We're going through Proverbs in our Spoken Word Bible Plan reading right now. The word "proverb" is the Hebrew word "mashal", which means: a pithy maxim. Pithy means: concise, brief, condensed, to the point, crisp; and maxim means: a general truth or fundamental principle. So the book of Proverbs is filled with condensed points of fundamental truth! Here is a portion of today's reading from Proverbs 4:5-9:
5 Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). 8 Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. 9 She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.
Notice that this is NOT speaking of getting an academic education! It is speaking of WISDOM, which comes from God alone, through knowledge and understanding of His Word! THAT is why people in the time of the early church marveled at the everyday fishermen who could speak so knowledgeably about God and His Word! YOU can be such a person IF you make study and meditation in the Word your top priority! Memorizing will not do it! It is only through meditation, with the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, that we can learn to know and understand how to DO the Word! Look at Joshua 1:8:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP
When we SEE it, then we can DO it! When we DO it, we will receive the promised results! What is keeping YOU from daily and diligent study AND meditation of the Word? Nothing is more important to your spiritual growth! When Martha complained to Jesus that Mary wasn't helping her serve food, Jesus said THIS to her in Luke 10:42:
42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her. AMP
WE are all busy everyday with many things, but only ONE is NEEDFUL! I hope that YOU will choose that "good portion" for yourself! AMEN! Here is another Hillsong Christmas song called "The Reason Why":
Shalom in Him!
