The Stuff of Daily Living

MEMORY VERSE: “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” —Proverbs 3:13-14

PROVERBS 3:5-8, 13, 14; 15:1-4; 23:19-21

EVERY mature child of God must learn well and appreciate the sentiment of these verses. Surely experience has taught him the imperfection of his own judgment and the weakness of all human counsel. In order thus to trust the Lord, a knowledge of his Word and the plan of salvation that it reveals is very important. This knowledge gives the child of the Lord a basis, or a means of appreciating the infallibility of the Heavenly Father. We think of the judgment and wisdom that is so wonderfully illustrated in the material creation of the universe, and especially in the design and administration of the divine plan of the ages. As we meditate concerning this wonderful plan, we recognize that only God could have conceived it.

The child of the Lord learns through a further study of his Word that not only is God capable of perfect performance, but he is faithful to his word. Solomon expressed this thought at the dedication of the completed temple, “Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. … Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.”—I Kings 8:56,61

And such has been the experience of all the footstep followers of the Master—not one promise has failed. Truly God deserves the confidence and trust of his people!

Solomon, speaking under the holy influence of God, says, “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.”—Prov. 2:1-8

Here we are reminded that it is only those who yearn and cry out to know more of the Lord whom the Lord rewards with a knowledge of himself. This is the gift of God, and during the Gospel Age this knowledge comes as a result of the operation of the Holy Spirit upon the minds of his people, revealing to them the deep things of God. This is true wisdom. (I Cor. 2:9-16) It is through this revealed knowledge that the true child of the Lord is enabled to know his will and, with the Lord’s help, be obedient to it, for he will “preserve the way of his saints.”

The Apostle James emphasizes to the child of the Lord the very powerful influence that the tongue—a little member—has on the lives of others. This influence can be for good or for evil. Our text says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” The Apostle James states, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8) But this does not mean that we should not endeavor to control it, for our words can be, if directed by the Holy Spirit, a comfort and an encouragement to our brethren. The wise man says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Prov. 25:11) So it behooves the child of the Lord to make every effort to control his thoughts and his tongue to edification.—Ps. 145:11; Gal. 3:16; Isa. 50:4

Finally, the wise man admonishes the child of the Lord, “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.” (Prov. 23:19) The Apostle Paul, quoting from the Prophet Isaiah, in like manner admonishes the child of the Lord, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (II Cor. 6:17) To participate in excesses is to serve evil, for it is an expression of lust and the way of the worldly. The true child of the Lord will separate himself from these things and walk in the way of the Lord.

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