The Republican., 1947-08-07


1T IS we'll for US to face squarely
such a topic as the one assigned
Il is particularly necessary to re-
view the biblical standards with re-
gard to holiness of life, since the
day in which we live is one of
lowered conceptions.
You will probably remember the
story of the celebrated artist who
was renowned because of his ability
to put on canvas colors of accurate
hue and great beauty. His secret
was that he kept q number of Valu-
able gems of all colors. He would
turn frequently from his painting to
study the color of these gems.
We need to spend time with the
precious gems Of the Word of God
that we may clearly understand
how he would have us live.
/. True Wisdom Involves the Fear
of Jehovah (Prov. 2:1-5).
IN THE opening chapters of Prov
erbs, Wisdom is personihed.
& Anyone who believes in Jesus
Christ cannot help understanding
something of his relationship to wis
DOM In him care hid all the treas
ures of wisdom and knowledge"
(Col. 2:3). To those of us who trust
him, he has been made unto US wis
dom Il Cor. 1:30).
In this passage in Proverbs the
point is that if we observe his COM
mandments, if we incline our ears
unto wisdom, if we apply our hearts
to understanding, if we long for dis
comment, as earnestly as we would
seek for silver and hidden treasures.
we shall understand the fear of the
Lord and find the knowledge of God
God will meet every Individual
who really wants to know him.
Said our Lord, "If any man will
eth to do his will, he shall
know :" John 7:17).
II. True Wisdom Involves Holi-
ness Of Life (Prov. 2:1O-17; 4:14-17;
5:1-4.
TO truly know God is, Of course,
Il to be spared the heartache
which results from being deceived
by sin and Satan. When wisdom
enters the heart, the result is dis
cretion and understanding prov.
2:10, IL. Thus God delivers us
from the way Of evil and from
men that speak evil things ".
12).
Attention should be given to the
description of these evil men in
verses 1915: they speak perverse
things: they forsake the paths of
uprightness; they walk in the ways
of darkness; they rejoice to do evil;
they delight in the perverseness of
evil; their paths are crooked and
wayWard
Deliverance from the strange
woman is likewise vouchsafcd, as
we have true wisdom. The descrip-
ton of these women is informative
-fattering, forgotiul of both friends
and God; their lips drop honey,
their mouths are smoother than oil.
Notice the conclusion of the
matter: In the end they are bitter
as Wormwood, sharp as a two
edged sword, their feet go down to
death, and their steps take hold on
Sheol.
How much we need Gods wis
dom in this world. II is easy to be
deceived.
III. True Wisdom Means Peace
at the End prov. 4:18-2O.
TO walk with God, to walk in
l. wisdom, is indeed as the dawn
ing light, shining more and more
unto the perfect day. If there were
no other reward for living for God
(and there are many, many 9th
ers), the benedicti0n at eventide
would be enough to cause us to
think seriously before we font the
ways of God.
". A Representative Of True Wis
dom (Prov. 31:10-12).
THIS passage describes the wise
4 woman She is indeed to be eX-
tolled. The worthy woman, the
woman who loves God, the woman
who is therefore wise, is in price far
above rubies.
V. Sins History (James l;13-15).
THE wise man, the man who will
L be pure in heart and life, ought
to understand something of the his
tory of sin in his individual life.
Temptation here refers undoubt-
edly to a solicitation to evil. God
does make trial of men (Gen. 22:D,
but he does not dangle before them
that which is evil in itself.
The history of personal evil is,
that because OF our lust we are
enticed. Thus when lust has con
ceived Chat is to say, we have
Succumbed to the enticemen0,
sin is born, and sin, when If is fin
ished--but it is never finished;
it goes on and on; no power on
earth can arrest it - bringeth
forth death.
Released by Western Newspaper Union.