"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT TRUTH AND WISDOM"
Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”
(Taken from today's reading in the One Year Bible 9/20/14)
Some explanatory thoughts, questions, application and a prayer:
Proverbs, God's Book of wisdom for His children. God's Word from Heaven to man here below, teaching us how to live.
What to avoid, what to pursue, answering many of the "why's" of life.
In this simple verse, there is just teaching about what to acquire and what to hold on to.
The implication here is that this is good for us, good for our souls.
It will please our Father, and keep us from those things that will hurt us, and make us more useful to our God.
1. We can, and ought to buy or get the the truth.
Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”
The truth is free, we don't have to buy it.
But we are being instructed by God to “get" the truth.
The truth is something we can have.
The Lord is the truth.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus invites us to come to Him.
Jesus wants to give Himself to us.
Thus we can get the truth.
We get it everyday as we open the Word of God.
2. We ought never to sell it, or get rid of the truth.
Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”
There is nothing more valuable than the truth.
Thus we ought never to let it go from us.
We ought to treasure the truth.
And, we ought to nurture the truth in our lives.
In other words we can grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord.
We might be tempted to think that the lies of the devil are true and important.
Satan would love for you to abandon the truth and buy into his deceit.
In that sense you could sell the truth.
3. We ought also to get three other valuable things. Wisdom instruction and understanding
Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”
Along with the truth, there are three other important blessings God has for us and He wants us to have them, and to keep them.
Wisdom.
Instruction.
Understanding.
In a sense, these three come right out of having the truth.
Through Christ who is the truth we gain God's wisdom, His instruction, and His understanding.
The NLT says it this way:
Proverbs 23:23 “Get the truth and don’t ever sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and discernment.”
Notice it says here discipline and discernment.
Discipline is also translated correction, doctrine, chastening.
Discernment means understanding, knowledge, and wisdom.
Some Questions:
1. Isn't it a blessing that God makes these important things available to us?
2. And don't you know that if the Lord directs us to do something, than He also makes it possible for us to do it.
3. Jesus is all of these things for us. Truth, wisdom, understanding, instruction, and discernment.
4. In a simple sense, God is saying "Get Jesus, and don't let go of Him”.
A Prayer:
Father, thank You for the Book of Proverbs. Thank You for the clear specific instruction and promises, the encouragement, the warnings that You give us through this book. This is the book of life. This is how to navigate through life not on our own wisdom, but with God's Wisdom. May we be humble, aware of our need, and earnest in our pursuit of Your will for our lives. Please forgive us for the times when we live as if You are not there. And thank You for the times by Your grace that we draw near to You and so enjoy learning about You, and growing in Your grace. You call us friends, and You tell us that we are valuable to us. Those truths are such a blessing to us.
May we not take You for granted, Lord. But follow hard after You. Day by day.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
