It has been said that while, other portions of Scripture
instructs us in what to do, Proverbs instructs
how to do it. As a matter of fact, it gives both the what and the how.
In this book alone do we find such
admonitions having such scope and application.
Proverbs points out briefly, tersely, emphatically that
our tree relations to Jehovah determine all that is
true and right in thought, life and conduct: "The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge. " To be wise
is much more than simply to know. One may know have knowledge, be scholarly,
scientific, logical and not
be wise, if knowledge is not rightly applied. The point and purpose
of this book is to set forth this vital
distinction.
It is a divine handbook on the conduct of life in
its instructions for the young, the unlearned, for the
imprudent and for the tempted soul. The closing declaration of the
eighth chapter should bum into each
one of us: "...but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:
all they that hate me love death."
KNOWLEDGE THAT LASTS!
Knowledge, we spend about a third of our lives getting
knowledge to help us make a living for the rest
of our lives. Death comes and then all the knowledge that we have gained
does us little good unless we
have knowledge of the eternal sort. Hebrews 10:27 points out that death
comes to all and then the
judgment. In other words after our physical death the next great event
in our existence is the judgment
of God. It will not matter to God that we have a high school education
or a PhD from the best school
this world had to offer. You see, that knowledge will not help us in
eternity! Solomon revealed where
the beginning of knowledge that was knowledge indeed was to be found.
"The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge.." (Proverbs 1:7). This is knowledge that will
last, knowledge that will prepare
us for eternity. The important question we need to consider is, if
this is the knowledge that will prepare
us for eternity, how much time should one devote to gain this knowledge?
If the only time we spend is
in Sunday morning Bible class that means we spend less than 50 hours
a year to gain knowledge for
eternity. Compare that to the time the average child spends in school
a year which is about 1,170 hours. Where is our priority! Think seriously
about gaining knowledge that will truly prepare you for the long run,
not just a few years!
© Copyright 2001. Paul D. Fisher. All rights reserved.