In yesterday’s devotional we spoke about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples about how in His world He chose us above Him and how we are called to do the same, to not focus on our own personal gain but to look for guidance on being a disciple for Him.

 

I personally love proverbs 4 (and not just because wisdom is referred to as female) I find it to be a simplistic, yet effective set of guidelines. The bible has never tricked us into questioning what is right and wrong. It does not refer to great philosophers who sit and ponder life’s definitions on marble steps in Athens.

 

‘Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you.' Proverbs 4:6 

 

There are many conversations on becoming close to God, there are many discussions on how to seek Him, how to hear Him and be in His presence. A relationship with God is so special, it WILL literally change your entire life.

 

Yet once you hold a love so great we are called to change ourselves. To seek Him and be as He called us to be.

 

This Proverb speaks on the importance of wisdom. Words like ‘protect, get understanding, cost you all you have, accept what I say, instruct you in the way of wisdom, lead you along straight paths’ you see the trend?

 

To seek a relationship means to seek ALL parts of God. The Proverbs were before Jesus returned and they speak of a good way to live a life in accordance with what God has spoken for His people.

 

Basically it’s a ‘life rule book’. We are taught right and wrong and speak on a Child's ability to see in black and white, yet along the way we ourselves began mixing them and created hues of grey.

 

This world has become complex, we are offered things we are unsure of to be Godly, or dressed up as Godly. 

 

With the opportunity of  a virtual world becoming a full time occupation we no longer are bound to the restrictions that the typical 9-5 creates.

Our place in society can alternate and we can find ourselves living in a place of desire for what we and we alone wish for.

 

It may not seem ‘black and white’ in the sense of ‘is this good or bad?’ But it does allow for hues of grey to creep in if we let them.

 

‘Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life’ proverbs 4:13 

 

As we seek a closeness to God we must realise that God is Holy and while we will never be perfect we can still offer a life of resilience and grace. 

 

We must always seek a real and genuine connection to the Father but if we live and continue to live in sin the realisticness of that becomes much lower. God doesn’t want us not to live in constant fulfillment. But the world uses instant gratification strategies for us to believe that those instant hits of dopamine is purpose to this life we live.

 

I have met a lot of good hearted dumb christians in my time.

 

And even those whose hearts are well intentioned they do fall short. 

 

Because the road to hell is pathed with good intentions.

 

Boundaries is not a sexy word. And the stigma of being a ‘bible basher christian’ ‘boring’ and in essence someone whose values are not aligning with what we are shown should be our own.

 

It took me a bit longer than I care to admit to bring my boundaries back to a place where they aligned with what God expects of me.

I showed desire, I watched a pattern and I made a choice. I openly posted about sobriety and how I hoped such accomplishment will bring my work goal closer, for the social element I was gaining was not worth what I was losing.

 

The identification of what I was losing is something many don’t often see. And to be truthful it was only shown when I stepped back from the social elements and saw what I could achieve. 

This chapter speaks on wisdom and I know, I was holding instant gratification-not wisdom. 

 

To hold wisdom is to hold an understanding of the word of God.

 

Not just to read it in a post of another’s, but to sit down and quite literally just open it. You don’t need to be a theologian, spend hours reading the context before and after the passage you study.

 

Because when you read chapters like this. They make you realise that you are in fact in control of the life you have. That the choices (even the ones you avoid making) are what are shaping you to be who you are and will continue to be.

 

‘Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers’. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way’ proverbs 4:14 & 15

 

One thing I have noticed in my ‘return -like the prodigal son- Gracie edition’ is this. The Christians I notice who hold strong, un-wavering faith are unapologetic on their life choices, they say no to anything that would cause them to reconsider a decision that may or may not affect their faith. 

 

They look to the outside world as if they have no fun, they look like they are judgemental and no longer spend time with their friends and are now stuck up.

 

While I also held this view (Christians can't have fun) for a long time I noticed that my friendships from before my return were harder to hold. I chose sobriety for the improvement of my work and business, but I also chose it because the last few times out I entered spaces I felt were not for me. Buildings that I simply didn’t want to go into. 

 

To see that friend for a coffee, that option wouldn’t be one I would have to choose, it’s not about ‘being boring’ it’s about not being put in places where choices become hard and if you are to say ‘no’ it does actually appear like you are a ‘goodie two shoes’ so you loose in all ways. You go in-you feel uncomfortable, they notice and tell you to ‘loosen up’ and you leave feeling further from God and it quite literally rips your heart to shreds. Or you say no and a wedge is placed.

 

You know what would have stopped it from the beginning?

 

Healthy boundaries, which is what this chapter speaks on. It gives us guidelines on how to live in a way that protects our relationship with God. Wisdom is so underrated in this world and the word love is glamourised yet given and expressed without wisdom often leaves us with a heart break so unbearable we often stop believing in love at all.

 

So read this chapter, because the guidelines in it will save you a world of pain, and there is no amount of instant gratification that will surpass a loving and fulfilling life than one that holds Jesus in the centre.

It’s not being a ‘stick in mud, boring’ or whatever terminology the cool kids say these days. It’s about still seeing ‘those friends’ yet in places that remain safe and where your faith is not put in any danger - do not set foot on the path of the wicked’ stay on your path of a life that is keeping you safe and close to God, but when and if you feel it is safe, ask the friends for a coffee-because we are all people of God’ even being in those paths, it was a friend who pulled me back into the path-never came onto ‘mine’ but invited me on hers. 

 

“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.” Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:1-27 NIV