People, Wise and Otherwise

Scripture

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

~Proverbs 8:13, NIV

Quote

If the other planets are inhabited, they must be using earth as their insane asylum.

~George Bernard Shaw

Some years ago a Country Music singer {Billy Currington} had a song entitled: “God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.” It’s a fact that Country Music singers are not theologians but bless Billy, it got two out of three: God is great and people are crazy. I have a sermon based on this song title: God is great, Jesus is good and people are crazy.” In Proverbs there are at least five different kinds of people: the wicked, the wise, the scoffer [fun maker], the simple and the fool. There is a lot in Proverbs about the wise and Dr. Wiersbe {who I understand is still living and calls Junior Hill from time to time} gives us ten characteristics of a wise person in his commentary on Proverbs.

  1. WISE PEOPLE LISTEN to instruction, especially from the word of God.
  2. WISE PEOPLE PROFIT FROM REBUKE. They are teachable and will take correction.
  3. WISE PEOPLE FEAR THE LORD
  4. WISE PEOPLE HANG OUT WITH WISE PEOPLE
  5. WISE PEOPLE PRESERVE AND CONSERVE. They are not wasteful. They are note takers. They learn from mistakes.
  6. WISE PEOPLE SHUN EVIL. They have a healthy fear of evil and want nothing to do with it.
  7. WISE PEOPLE DO NOT TAKE FOOLISH RISKS. They don’t tempt God nor toy with destruction.
  8. WISE PEOPLE PRACTICE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
  9. WISE PEOPLE ARE DILIGENT IN THEIR WORK. They don’t goof off and waste time.
  10. WISE MEN SEEK CHRIST AND POINT OTHERS TO CHRIST.

There is supporting scripture for all ten but I spent the day at the hospital and put this together this morning very early. I didn’t have much time because I wanted to get a little sleep. As I have said a hundred times, we never know what a day will bring forth. I was doing my morning bible study when Hannah called to tell me about Larry. I was not expecting this: I knew he was sick but I thought we had more time. His lungs were full of fluid and they had to sedate him to keep him from fighting for breath. It took the medication a few minutes to work and then he went to sleep. He was able to talk to the family before they put him under. Larry was still living when I left at midnight but his prognosis is not good. We need to pray for this entire family. They have suffered a lot of loses in the past few years. I want to thank my small group for praying yesterday. God bless you all and I hope you have a good day. Happy birthday Mandy, she is 39 today.

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