Thursday’s Blog – Wait on the LORD

Thursday’s Blog – Wait on the LORD

Proverbs 23:5 – Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

Bible Challenges and Comments

A man suffered a heart attack while shopping. The EMT’s rushed the man to the nearest hospital and open heart surgery was provided. Recovering from the surgery he found himself face to face with a nun. The nun was seated next to his bed holding a clipboard loaded with several forms. She was the admitting and billing clerk. "Do you have health insurance?" she asked. He replied in a raspy voice, "No health insurance." She asked, "Do you have money with which to pay?" He replied, "No money!" Do you have a relative who could help you with the payments?" irritated; He said, "I only have a spinster sister, and she is a nun." The nun too became agitated and promptly replied, "Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God." The patient replied, "Perfect. Send the bill to my brother-in-law."

The world around us is NO JOKE yet we are often challenged to take living life with the attitude that whatever I want to do is okay with God, He is footing the bill anyway; isn’t He? If you have ever thought about storing up wealth in this way, my advice would be to “stop” since there is enough evidence in the world that those who gain riches by the standards of the world will reap a whirlwind of trouble. In nearly every chapter of Proverbs there is a warning to the people about gathering riches when it is the Will of God that your “first” gathering to or from God is to trust in Him.

Now I know you are thinking as I do, most of Proverbs was written by the richest man on earth during his time on earth and so why does he down play getting a larger wallet? The main reason is that Solomon understood the blessing of God for people who totally trusted Him. Mankind cannot keep a promise to himself or anyone else and I know you know this. For example when was the last time you totally fulfilled a promise, the truth is that since we have a poor track record in keeping promises we no longer like using the word in our normal day at the office.

Now why is how Solomon is able to write in the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes about the skill of living and value of practical wisdom and downplay the gathering of riches that will fly away? First, Solomon understood that God is the One and only Promise Keeper and One who promises and brings about blessing, He alone accomplishes this

2 Chronicles 1:6-12 – And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?" And God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king-- wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

Living skillfully and practicing wisdom is not a man-made exercise of self will. Like Solomon; when we seek blessing and promise, we must seek it from God, God never fails because God will never leave you. Even when Solomon turned his back to God, God did not take away Solomon’s wisdom or wealth; note Genesis 28:15 and Hebrews 13:5. God keeps His promises.