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¹ Then Job spoke again: ² “You people really know everything, don’t you?  And when you die, wisdom will die with you!
Job 12:1-2

This sarcastic comment by Job was a response to his friends – yes, friends – who were there to console him in the midst of his suffering.  The well intended words each friend spoke to comfort Job wound up doing more harm than good.  Why?  Because they were rooted in each man’s personal wisdom (which as it turned out, wasn’t very wise at all).   Even through the distraction of his grief and pain Job was able to detect that “their” wisdom was not “true” wisdom.

It’s easy to sit back as the reader and cast stones at Job’s friends, but the fact of the matter is; we’re in the same boat.  Like them, we too have our own “personal wisdom,” our own views we consider wise, but truth be known, there is a chasm of ignorance separating “our” wisdom from “true” wisdom.  The life well lived is the one lived in the chasm; aware that the wisdom one has… is not, and the wisdom that is… is not yet known.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

The good Christian lives in the chasm, and studies God’s word in hopes that day by day the chasm might narrow.
The good Christian lives in the chasm, and speaks as one who knows the wisdom we have is not wisdom at all.

1/21 Readings from the One Year Bible Online

Check out today’s OYB reading from the Proverbs…

Proverbs 4:7-10
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

That begs the question, “What is wisdom?” After all, there’s all sorts of wisdom out there.  The answer to that comes a little later in the Proverbs; chapter nine to be exact…

Proverbs 9:10

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

By nature of the fact that you stumble across timdowell.com and the One Year Bible readings, you’ve demonstrated at least a curiosity about scripture, which indicates a desire to learn about God who is the source of all wisdom.  Based on what we read above, if you keep it up you will develop good judgment and become a great and honored/honorable person.  I pray you do!   The world needs God’s wisdom – and God needs people like you to deliver it!

12/10 Readings from the One Year Bible Online

I’m intrigued today by the words of Proverbs 29:19:

Words alone will not discipline a servant;
the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.

If you are like me, you probably read this from the perspective of someone in authority.  Perhaps a parent who disciplines children, or a teacher who disciplines students, or a manager who disciplines employees.  From that perspective this verse reminds us of the countless times we’ve tried to straighten someone out with words, only to have them mess up anyway!  We shake our heads in agreement and amazement, chuckle, and say, “So true, so true!”

I would submit however that the real value of this passage is not found when we read from the master’s perspective, but from the servant’s.  I think that’s the way it’s intended.  After all, the Bible often refers to us as “servants” of God (especially in John’s Revelation which we are also reading at this time).  So, read it again, this time from the perspective of a servant…

Words alone will not discipline a servant;
the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.

Does it read differently now?  Does it remind you of the countless lessons you’ve learned from the “School of Hard Knocks?”  Does it remind you of all the Godly advice you received from parents, teachers, bosses, colleagues, doctors, and countless other sources of wisdom; advice you chose to ignore at your own peril?  Advice that was meant to “discipline” you, not in a retributive way, but in a correcting and guiding way.  Advice you understood when you heard it, but chose to ignore.  Words like those offered by the Surgeon General on a pack of cigarettes.  Words like, “Don’t drink and drive,” or “Don’t drive tonight – you’re too tired.”  Words like, “You need to stay on top of those bills or they’ll pile up,” or “Don’t over-extend yourself financially, you’ll be sorry.”  Words like, “Don’t marry that person; it will never work.”  Words like, “You should really get that education.”  Everyone has their own list, and they all go on and on.  How often does God try to direct our paths through the words of others, only to have us reject the direction at our own peril?  Way too many, I fear.

So, if “Words alone will not discipline a servant,” what will? What it is that transforms Godly discipline from “understood” to “heeded?”  Must we always reach a crisis point in order for that transformation to take place?  Must we always learn from the school of hard knocks, or are we capable of accepting Godly discipline without having the hard knock to drive it home?  I don’t have an easy answer for this one.  What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know.