was waiting with arms wide open. My heart was ready to confess, repent, and choose life! Proverbs 23:23 provides such wisdom, warning, and truth: "Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding." Scripture serves to provide us with the truth; the wisdom found in many of the Proverbs that encourage our hearts and keep us faithful and out of danger (see Psalm 119:9-11).

I am just one day away from being this person in the proverb, returning to my old ways and forgetting the pain I had caused. By abiding in Him daily, through prayer and accountability in community, I am able to stay on the narrow path, serving a God whose mercies are new every day.

1. In what ways has wisdom or instruction from others—community, church family, etc.—kept you on the right path?

2. Discuss the implications of 1 Corinthians 10:23 with your community this week. "'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything' —but not everything is constructive."

3. What are the permitted things in your life that may not be beneficial/constructive for you? Is there anything you need to cut out to seek truth and wisdom and to get understanding?