PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

The fact of the matter is that the Scriptures tells us what kind of friends we ought to have, and frankly a whole lot about what kind of friends we should not have. The concept of biblical separation is not just a New Testament church doctrine. There’s just an awful lot of times that there are folks that are damaging to ourselves, to our families and so on, and whom we actually do not help by fellowshipping with them. Sometimes folks need to know that they are living right, and that's one of the things the Bible teaches.

TODAY’S VERSE:

“Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding” (Proverbs 9:4-6).

This is talking about wisdom in particular. Wisdom is speaking, and she says in verse four, “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hitter; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.” Verse 6 says, “Forsake the foolish, and live.”

Well, verse 6 says, “Forsake the foolish, and live.” Folks, a fool can get you killed. If he doesn’t get you killed physically, which is all too often the case, he can kill your spiritual walk with God. A fool will get you killed spiritually, okay? If the blind lead the blind, they both will fall into the ditch. We need to find somebody teaching and preaching the Bible; not just teaching and preaching the traditions of the church and empty, vain rituals.

Well, verse 6 says, “Forsake the foolish, and live,” and then it says, “and go in the way of understanding.” What about this “way of understanding?” This is in the context of what? This is in the context of a woman, or wisdom. It is likened to a woman from verses 1 down through verse 12; and then it takes up another woman in verse 13. We’ll look at her in another study.

So, it says back here in verse 6, “. . . and go in the way of understanding,” and if we look back at Proverbs 6:32, it says “. . . but whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding.” So, it says, “go in the way of understanding,” it's not saying that you better go and take a college course, it’s saying that you better watch out what you doing and who you are hanging around with, right? “Forsake the foolish, and live and go in the way of understanding.”

“Forsake the foolish, and live.” This is separation, “and go in the way of understanding.” That right there is the narrow way of Matthew 7:13. What is going to happen to you if you decide to go the Bible way is that people are going to say that you are “narrow-minded.” They are going to say that you think that you are right and everybody else is wrong. Well, if we didn’t, we would think just like everybody else.

Yes, we absolutely believe that we are right. It’s not because we thought it up, it is what the Word of God says—and we believe what the Bible says. I’ve got convictions, and I believe that I am right and everybody else that doesn’t hold to those convictions are wrong. Seriously! Do you know how stupid it is for men to say that all have a little bit about everything, and we can all know a little of the truth. That’s ridiculous! The Bible says that the majority are lost and are on their way to hell. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 KJV). To say different is to call Jesus Christ a liar.

Man, if we don’t believe that we are right, then what exactly are we believing? The Bible is not someone’s mere opinion, it is the Word of God! People are so wishy-washy that they don’t know what they believe.

“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding,” biblical separation.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let's read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let's keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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Bump.