The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.

To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity.

To give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel...

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:1-5, 7, NASB

 

If you could change the world in one generation, would you do it? Sadly, the answer for most people is that they would not - but why? For many of us the answer can be summed up in four basic categories: The lack of faith, the lack of patience, the lack of a willingness to put in the hard work, and the lack of love.

 

Let's start with faith - do you believe that you have the ability to change the world? I'm not talking about a complete makeover in your image, but I am talking about leaving it in a vastly superior condition than it would be in if you were to do nothing. Most of us simply do not have that depth of faith. We believe that great men were born that way, so when we read about men like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and the apostles, when we read about women such as Miraiam, Esther, Elizabeth, and Mary, we think that they were born with greatness. The fact is that they were likely very much like you and me at one point in their lives. Like you, they did their best to live a righteous life before God but, like us, they probably had the humility to understand that they were not "special". 

 

So, if they were just ordinary people, what made them become capable of great things? It was, in a word, faith! They believed God when He told them what they could accomplish with His help. They understood that the great tasks they were called to perform were not possible on their own, but they also believed that with God's help nothing that He wanted them to do would be impossible. So, Noah built an ark, Moses led the Israelites out of bondage, David slew the giant, and Mary became the mother of the Son of God!

 

What could God accomplish through us, if we had the faith?

 

Then, there is the problem of patience and hard work. We live in a world where we can cook a meal in 30 seconds in a microwave. If we want to find the most obscure of information, we "Google" it. If we want an in-depth piece of research, we command A.I. to get it for us - and it does in about five seconds or less. Since we live in such an instant world, the prospect of doing something as mundane as reading the Proverbs of Solomon or the teachings of Jesus, simply looks like too much work to most of us. And don't fool yourself: It is! But we are not talking about heating up a "hot pocket" or discovering what some computer search engine "thinks" about the meaning of life: We are talking about becoming an informed servant of God who is steadily acquiring the knowledge and wisdom to serve Him in the way He has prescribed.

 

If we want to change the world from the chaotic cesspool it has become, we are going to have to put in the time and effort such a noble task will require.

 

Which brings us to motivation: Why would we want to put in the hard work it will take to gain the knowledge that God has for us? After all, the knuckleheads that the world seems so densely populated with are the ones to blame, not us! 

 

This is where love comes in. First, we must love God enough to find out His will and become obedient to that will because He is God! He loved us so much that He gave us life. We might not think that this is such a great gift, but such a conclusion can only be arrived at by one who is ungrateful, ignorant, or both. This life is a precious gift, and the more we can discover about it from God's holy Word, the more we will come to appreciate that gift. Speaking of great gifts, God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins! If this does not well up in us an overwhelming sense of love towards God and Jesus, then we are not worthy of anything good in our lives.

 

The next important part of love is that love which we are to have towards our fellow man. Maybe we don't see that much to love, but you love your family, don't you? Don't you want the best for your parents, for your spouse, and for your children? Aren't there wonderful people in your life whom you have tremendous respect and affection for? Aren't they worthy of the time and effort it will take for you to gain the wisdom and knowledge that God has for us?

 

The point of all this is that if we are going to put in the lifetime of effort to continually read the Word of God and then go to the next level of applying it to our lives, we are going to have to be motivated to do so. We are going to have to be "sold" on the message of the Bible ourselves before we can encourage anyone else to put in the hard work that gaining a knowledge of God's Word will require for them. We are going to have to love God enough to realize that anything He wants for us to do is in fact the least we can do - even if that means spending a lifetime of studying His Word so that we can then live it. And we are going to have to love our children and our friends enough to encourage them to do what it takes to gain the wisdom and knowledge that God has for us - and that is not going to be an easy task!

 

But understand this: This world needs help! Our children are going to turn out to be selfish, worldly individuals who take everything from society that they can and give nothing at all back if they fail to read God's Word. If we fail to do our part during our lifetime, then the world is going to continue its steady descent into depravity, becoming more wicked as the days go by. The Lord's church will continue its steady decline that we are already witnessing as more and more churches close their doors forever. Our society will become even more perverse, more substance dependent, and more hateful than it already is.

 

If you are content to let this happen, if you lack the faith to think that you could make a difference, if you lack the patience for the time it will take, if you are unwilling to put in the extremely difficult work that such a change will require, then all you have to do... is nothing at all. And, if you do not love God or your fellow man, that is exactly what you will do. However...

 

We are better than that! We have a higher calling for our loves and that calling is made by no one less that our Creator! We have it within us to meet this call and meet it we must if the next generation is to have any chance whatsoever. We can, with God's help. absolutely change the course of the world in one generation. It will take us becoming obedient to the Gospel and committing to follow Christ in all that we do. It will take the effort of reading the Word to acquire things like knowledge, wisdom, discipline, and prudence. It will be the greatest thing that you have ever committed yourself to doing.

 

In a way, it will be like Noah building and ark, like David bringing an entire nation back to God, like Esther saving a race of people, and like Mary doing her part to raise the very One who would give the world a chance at salvation. Are we up to such a work? If so, let's get to that work before it's too late. We do, after all, have a world that desperately needs such a change. Let's do our part, shall we?

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him - for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, NIV (1978)

 

When was the last time you were truly happy? I'm not talking about a mere fleeting moment of happiness, but a consistent state of being content. If it's been a while, then this message is for you... and me.

 

The words you read above are from a king who had everything, but for the most part was pretty much dissatisfied with the way his life was had turned out. As he wrote this book, he continually referred to his life as being meaningless - a chasing after the wind. Now, you and I can probably relate to his sentiments, for we have plenty of times in our lives that it seems like we are just chasing after the wind. The irony is that the one who wrote Ecclesiastes - Solomon - had everything that most of us only dream about. He had unlimited wealth, unparalleled wisdom, and he just happened to be the most powerful man in the world.

 

But he was miserable! Why?

 

Solomon's dissatisfaction had its root in his perspective - he had stopped putting God and people first and suffered the natural consequences for his self-centered attitude. He was rich, but he didn't particularly like the people he had to deal with. He was mortal, so he knew that his great wealth and power were limited by an ever-decreasing amount of time left to him. His great wisdom allowed him to see his failures, but his self-absorption prevented him from doing anything about them. No wonder he considered himself to be the most miserable of men - he had everything but appreciated nothing.

 

It wasn't until he regained a little perspective that he began to see the problem. Life is made to enjoy, but it is also made to serve. When you lose the heart of a servant, you lose the joy.

 

So, even though he had plenty to eat and drink, he began to abuse these gifts. I don't know if he was inclined towards gluttony, but he did admit to trying to "cheer himself" with wine. Anyone who's ever gone down that path has a pretty good idea where that led to. He was king and could have any woman he desired, so he decided to add about an even thousand to his collection. Anyone who has had more than one wife (or husband) knows that the biggest penalty for bigamy is not the jail sentence. So, even though it was legal for Solomon during his time to have more than one wife, it didn't turn out to be all that prudent. He wrote things such as "Better to live on the corner of a roof, than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife" and "like a gold ring in a pig's snout, is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion". I imagine anyone who has been married to a quarrelsome spouse or who married for looks (male or female) found out the truth of Solomon's complaints.

 

It took a long time, but Solomon finally realized that blessings from God are to be savored, but only in the context of one who serves. Otherwise, one is sure to either abuse those blessings, fail to appreciate those blessings, or both. Furthermore, while Solomon never appeared to be all that averse to hard work, it does appear that he went to the excess on that as well, throwing himself into one great project after another, while letting the rest of his life slip by. We've all likely been there a time or two in our own lives, but hopefully we have learned from that mistake.

 

Solomon's problem was not that he didn't try to enjoy his blessings (including his work), it was just that he had his priorities turned around. He found out, perhaps too late, that the blessings of life are to be enjoyed - they are indeed a gift from God! However, in order to enjoy one's gifts, we have to first open them up. Then, we need to use them in the proper way. For example, a firearm can be a great blessing in responsible hands, being useful for everything from putting food on the table to protecting one's family from those who would threaten them. But, in the wrong hands, that same "gift: can become a curse - both to the one who uses it, and to the innocent victims he uses it on.

 

It's the same with food (we cannot be gluttons) and the same with drink (we cannot be drunkards). Marriage can be beautiful, but it is intended only for one faithful man and one faithful woman. Any deviations from God's marital guidance always proves to be a disaster. Even wealth when it is used properly can be a tremendous source of happiness and a great benefit to those with whom it is shared. The fact is that God gives us all incredible gifts, but we often misuse them and most always under appreciate them. It is only when we use the blessings that God has given us in this life that we can truly enjoy them. All of these gifts are given by God to help make our lives happy and content, but only when used in the right way. 

 

The fact is that we are here to serve God. If we will, He will give us blessings beyond our wildest imaginations; but we have to use them in His service! And we must receive these gifts with appreciation and purpose! If we can learn to do these things (hopefully before we get too old) then we will realize what Solomon missed, Life is a gift; but it is first and foremost a gift of service. If we can learn to be selfless rather than selfish, we will have gone a long way to learning this truth. And, once learned, this life and everything that goes along with it will become the magnificent gift that God has intended for it to be from the beginning. To those who have learned this lesson, life is a tremendous gift, filled with joy and contentment. But for those who fail to learn it, life for us will be just like it was for King Solomon: Meaningless! Which will you choose?

 

 

Everybody has their own unique set of problems. For some it's health, for others it's money. Some are lonely, while some just wish that they were left alone. Whatever your set of challenges are in life, God has a solution. Here is what the inspired

writer of the 121st Psalm had to say:

 

I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 

He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you... the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life;

The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

 

After thinking about your problems in relation to the promises contained in this passage, do you think that there is anything that the Maker of the heavens and earth cannot help you with?

 

He has promised us that He will watch over the faithful. Do you believe Him?

 

Many of us do, and we have found that it makes all the difference. If you have been overwhelmed by the crushing pressure created by your set of challenges, then know that you are not alone. Know, too, that it doesn't have to be that way. God has never promised us that there will not be tests in life - indeed, there will be tests and those tests can be pretty hard at times. What He has promised us is that He will help us pass those tests. Knowing that and trusting in God will change your life! How do I know this? He proves it to me every day of my life, for He truly does watch over me, even though I certainly don't deserve that loving care.

 

He will do the same for you, if you will let Him. By doing so, you will find that life is not as bad as it seems. In fact, it's pretty good when you have God watching over you.

And do this, understanding the present time. 

The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber,

because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Romans 13:11, NIV (1978)

 

We moved to Wyoming on my 15th birthday. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this part of the world, suffice it to say that you can get some pretty big snows anywhere from late September to early June. So, if you are going to do any driving, you will likely spend a fair share of time driving in snow. 

 

It also means you are going to spend time stuck in that snow, so you have to learn how to get unstuck, especially since there are vast stretches of road where you might not have anyone to help you. I learned from my dad that when you get stuck you don't just floor the gas and hope for good things. The most likely outcome for those who try that method will be to either spin out of control and end up somewhere you don't want to be, or you will bury your car up to the axels so bad that you are going to have to get someone to give you a tow. And if you can't find anyone to give you a tow, you are going to have to dig yourself out as best you can. Dad taught me that the best way to get out of that rut is to rock the car back and forth, going from forward gear to reverse. That way every time you get a little traction, you can go a little farther in one direction or another until you are out of the rut and on your way. Slow, easy, and under control is the ticket for getting out of most of the ruts that I have found myself in - and I have been in more than my share of ruts through the years.

 

Life, I have found, is a lot like driving in Wyoming. There are times you get stuck in a rut and your first inclination is to put the gas pedal to the floor and try to get out. The problem with this method is not in the desire to get out of the rut you are in; no, the problem comes in when you find that your lack of planning and impatience just sent your life careening out of control. What's more, when you finally do come get yourself back under control, you are likely going to find yourself in a bigger rut and buried up to your axels.

 

Do you ever feel like that?

 

Sometimes we find ourselves so buried in the ruts of our own making that we just feel stuck. It may be that we have tried to escape our rut, but we have only dug ourselves in deeper. At this point, many people will simply give up. Sadly, those who do are usually in the majority. Most people, when you really think about it, live a great deal of their lives stuck in a rut. Do you ever feel that way? Maybe you feel that way right now, but what can you do?

 

We can begin with the first rule of the rut: Stop and look around long enough to see how deep the rut is where you are currently lodged, and then look to see where the nearest place is where you will have a clear path so that you don't just find yourself in a new rut after having expended so much effort to escape the old. This is why many people fail in life: It's not that they haven't tried to get out of their ruts, it's just that when they finally got out, that they drove themselves right into a new one. So, decide where it is you want to go before you attempt to get out of your rut.

 

This requires a different mindset than most of us have had, so take this step seriously. Where is it you want to go in life?

 

For many of us, that place is heaven. If this is the case for you, let's see how we might "clear a path" to get there. It begins something like this:

 

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 7:13-14, NIV (1978)

 

So, the path that we want to get on is the straight and narrow one. If we want to get out of our ruts in life, we are going to have to leave that broad path and get on the straight and narrow. It sounds daunting, but it really isn't. Most of those who are successful in escaping their ruts are those who seek help. And they don't just seek help from anyone; they seek it from those who are not stuck in the rut themselves. In our case, the One who can provide that expert assistance is God - so pray to Him for your help. Then you can start reading your Bible in order to find the right way back onto that narrow path. Then you can begin worshipping on a regular basis so that you can be with others who not only have found where that straight and narrow path is by reading the Word for themselves, but who also have the ability and desire to help you find that path and then stay on it.

 

I know that this sounds too simple, but I believe you will find that most of the truly worthwhile things in life are basically simple. That doesn't mean that they will be easy to do, but we can understand what it is that needs to be done. The fact is that many of us have gotten into ruts so deep that the only thing to do is to start the hard work of getting ourselves dug out. Again, this is not rocket science, but it is surprising how few people in life seem to be able to grasp the simple concepts that will make them successful. 

 

For example: If you want to get rich (or at least financially secure) you are going to have to spend less than you make and put something into savings so you can invest. The truth of this is easy to see, but the vast majority of people in life fail to grasp it all the same. In a like manner, if you want to lose weight, you are going to have to stop eating as much as you are now - you might even (oh horror of horrors) have to start eating healthier! Again, this is easy to see, but hard to do. Worthwhile things take effort.

 

If you find yourself in a rut, it is likely that you have gotten into that rut under your own power and as a result of your own bad decisions. It's true that you may have been "nudged" into that rut (there have been "influencers out there since Adam and Eve were tempted by the evil one to take a bite of that forbidden fruit) but the fact is that we are all responsible for our own ruts. And, in the off chance that you really were put there by some wicked person, it will still be up to you to get out of that rut, 

 

This will mean work!

 

So, let's get to that work. Praying to God for help might seem cliche to some, but it is the only place to begin. Start reading your Bible for purpose. Most people either do not read it at all or, if they do, they dabble. They wander without purpose like a drunk driver in a blizzard, and then they are surprised when they find themselves in a ditch somewhere. So, ask God for help and then look to His entire Word for direction. You also are going to have to get back to worshipping with the church on a regular basis. I know that this will cut into your leisure time but do it we all must if we are to have any hope of getting out of our ruts. One word of caution on this: Some so-called "churches" are just ruts in disguise. The Apostle Paul warned us in II Corinthians 11:14 that Satan "masquerades as an angel of light". So, when you are searching for a church, make sure you get a good description of it from the Bible. It is, after all, Christ's church, so make sure that you don't get fooled by one that is really a church of men with worldly ideas. 

 

All of these things will take hard work, it's true, so brace yourselves for the work. You can get out of your rut if you want to, but if you really don't want to put in the hard work that will dig you out of your rut, you will have to be honest enough with yourself to realize that you don't want to get out of that rut bad enough. However, for those who do, there is a straight and narrow path that leads to life. It is hard to be sure, but it really is the best way to live. And, at the end of this hard but pleasant path, there will be heaven! 

 

Do you find yourself in a rut? Welcome to the club! Now, let's do something about it!