Moments in Proverbs
Proverbs 3:13-18

13  Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;  ¹⁴  For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.  ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.  ¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor.  

In our last lesson, King Solomon warned his son about the chastening of his father, as well as the chastening of the Lord.  He now, as a wise father, which he was at this time, re-reminds his son - taking him right back to the benefits of finding wisdom - how it is far more precious that gold and silver, rubies and all of the precious jewels that man could acquire.  He does not labor on the chastening, but spends far more time showing his son the benefits of following the teachings of his father and of the Lord.  In other words, King Solomon, as the wisest man on earth, purposed to spend more time showing his son that God is a God of love instead of Him being a God of punishment.

If we, as God's children, centering our minds on Scripture, I want to  ask you a question.  Doesn't God spend more time telling us in His Word more of His love and the benefits we have in Him instead of showing us over and over and over again that He is a God of wrath, warning that punishment will come to us if we do not obey?  Absolutely, He most certainly does.

Sadly, there are Christian denominations out there that center more on God's wrath instead of His love, so furthermore, many Christians grow up being taught God is out to get them, instead of learning that God is a God of love, and Who loves His children so much - to where He wants only the best for them. 

• I was one of the fortunate ones who grew up knowing that I had a loving earthly father, as well as I have a loving heavenly father.  Both only want only the best for me.  I have never questioned the love from my earthly father and I never questioned God's love for me.  Never, even once.  I've always known their love. 

But, I'm so sorry to say that that is not true of everyone.  Can I say this:  If you grew up questioning your earthly father's love, and especially if you were taught under punishment instead of loving discipline, it definitely makes it so much harder to trust your heavenly Father, because your earthly father has been your representation of your heavenly father all along.  Then if you have been indoctrinated by a church that has taught that God is a God of wrath, that puts a distrust in God true love for you on top of it.

If you grew up under any of that, please, I would like to encourage you to go to your Bible, especially in the Book of Ephesians to examine who you are in Christ, centering on God's love and benefits of belonging to Him.  You need to be re-trained to see that God is such a wonderful loving heavenly Father, who love you so very much to where He sent His only Son to die for your sins, so you can have eternal life with Him. 

¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

Having wisdom, being a "she" is part of living the good life in God.  Let me say this, God created you as someone so very special, and He has a plan and a purpose for your life, and that plan and purpose will bring you fulfillment in your life as you experience great joy and peace, just as we see here in verse 17. 

Walking in the ways of God is like a tree of life - but you need to grab hold of it.  God offers His kind of life to us, but it takes each one of us to take hold of that offer.  Living the full life in God is such a great life that our heavenly father wants all of us to have. 

So there we have it for today!

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com