Wisdom #25 Part 3

It's All About Action

It's our last segment of the Wisdom series.  We finish up Chapter 31 of Proverbs this week with an examination of the final 12 verses.  In these verses we get a clearer description of what Wisdom is to us, does for us and works through us. We hope you enjoy.

In keeping with last week's Activation, we will look at each verse on its own and supply you with an individual Activation before summing things up.  You can follow along in the Bible by clicking here.

20 Wisdom looks at the less fortunate and operates to assist and lift them up.  It works to provide  needs for them both spiritually and temporally.

Activation:  Look for those in need in your community and church and offer assistance where you can.  Watch as this develops you in the Kingdom of God.

21 Wisdom isn't afraid of harsh times because it has already prepared for the lean times.  The term here for scarlet intimates blood, which can be interpreted as prophetic statement of the blood of Jesus.  Also, at the time, Solomon may have meant it as the covering of the annual sacrifice in Jewish culture, which Christ took the place of. 

Activation:  Look at the harsh times in your life through the filter of the blood of Jesus.  Know that he has paid the ultimate price and His blood covers all situations.

22 Wisdom is covered in purity (silk) and royalty (purple).  When we choose to take on God as our leader, we purify our lives and come into His family.  

Activation:  Let God purify you as you follow Him and watch as this brings you further into His Kingdom and purposes.  Listen to what He says to take on and put off as this will be what allows you to further purify yourself.

23 Wisdom sets up the Great I AM to be on full display.  Wisdom works to herald God in the community in which it operates. 

Activation:  Let God's Wisdom guide you in how to herald Him in your community.  Let the Word and communication with God in prayer lead you in what to say, when to say it and how to say it.  Then, let God show up and get the glory.

24 Wisdom doesn't just make coverings and produce for its own.  Wisdom creates opportunity for everyone to come to God.  It is active in the community and provides quality to all.

Activation:  Work on putting quality into your witness.  Ensure that what you are providing is true, right and helpful to those you deliver it.  As you provide quality counsel, opportunity, witness and help, watch as people gravitate to what you provide rather than you having to push it.

25 Wisdom doesn't produce week and worthless things.  It empowers people and makes them feel valued.  Moreover, it brings with it a celebration that is contagious.

Activation:  Get excited about what you are bringing to your community!  Look at the strength and honor inherent in your witness and know that you are providing something of value to those around you.  Let this drive you in your witness each day.

26 Wisdom is in our actions, but it is wrapped around our words.  Everything that we say and believe must be tied to what God is and expresses.  Moreover, we must express our wisdom with kindness, not judgment or harshness.

Activation:  Make sure that your words are directly tied to God's Wisdom.  If you are providing advice, encouragement or any other kind of verbal cue to an individual or group, make sure that you have tried your words in the fire of Wisdom.  Also, make sure that you say what needs to be said with kindness.

27 & 28  Wisdom loves the community, but it also takes care of its own.  It doesn't plop down on the couch after a hard day.  It looks to get involved actively in the lives of those who are closest to it. As a result, it gets blessed.

Activation:  Don't let the end of your work/school day/week be a signal for idleness.  Look around at home and your church to see how you can get actively involved in helping out to make those around you feel better. Watch how this thoughtfulness breeds reward in your life.

29 There's a lot of good ideas and philosophies out there.  Man has come up with some noble ways to treat each other.  However, none compare to the virtuous ways of God's Wisdom.  Through it, we can truly accomplish anything.

Activation:  Don't run down every other way of thinking.  However, know that the way you believe is best.  Look into other ways of thinking, though to find where there are similarities.  Use these similarities in conversations to bridge the gap between yourself and other people.

30 Proverbs starts with a note on being devoted to God and here it ends with one.  Wisdom is devoted and loyal to God in all things and doesn't stray from His leading. As a result, it finds praise from all others.

Activation: Ensure that your devotion to God is sound.  All the pledges of commitment and lists of how many times you will meet with God are meaningless if you don't follow through.  Commit to being devoted and watch the spiritual blessings that are produced

31 Wisdom gets what it puts in.  That's a fitting end to Proverbs and a fitting end to our Activation series on Wisdom.  We've committed to almost half a year of looking at God's way of wisdom, and we've discovered a lot of things.  One key element has been present in all of our Activations, though.  Doing it.  Wisdom isn't something that just comes to us.  It's something we acquire as we go through life.  The wisdom we acquire will either be good or wicked, strong or foolish, based on the decisions we make and the actions that result.  God gave us a playbook for how to operate with His Wisdom.  We just have to use it.

Activation: 

Commit to reading through Proverbs regularly to cement and grow God's Wisdom into your life. 

We hope that this series has helped you.  We will preview our new series next week.  It will encompass both our Activation and Service devotions.  We look forward to sharing it with you and hope you have a blessed day.