Proverbs 1:1-7 I Kings 4:29-34 Psalm 1:1-6 Audio file at the end of this text.
The history books will begin any discussion of this man by saying, William Jefferson Clinton was the second President in US history to be impeached. He thought he could get away from the consequences of violating God's law because he was smart. I ask you now, who do you think President Clinton was listening to? Was he listening to the source of wisdom or was he following his feelings and then listening to his own opinion on how to act?
Who are you listening to? Who do you go to for advice? When you are in trouble, where do you turn? When you just need to choose between one thing or another, whose counsel do you seek? Remember that Clinton did not break a law and he was acquitted by the Senate. However, he proved to be a man with little or no integrity. How could such a smart person act so dumb? He went to the wrong place for advice.
Proverbs 1:7 in The Message translation says, "Start with God--the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning."
Proverbs are, "the wise sayings of King Solomon." Who was this guy who has so much to say about how to live a good life? Look at the I Kings 4:29-34. It says, "Solomon's wisdom outclassed the vaunted wisdom of wise men of the East, outshone the famous wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone...he became famous among the surrounding nations."
Solomon succeeded his father David to the throne of Israel. This happened when Solomon was only 12 years old and one of his biggest assignment was to build the Temple in Jerusalem which must have seemed overwhelming. King Solomon prayed, "O Lord my God, I am only a little child; I know not how to go out or come in...Give me your servant an understanding heart to judge your people that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge your great people?"
God was so pleased with Solomon, God delivered! Stop here and ask yourself, when was the last time you asked God for wisdom? We tend to "lean to our own understanding" like President Clinton. And like him, we think we're pretty smart. But this is what gets us in trouble and sometimes in very deep trouble.
Let's look at the writing of King David, Solomon's father's, in Psalm 1:1-6. The New International Version reads:
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Can it be any more clear? Plant yourself in the word of God. The word of God is the water of life. Stay planted in God's word and when others try to pull you off path, you'll be strong in God. What is the promise? If you run to God and stick with God, your life will prosper. We work with men who have had terrible addiction problems. Not one of them ever said they went out all by themselves and bought their first beer or first drug. They were with others who said, "let's go get some dope." They listened to a voice but not to the voice of God.
Who are you listening to?
