Daily Wisdom, Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14

"A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.  Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge.  The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is recite.  Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is good will... There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death... The naive believes everything, but a sensible man considers his steps.  A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless" (verses 6-9, 12, 15-16).

What company do you keep?  As I read these verses that question kept coming to me.  Who are the people you surround yourself with?  The people we call friends and spend our time with say a lot about who we are.

This is not saying don't associate with those who don't have a relationship with Jesus.  It is not saying lock yourself in a room with people who think the same way you do.  Perhaps a better question to ask is "Who is the influencer?"  Are you influenced by the people you are with, or are they influenced by you?  Is the influence positive or negative?

It is crucial that we strive towards Christlikeness, being influenced by those who have a more intimate walk with god than we do presently, in order that we might raise the world to our level.  This is what Jesus did.  He reached out to sinners, and invited them out of their sin to the life That God had created them for.  He never compromised and dropped to the world's level, but He did associate with those in the world.  He was the influencer not the influenced.

If we bring the world to the level of Christ, we bring them to life.  We bring them to wisdom, understanding, and righteousness.  But in order to bring them there, we must already be there.  You can't lead someone where you have never been, and you can't teach someone something you don't know.

Know Christ.  Become like Christ.  Help others become like Christ.

"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you