Divine Wisdom for Daily Living by Joanne Colvin

“Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.” (Ecclesiastes 10:1-3)

A small shortcut in measuring will cause a big problem when building a piece of furniture, and an unfamiliar shortcut has been known to add hours to a road trip. The description in verse 1 is quite specific, referring to the putrid smell of dead flies that have gotten into and wholly altered lovely perfume. Solomon is, of course, referring to actual sins and not the superficial mishaps I’ve mentioned. A little sin corrupts the heart, mind, and being, as yeast in dough spreads quickly to allow it to rise. The flies in the perfume makes the yeast analogy seem tame. Dead flies not only smell horrible but carry disease and will utterly spoil the perfume, which may refer to the holy oil used for temple worship. A little foolishness will corrupt the development or expression of wisdom and honor.

The world treats lies as if they are harmless, but God condemns lying in the Ten Commandments. Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife, bringing embarrassment and shame to himself and God (Genesis 12:10-20). Ananias & Sapphira were guilty of lying by withholding the truth (Acts 5:1-11). Christians who follow these practices destroy their witness for Christ, their wisdom, and their honor. Satan’s name Beelzebub (Hebrew—Baʽal zĕbhūbh) carries the meaning of “lord of the flies,” a Philistine god.* Might we then surmise that these dead flies are analogous to syncretism—the worship of a dead god (or the world) mixed in with the worship of the only real, living God of Israel?

In his commentary on the passage, John Gill refers to an evil concupiscence (strong desire) in the heart that can lead to foolish acts. Finding myself in the dictionary once again, I am given this example for the use of concupiscence: “The Puritans did not condemn concupiscence but rather the satisfaction of it in ways they deemed illicit.”Here is some wisdom for us today: strong desires are not all detrimental, but those that require unlawful acts for satisfaction are entirely wrong. It is not wrong to desire enough money to live comfortably unless the means for satisfying the desire is thievery, bribery, or other sinful means for accumulating wealth. We are foolish when we allow our hearts to lean toward the left, which carries the biblical meaning of moving away from God and spiritual strength. Instead, we are to incline our hearts toward righteousness, and our bodies or conduct will follow. Desiring to walk with the Lord results in steadiness, consistency of character, and reliability. However, giving into foolish desires without checking them will be revealed to everyone.

Today will you join me in seeking to keep pure and honorable your witness for Jesus Christ, knowing that we cannot do so entirely but will have the help of the Holy Spirit to do it at all? Let’s continue the work of sanctification for wisdom starting in our hearts on the “little, foolish” things.

* See the Merriam Webster online dictionary definition of Beelzebub.

“Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day… Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.” (Proverbs 23:17; 24:1-2)

According to Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman who was created by Hephaestus, the god of fire, who was commissioned to do so by Zeus, king of the Greek gods. Supposedly, Zeus commissioned woman’s creation as punishment to men for taking the gift of fire from the gods. She was made to look like the goddess Aphrodite and was given wisdom, beauty, kindness, peace, generosity, and health from the gods. Then, as the myth goes, Zeus brought her to earth to trick Epimetheus, who was warned not to take her as his wife. He rejected the advice after being irresistibly attracted to her. As a wedding present, Zeus gave Pandora a jar but warned her not to open it. However, having been given curiosity when she was created, Pandora couldn’t resist opening the jar (which was mistakenly called a box in the retelling of the myth). Terrible, frightening things flew out of the jar into the world, including such things as pain, hatred, hunger, poverty, envy, greed, war, disease, and death. The only thing remaining in the box was hope. As the myth goes, this is the reason why humans can have hope in a wicked world.

Do you appreciate how this myth lines up with our passages today? We get into trouble when we are tempted by what our hearts envy and desire—that which someone else is enjoying. The greatest struggle for our youth is the temptations that come from their peers.

In Proverbs 24 we are warned not only to not envy what evil people do or have, but we are warned not to spend time with them. Their influence over us will be greater than ours over them. Ah, but what are we to do when we are the ones who are the bad influence and are doing ungodly things? Close the box! Shut it tight! Put away all those tempting things that only lead to violence and trouble.

Unlike the fate of “hope” in the myth, our hope isn’t inside of us but is in the object of our faith, Jesus Christ. This hope is not limited to our ability to hold onto it, governed by our self-discipline. Hope is the fact of eternal life for those who have been purchased by Jesus. It grows and strengthens as it is used; it is not to be kept on a shelf gathering dust to use at some later time. “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!” (Psalm 37:1)

Do you worry about missing something because you aren’t trying out all the wild ideas floating in our world today? Will you ask God to give you complete contentment to “continue in the fear of the Lord all the day?”

“Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,but whoever heeds reproof is honored. A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:18-20)

I rarely visit with teenagers but some relatives and friends of a friend joined us for Sunday lunch, including three teens. One of the boys had just had surgery on a broken leg with a plate inserted, so he was on crutches. Imagine the reaction of the over-50 crowd when we learned that he had driven a car (with manual transmission) “just a little” the other day. He clearly likes to take risks so we offered him the simple advice that doing so would probably hinder the quick healing of his leg. This fifteen-year-old with his drivers permit, who is usually very sensible didn’t want to hear our warning. Hopefully he won’t ignore it because doing so may result in hindering his desire to have his leg heal and may harm his friends by his influence on them. These are two of the consequences described in Proverbs 13:18-20 for those who foolishly ignore instruction.

This month we have been considering the implications of our hearts’ desires, and last month we considered the characteristics of foolishness. Before we move onto another topic, let us meditate on these issues together. In the Proverbs 13 passage above we are given a taste of the foolishness of fools contrasted with the wisdom of the wise. The first pairing is poverty and disgrace verses honor—refusal to obey reproof or correction verses appreciating and personally applying a rebuke. Perhaps you have told your children that you disciplined them because you loved them and wanted them to be the best version of themselves and wanted them to glorify God. Raising children who are thankful for discipline and its source in a loving parent results in adults who are faithful disciples, who learn from Scripture and their teachers. We are foolish is we resent correction because it is difficult to hear.  And, it is always difficult to listen to a rebuke, whether we are already under conviction or were blind to our fault. The best reproof comes in the form of the gospel that brings everything to light in the righteousness of Christ. Christians rejoice when God illumines blind spots to mature with the help of the Holy Spirit. Believers are rightly disgraced and destined to spiritual poverty when they refuse to grow through the rebuke of a fellow, well-meaning, loving brother or sister in Christ.

Verse 19 contains another contrast: the wise know what it is to have biblical desires satisfied but fools won’t stop sinning long enough to have this experience. Instead the foolish person holds onto the unproductive, ineffective ways and never find contentment.  Finally, in verse 20, the influence of a wise friend is juxtaposed with that of a foolish one—walk with the wise to become wise, travel with fools and be brought down with them.

As we study our Father’s Word today, let’s remember that “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.” (Proverbs 15:5) Will you be the wise believer who looks to the gospel for correction and influences others with your wisdom?

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:7-11)=

Do you have a teenager who wants to do things that are risky, unwise, or even dangerous? We who have survived our teenage years are on the other side now and know how many foolish ideas can surface in their brains, which, by the way, are not finished developing. In the same way, we live on the finished side of Christ’s atoning death, resurrection, and ascension. We know the outcome of our Savior’s sacrifice and look forward to the future that we have with him. In this way, we are at the “end of all [spiritual] things” and not the beginning. At any time, Jesus may return, or he may not return anytime soon; but that is the next great event in redemptive history for God’s people.

This being the case, we are called to be self-disciplined and realistically humble prayer warriors who love and forgive each other. We love with the love that the Holy Spirit gives us from Christ, in appreciation of what he has done and continues to do for us. We offer joyful, voluntary hospitality and service in the body of Christ, as stewards of God’s grace. Church is not something we can do alone. Sitting in front of a TV or devise while watching other people worship is not doing church; listening to a podcast is not doing church. Participating in worship must involve some contribution on our part. See how the 1 Peter passage continues, “whoever speaks…whoever serves…by the strength that God supplies.” Being an aloof visitor, observer, or watcher of worship will not do at all; we involve ourselves to serve God by serving the body, the men, women, and children whom God has called together for his purposes, to witness for Jesus Christ to the world and each other.

I have intentionally not used the word “should” concerning the service we offer to our brothers and sisters in Christ. I usually omit it because if we are truly regenerated, we want to do these things and are empowered to do them. “Should” usually come from a place of self-effort, pressure, or threat of punishment; therefore, legalists often speak in “shoulds” and “oughts.” When we have experienced the grace of God we want to love, show hospitality, share the gospel, and serve alongside others at church and in church.

Is it your sincere, joyful desire to participate in worship today, or are you forcing yourself to go to a building to sing the right songs, say proper prayers, and listen to a moral sermon? How can you find more joy in worship to glorify God? “To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” (Proverbs 15:16-17)

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Those who are poor or have few possessions in this world by choice are encouraged by these verses, as I was when serving in Africa. Living and serving in the U.S. now, I seem to have more necessities and often lose track of what I need versus what I want. Perhaps I should meditate more on 1 John 2:15-17, which complements the Proverbs passage. It is better to have the love of God and to love and fear him than to have many worldly treasures with trouble, dissatisfaction, and hatred.

We are not to reject everything in the world, since many things, including wealth, may be used for the glory of God. These verses do not condone monasticism or turning one’s back on the world. We know this because John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John, the apostle, is not contradicting himself but warning us (in 1 John 2) to love Christ and his people more than the world. Matthew Henry, commenting on 1 John 2:15 wrote, “The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them.” *

Christians also do not depend on the world because in spite of looking permanent, it is passing away, and only the spiritual things of God will endure. John warns explicitly against lusting after things that temp our flesh, our eyes, and our pride. Perhaps by the “lust of the flesh”, he means all the general corrupt desires that arise from a corrupt heart. The “lust of the eyes” is specific and may be an appeal to restrain ourselves from coveting, being content with the little or much that God has given us. The “pride of life” may include the temptation to desire glory, praise, recognition, and applause from people. These three together represent some of our most significant areas of sin.

I suppose the good news is in verse 17, that “the world is passing away with its desires.” If we are not dependent upon the things of the world for our wellbeing, then our desires for these are best put away from us. The even better news follows it: “whoever does the will of God abides forever.” Of course, we cannot perfectly obey God, but we can desire his ways, his Spirit, and loving devotion to Christ with contentment.

What are the things that temp you–food, sports, clothing, new cars, a bigger house, external beauty, degrees, or brilliant children? Will you pray with me according to Psalms 119:37 today? “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”

*Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, online edition

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16)

There have been a few people in my life who frequently ended their statements of purposes with, “God willing” as in, “See you bright and early tomorrow, God willing.” Their uncertainty didn’t arise from vacillation of purpose but a healthy knowledge of the frailty of human life and the sovereignty of God. It is good and right to know our desires and to make plans based on them. However, ignoring the providence of God is tantamount to living as if God does not exist. Here we have the good force of the Law, which states, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). James 4:13 implies self-idolatry, choosing to go and do based solely on my desires and purposes. Saying, “God willing” will not save anyone, but living without God is an indication that regeneration has not occurred, or if it has, the new believer has not yet matured to desire God first in all aspects of life. Christians live with God and through faith in him because we love Christ and want to obey his Law.

The Ten Commandments are introduced by a statement of the Lord’s sovereignty and omnipotence, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). Failing to recognize God’s providential operation in the ordinary details of life is practical atheism and might even be considered the sin of omission. It puts people in the role of God, without acknowledging the uncertainty and frailty of life. No matter what our desires, no person can be assured of success by his or her own power, nor can they have eternal aspirations.

There are at least two good reasons for doing everything based on the “will” or providence of God. First, the more we acknowledge God’s operation in the ordinary matters of our lives the greater will be our recognition of his unique work in them, and ability to use them for our good (Romans 8:28). It is also important to remember that this life is short, painful, and precarious. At any time, we might injure ourselves, become seriously ill, suffer financial hardship, or have a loved one die. How will we comfort ourselves then? There is no formula for a relationship with the Lord or a meaningful life. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that gives us a desire for and appreciation of the quality of life that only Christ can offer. This is eternal life in Christ.

Are you still using formulas or equations to make your life “work”? Instead, won’t you seek God’s involvement on the most intimate level? Will this be your desire today?

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down but, a good word makes him glad…A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.” (Proverbs 12;25; 15:13)

Yesterday my third great-nephew was born, which was an occasion of great joy for me. I was in close touch with his father and mother through her pregnancy and even received the first ultrasound image from them. When he arrived yesterday, it was a day of distracted celebration, even more than I expected. I received at least four pictures of his cute little face that I wanted to show to everyone. I was honestly surprised at the intensity of my happiness since I’m not a grandmother, just a blessed single great-aunt. I’ve had plenty of experience with anxiety and a sorrowful heart but not as much with a glad heart. Perhaps you’ve had more experience with gladness than sorrow. In either case, it is essential to know what weighs our hearts down and crushes our spirits, and what makes our hearts glad.

We’ve considered a guilty conscience and the accusations of Satan as two causes for a burdened heart. Let’s look at another discouraging, burdensome influence: The Law of God. Yes, you did just read that. God’s holy law is under consideration here, not his Word in its entirety but the specific Old Testament Law given to Israel, and that is still in effect for us today. The world and the devil like to throw The Law in our face to prove that we are guilty of breaking it. And we are. No one (except Jesus Christ) can obey the Ten Commandments. God does not expect us to keep them; “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). The Law cannot help us to obey it or God but reveals God’s righteous character to us and his standards for his people. The Ten Commandments are meant to be our tutor until the grace of God in Christ saves us. (See Galatians 4:1-5.) In this respect (only), the law is a burden and sorrow to our guilty, accused hearts.

The gospel, on the other hand, is the good word that gladdens our hearts and lifts our spirits. Jesus fulfilled The Law through the gospel and gave us the grace we need to obey God by his power, not ours. Through the gospel, we have forgiveness of sin, our greatest need and the only thing that can unburden our souls. Such was the case when “…some people brought to [Jesus] a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2) The gospel grants us the ability to cast our anxieties on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7) and share encouraging words and deeds with others (James 2:18-22). Jesus is the source of our most profound joy imaginable.

How will you speak to yourself and others today? Will you pressure and burden yourself by misusing God’s the law as a hammer? Or will you graciously speak of mercy and forgiveness, gladdening you and others with the gospel?

“Whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.” (1 John 3:20-21)

Sometimes our godly desires conflict with our sinful desires (Monday’s post). Other times we have desires that can be met in different ways, or with different options (Tuesday’s post). Then there are times when we have good aspirations but feel guilty anyway. Why should we feel bad when we have confessed our sins to God (and others, if necessary) and we are making good choices?

I believe there are at least two answers to this question. First of all, I usually am guilty of sins that are unknown to me because I am a sinner. In this case, my guilt is real before God who is perfect. No matter how much we confess, we will never be able to acknowledge everything because we deceive ourselves. The gospel of Jesus Christ has the best news  when we find our hearts condemning us. He has died for our sins, even those which are unknown to us. We see this truth in Scripture, “the Word of God that acquits believers must prevail over the word of our hearts that condemns us.” (1) It is essential that we believe that God is greater than the contents and desires of our hearts; this wisdom contributes to our assurance of salvation in Christ, and therefore, to our living lives of joyful faith with him.

Another reason why we may experience shame is that Satan and the world consistently attack our security and confidence. A quotation from Martin Luther offers insight into this phenomenon and the remedy for it:

“When the devil accuses us and says, ‘You are a sinner and therefore damned,’ we     should answer, ‘Because you say I am a sinner, I will be righteous and saved.’  ‘No,’ says the devil, ‘you will be damned.’  And I reply, ‘No, for I fly to Christ, who gave himself for my sins. Satan, you will not prevail against me when you try to terrify me by setting forth the greatness of my sins and try to bring me into heaviness, distrust, despair, hatred, contempt and blasphemy against God.  On the contrary, when you say I am a sinner, you give me armor and weapons against yourself, so that with your own sword I may cut your throat and tread you under my feet, for Christ died for sinners…As often as you object that I am a sinner, so often you remind me of the benefit of Christ my Redeemer, on whose shoulders, and not on mine, lie all my sins.”  (2)

Therefore, having confessed our sins, we rejoice in the cleansing of our consciences by our Lord and say with Paul, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience.” (Acts 23:1) Do you have this confidence in Christ, who is greater than your heart?

(1)   Reformation Study Bible, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), 2015, text note for 1 John 3:21

(2)   Martin Luther, commenting on Galatians 1:4, quotation found at The Gospel Coalition’s website: thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/ray-ortlund/how-to-fight-the-accuser/

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” (Philippians 1:21-26)

The Book of James warns and teaches us about conflicting desires. But not all conflicting desires are wrong. There are times when we may have to choose between two good things or two different people. A young man may decide which Christian woman to marry, having many choices. A believer can choose between many careers, serving God vocationally, as well as serving him in other ways. There have probably been times when you had to choose between two beneficial projects, career plans, purchases, or ministries. How did you make your decision?

Paul’s struggle, described in Philippians informs us in this matter. The apostle writes that he had two opposing desires: to die (physically) to be with Christ or pushing on in this life to serve God’s people. He chose the more challenging desire that took more faith—to live for the sake of the church, although he felt poured out and used up (2 Timothy 4:6). Often the decision between two good things might be to do that which is harder and requires more faith. Jesus always did what took more faith. He died an atoning, sacrificial death for us, that was excruciatingly painful, requiring the utmost confidence in his Father. Christians are to follow and imitate him. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:3-8).

We do not have the choice Paul described in Philippians, as only God determines whether we live or die. Paul is presenting us with a theological challenge. Confronted with Jesus’s fantastic sacrifice, I must question my motives and desires for living—do I live for Christ or myself? Given the choice of how to spend my time and energy (and perhaps my money), will I do that which is more challenging and takes more faith, or will I shrink back into comfort? What will you choose today?

“You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:2-4)

One of the most awkward times for a Christian comes when a friend or acquaintance asks for prayer that is unbiblical or inappropriate. Perhaps you have called a neighbor who has been sick for a week or so, to see how she is doing. Her health has not improved, so you offer to pray on the phone with her. What do you say when she asks you to pray for her healing by the next morning, so she won’t have to see a doctor. Someone in your family is has had financial difficulties over an extended period. They ask that you pray for a miracle check in the mail, rather than for wise financial management. What do you do?

James says that we don’t have something because we don’t ask. It’s great that people we know want us to pray, and hopefully, want to pray themselves. Jesus prayed often. One of my friends recently mentioned that she is reading a book on prayer because she wants to pray more effectively and wholeheartedly. I am glad there are many books on prayer, and many good examples of prayer, especially in the Bible, since most of us need all the help we can get. However, James also rebukes us for praying wrongly (to indulge our worldly desires) and therefore receiving nothing. One mistake Christian often make is viewing prayer as a formula; praying rightly equals getting what I desire. Instead, I propose that we should consider the first and primary benefit of prayer as “getting” the mind and heart of God by being united with him as we pray. Prayerlessness results in failure to receive many of God’s blessings, the foremost of which is fellowship with Christ.

If our desires are all material and carnal, our prayers will be ineffective since we are not engaging the Lord with our hearts but with our lusts. If we do so unintentionally, we should hope that God will confront us through Scripture and the witness of the Holy Spirit, and possibly through feedback from others, when we pray among fellow believers. Our prayers should have a purifying influence on our desires when we bring our praise, thanksgiving, confessions, and requests to the Lord. When our prayers are not consistent with God’s revealed will in Scripture, he is not pleased. Prayers that do not seek God’s glory first and foremost will likely fall on deaf ears. When Israel refused to repent of her idolatry God sent Jeremiah to confront them saying, “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?” (Jeremiah 7:16-17)

The next time you gravitate toward, or someone asks for inappropriate prayer, will you remember and put to use James’ warning? Will you ask God to make your desire for fellowship with Christ the most pressing desire of your heart?