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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Wisdom Project 2/23



Proverbs 23 - NIV
Proverbs 23 - ESV

Proverbs 23:23 . . .
Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.


Commentary:
There is only one way to buy something - pay for it. So buying the truth requires paying a price for it. All buying requires ranking your desires, for no man can afford everything. You spend your limited resources by the priorities you set. And here Solomon tells you to put truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding at the top of the list (Proverbs 4:5,7; 16:16).

And once you buy it, don't sell it to anyone - keep it. Because others will offer to buy it from you. How? By offering you their pleasure or distraction in exchange for truth. And Solomon tells you not to give these four back to anyone for any amount (Proverbs 3:18; 4:13).

What is the cost? Truth will cost you friends, for most prefer lies, superstition, and tradition (Proverbs 13:20). Wisdom will cost you ease, for only fools believe and do anything they wish. Instruction will cost you pride, for you must accept correction by another. And understanding will cost you peace, for you will know the world's insanity (Eccl. 1:18).

From: Let God Be True

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the Daily Proverbs Reading Assignment.

24 comments:

Carrie L. said...

In this chapter Solomon is warning his son about riches(that are not of God) and to stay away from those drunk on wine. He urges his son to buy truth, and don't sell it; get wisdom, discipline, and understanding. We should not be envious of sinners but should always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

I need to hide truth, wisdom, discipline, and understanding in my heart and make sure they never depart from me. May my zeal for the fear of the LORD never cease.

Tim K. said...

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad;
16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
These are 2 of the many verses in Proverbs that have reminded me that my job as a parent is not to turn my children into copies of myself. I also should not try to make all of their preferances the same as mine (music, attire, literature). What should be my goal is to impart wisdom to my children and what should bring me joy is not simply that they are moral, but that they have choosen the wisdom of GOD by fearing the LORD.

Cody F said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cody F said...

Verse 17 talks about not envying sinners, but seeking after the Lord. The following verse talks about the future and the reward for not envying them. I think I need to be careful not to do that, I need to live my life in such a way that sinners are envious of what I have, I shouldn't be envious of what they have because I have Christ and thats about as good as it gets.

Jim Morrison said...

Verse 23 - We are told to buy the truth, to get or buy wisdom, understanding and discipline. Prov 1:7 tells us that wisdom comes from our fear of the Lord. This relationship with our Lord brings us wisdom and it is going to cost us something we are going to have to buy it. The cost is a life given to Him where we have given up the things of the world as our focus and moved our focus to Him. The cost is a sacrificial giving of ourselves. Romans 12:1 tells us"...to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."

Anonymous said...

21. Response 2/23/2010 9:01:22 AM
Proverbs 23:23 . . .
Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.
This passage speaks of the great value that wisdom and understanding ought to have in the believer’s life. I think that this passage exhorts the believer to obtain wisdom and understanding and esteem it as the most valuable possessions.
John Erbentraut

Ashlie said...

I like how verse 12 says that we should apply to the heart instruction. Not just hear it and forget but really apply what has been said to us. The last part talks about hearing with your ears the words of knowledge. When someone who is wiser then us gives advice we should hear and apply what has been offered.

Unknown said...

“All buying requires ranking your desires, for no man can afford everything. You spend your limited resources by the priorities you set.” This quote is a good introduction to any class on stewardship and finances; and especially one’s that deal with personal development and goal setting. “And here Solomon tells you to put truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding at the top of the list.” By genuinely seeking any of these four – the gaining of the other three is a natural byproduct of this godly pursuit. May our prayer include the acquisition of any of these four in our ‘people encounters’ and experiences throughout the day. Mike T.

Krista Harrison said...

My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart too will be glad.
16 My inmost being [4] will exult
when your lips speak what is right.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners,
but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day... this chapter has so many warnings and so much value! It talks about not envying the sinner and that the foolish are stingy with their money. This was a good reminder for me because I often used to get frustrated because many of my friends lived their lives for themsleves and they are very happy living in their sin. The blog was also a good reminder to count the cost. Sometimes the truth costs you a friend. That is such a reality that is tough to swollen but we must place such an importance on wisdom and having a genuine heart for wisdom and discernment.

Sarah said...

Verse 13 and 14 is a good reminder to parents that do not punish their children; or to parents that are afraid to punish their children. I personally do not like punishing kids when I am babysitting, but it is a good way for them to learn from there mistakes. People need to understand that punishing a child is a good thing and will help them in the future. Also the verses are not talking about beating the child either, there is a difference between abuse and punishment.

Nate said...

As I sit here quickly writing this report before I go to taco bell I am slightly convicted about the warnings this proverbs gives us about the way we eat and drink. Now I am still going to taco bell but I do realize that to over indulge in something it can become like an idol to us and that is a sin. Also how often do I forget that my body is a temple and therefore I am supposed to care for it with great care because it is something that God created and cares very much for! I understand their are deeper theological concepts in this chapter but the food and drink really stuck out to me. I also found the warnings about alcohol interesting. The path that the alcoholic takes does not sound fun at all and for me my conviction would be to stay vary far away from it!

Unknown said...

Proverbs 23:17
"Let not your heart envy sinners,
but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day."
- Being jealous of the life of sinners is easy to do because it "seems" like they get to have the pleasures of sin in their life without having the immediate consequences, but in reality they are miserable and have no hope or joy and will be punished for eternity if we as Christians aren't living testimonies to them and are witnessing daily to those unsaved around us.

Rachel said...

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you."
I thought these verses interesting to consider, particularly since this idea was put forth in the previous chapter. Historically, this verse refers to the stones set for property boundaries; they were erected and meant to remain. To move them was to cheat someone out of their rightful land allotment. While today, we are not perhaps so concerned with shifting the borders of our properties, it is a warning to be wary of how we influence situations and sway decisions. It is always better to be honest and be left without something we desired than to gain out of deception or dishonesty. Even if it will not be evident to man, God knows the heart.

TWash said...

Verse 17 talks about not envying sinners, but seeking after the Lord.Throughout high school and sometimes now, I think to myself, man all my unsaved friends seemed to just be having such a goodtime and I am here constantly battling the sin in my life. Satan uses that as a tool to get us to just cave! I have caved before and you do not end up having a goodtime! The more we seek after God and his Word, we see the way it protects and shows His love for us!

Erin said...

Proverbs 23:4,5, "Do not wear youself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." To me this verse is saying to be preoccupied with the riches of the world b/c you never know when they can get taken away, but keep your eyes on the eternal riches in Heaven.

Mandi said...

12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge. this is a lifestyle that i need to be living i need to be applying my heart to instruction of the Word of God and listen to the knowledge that people give me.

Mandi said...

12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge. this is a lifestyle that i need to be living i need to be applying my heart to instruction of the Word of God and listen to the knowledge that people give me.

Renee said...

When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.

So many people in the world are starving and in need of food, yet at BBC we sometimes complain of the quality of food in the cafeteria. I don't think that in America we even know when we have had enough. We may know when we are full but that is going past what would be sufficient. I need to really think about what I eat and how that effects me and my relationship with God.

Unknown said...

thank god my dad abided by vs13-14... im bad enough, Lord knows how bad ide be if i wasnt disciplined

SarahK said...

Normally I can see the connection between all the different proverbs in one chapter...this one, I'm just not seeing it. It looks to me like like its kind of just like everywhere. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something?

Unknown said...

“Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (23:23).
What is truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding? These four things are not merely abstract pieces of knowledge or practical information. Jesus Christ is the Truth (Jn. 14:6) and He is Wisdom (Pr. 8:22). The invitation to learn and grow in understanding is an invitation to deepen one’s faith.

Unknown said...

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
These two verses show me that we are not to envy people that may have it better than we do maybe financially or things like that but be thankful that we have the fear of the Lord. That is our hope. We are not to hope in this world but in Christ who will one day come back to take us to our real home.

Unknown said...

Verse 17 says to not envy the wicked, but to focus on the fear of the Lord. Too many times we're jealous because unbelievers/"lukewarm" Christians are getting blessed or getting away with things we don't think that they deserve. But verse 17 says to ignore that and fear the Lord.

Gabe Vanderstel said...

15. "My son, if your is wise, My heart will rejoice- indeed I myself;
16. Yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things"

Nothing brings more Joy to the Father's heart than seeing his son act out in wisdom. This is a reminder to me to seek wisdom. Nothing will honor my father and mother more than living a live defined mt wisdom and godliness.