What is Right?

Long before I even knew that my church was also going to embark upon the book of Proverbs for the month of March, I had decided that I wanted to walk through these passages myself. So go check out the insight of my fellow believers as they walk through this book as well.

http://haydenbiblechallenge.com/

There is so much to learn from this great book leaving it deserving of separated acknowledgement. We often use passages from Proverbs on encouragement cards or portraits sold at Lifeway for there are so many simple and yet meaningful statements given by the writer, Solomon - son of David. God did not allow Solomon to sit down and just write down randomness though. There is purpose and flow to the writing.

Chapter one should be read before any other verse in the book. Solomon goes to great length to explain the difference between wisdom and lack thereof. Often, some of us find ourselves comparing our wisdom to other academia and feeling that we fall short. Understand that wisdom is not measured by your memorization of the Periodic Table and the chemical compounds that cause certain reaction. Nor is wisdom measured by your ability to out negotiate someone in a trade or business transaction.

Wisdom comes from knowledge, but they are not the same. Knowledge is a strong collection of information. Wisdom is the action that is application of knowledge. You can know the truth, but if you do nothing with that knowledge, than you are lacking wisdom and are truly no better than the ignorant.

The fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7

Understanding the source of knowledge - God - will lead you to the starting point of knowledge. However, you must take that knowledge and let it grow as you not only know God is the source of knowledge, but you also get to know God and immerse yourself in greater knowledge. With that greater knowledge, you will obtain understanding of many things that are occurring in life. To gain greater knowledge, you must be disciplined to invest in a relationship with the Almighty. A relationship is two ways, meaning you must be silent and listen as well as speak and petition.

Before Solomon mentions the establishment of fear, or reverential trust, he also mentions doing what is right. So many times our lives are presented with very complicated questions that leave us perplexed as to what is right and what is wrong. Not everything is black and white. Some of you may be further along in your ability to discern right from wrong than others. And some of you may think you know right from wrong, but you don't.

For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair. Proverbs 1:3-4

When you cannot find a specific answer to a question in life in the scriptures, do what is right and just and fair. Our busy lives are crammed with situations that were not common in Biblical times. You will not find in the scripture specific direction on certain gray areas. However, this is one of those verses that I claim when struggling in my complicated questions. Do what is right. In my prayers and petitions to the Lord to reveal to me what is right, I find that HE ALWAYS DOES REVEAL to me what is right. However, I have to be disciplined to listen to Him, to seek the knowledge, and attain the wisdom to properly use in my decisions and actions.

When you do not know what is right to do in a situation life presents to you, AND you haven't been saturating yourself in His presence and word, do not expect the answer to just appear like a neon sign. You must sit in His presence and be willing to slow down and listen, for He will speak. However, I will tell you from personal experience, I have had my fair share of flashing neon signs. When you ARE disciplined in your time with the Lord and you ARE earnestly seeking knowledge and you ARE trying to apply knowledge, He will speak loudly. LOUDLY.

What is right? Ask Him. He will answer. Be ready though. Sometimes His answer is eye-opening and awe-inspiring and shocking.