The smart thing to do

 

For by Me your days will be
multiplied, and years will
be added to your life.
ESV: Proverbs 9 vs11.

Today let’s consider that good things come your way as you “get smart” with God. Just to review, for the past two weeks, Proverbs 9 vs 10, the central theme of Proverbs, has been studied: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

In other words, fear, which is respecting and trusting God, is a smart thing to do. The inspired writer of Proverbs continues saying, “For through me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”

This translates to say: “Those who live by Wisdom will be blessed with a long life.”

Wisdom isn’t knowledge per se, as in the accumulation of facts and information, but rather, the application of knowledge and the use of knowledge in a wise way. Scripture tells us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3 vs. 5).

Ben Franklin must have been a wise man. During the time our nation was in its formative years and the framers of the Constitution were in session, many members were vocal and animated in regards to the task at hand. Arguments happened…at times the room was filled with noise and confusion. But then, Franklin, who, up until this point was quiet and patient, spoke… and the whole assembly quieted down, stopping to listen and hear what wisdom would come forth. And you might remember those brokerage commercials saying: “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.”

When I was growing up, I guess I was as rebellious as the next kid. I thought my dad and mom didn’t understand me; they didn’t know what I was going through, and I always thought I knew best about everything. But it seemed that whenever my parents gave me some kind of advice and I didn’t take it, things didn’t go so well for me. I was usually wrong.

I finally realized that maybe my parents were more than a bit smarter than I had given them credit. They had experienced life a little longer than I had and knew a lot more about living than I did. They applied their knowledge to understanding and their understanding to wisdom and it made sense.

It only makes sense, then, that living life with our heavenly Father and living it with His advice, is the smart thing to do. He’s the one who gave us life in the first place. He’s the one who guides and controls our lives, even as He directs the entire universe. He adds days and years to our lives as He sees fit.

The Lord is the one who knows what is best for each of us. He carefully watches over each of us. He has saved us from sin and damnation through Christ’s death and resurrection. Now He guides our lives by His Spirit, working through His Word to bring us His wisdom through understanding and understanding through the knowledge of Him and His will for us. And it’s God’s will to lead us through this life to the joys of heaven.

You can live life with Him or without Him. Be smart. Open up to His Word. Through Him, “your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.” He will never stop adding days and years of joy–through all eternity!

Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Dean Rudloff, Life In Christ Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.