Proverbs is a book of dichotomies: pride vs humility, right vs wrong, teachable vs stubborn, and wisdom vs foolishness. Wisdom is the ability to make the most God-honoring choice in any situation. Foolishness is the inability to discern the consequences of unwise choices.
Some people disregard healthy fear and they end up being careless when they should be careful. That’s foolish. Either they fail to see God’s wisdom or they’re too weak to live by it.
It takes discernment and diligence to apply godly wisdom in our decision-making. When we spend time in God’s Word, it strengthens our understanding of truth and gives us greater confidence to walk in it.
The reason we should be diligent is because that’s how we grow and develop as believers. You see, the cross of Christ changes everything! Whatever I was before Christ is worthless now. Now I’m compelled by the Spirit to grow in my understanding of God’s truth so I can make God-honoring decisions! Paul put it this way…
Phil 3:7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
As a believer you possess the ability to understand and apply God’s truth to your life. Forget what is behind you and strive for what lies ahead, God has a hope and a future for you! So, press on in your personal bible study and apply what you learn to your life! The Holy Spirit is constantly at work, conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. We have the capacity to think differently than before we knew Christ. So be diligent in your pursuit of Christ!
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Pastor Greg Sempsrott