The Foundation for Wise Choices

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS

In our passage today, the Bible identifies three gifts from God intended to enable believers to make right decisions. These three gifts are knowledge, wisdom, and reproof. Knowledge involves factual information that enables the believer to possess details before making a decision. The Lord rebukes the simple by pointing out that “they hated knowledge” (Proverbs 1:29). Because they hated knowledge, the people failed to choose the fear of the Lord. Wisdom, on the other hand, involves the proper use of the knowledge provided by God for the individual. Wisdom takes the facts obtained and uses them to make the right choices. The last of the three gifts completes the package. Reproof entails the enlightenment of error. Knowledge, wisdom, and reproof work together to enable believers to choose wisely and properly.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Learn everything you can about God and His word. He will help you make the right choices for any decision you face. Learn why mom and dad say "no" to things and be grateful they love you enough to stop you from making some bad decisions.

• (For everyone): Knowledge turns out to be the most foundational of the three things mentioned in the passage. Where do you think you can obtain true knowledge? What are you doing to obtain that knowledge?

• How you accept reproof reveals much about your heart. How do you respond when your errors are pointed out to you by those who love you? How do you react? Do you fix the problems or give excuses and continue in them?

PRAYER THOUGHTS

• Wisdom is a necessity for the believer. According to the Bible, God will give wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5). Ask God to give you the wisdom necessary to make wise choices.

• Ask God to help you understand the importance of making wise choices and to help in making them more frequently.

SONG: Holy Bible, Book Divine

Pastor Andrew Ray

Devotions on Wise Decisions