God’s Word

Proverbs 19:2
“Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet.”

Marketers have realized that people are impulsive by nature. As a result, it is common to find a variety of “impulse items” located near the checkout stand in just about every store. These items are things we did not plan to purchase, but bought on a whim, and include items like gum, candy or DVD’s. For the most part, these are not high dollar purchases, and getting caught up in the moment, will not break most budgets. Buying an unplanned Snickers bar on the way out of the convenience store, will probably not have long lasting economic repercussions on your life. If however, you purchase big ticket items, without giving adequate time to consider all the ramifications, that can be very costly.

The same is true with all decisions in life. You do not need to call a church prayer meeting, or spend time fasting, when you are determining whether to order chicken or fish. The big decisions, like who you will spend the rest of your life with, should however, be considered slowly, carefully, and with wise counsel. Solomon is reminding us, when we rush into things that we should walk slowly towards, we will end up in sin.

“Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet.”

Notice the contrast he makes between impulse and knowledge. Knowledge is something acquired over time, with careful study, examining correct resources. I remember a cartoon as a child where Bugs Bunny spent the day explaining the story of the founding of the United States to his nephew. He told wild stories of rabbits influencing the greatest moments in American history. His nephew was an avid student, hanging on every word Bugs shared. The next day he came home from school with a dunce cap on his head. It was not that he didn’t acquire knowledge; it was that he went to the wrong source. The same can happen to us. If we want to avoid making foolish, hasty and impulsive decisions, we need to look into the Word of God for guidance. It takes time to uncover the path God would have you walk, but it is worth the time it takes. Before making another big decision, and perhaps another big mistake, take time to consider the Word and to get some healthy Biblical counsel.

Pastor Jim

Hosea 5:4
“They do not direct their deeds
Toward turning to their God,
For the spirit of harlotry is in their midst,
And they do not know the Lord.”

I have often sat at my desk across from people who, while living without any regard for what the Bible says, still claim to know God. They might declare how important God is to them or even that they love Him. However, when their lifestyle is confronted by what the Bible teaches, they become angry and unwilling to change. The real evidence that a person is a child of God is not that they live a perfect life. Instead, it is how willing they are to change when confronted by the Scriptures.

When I first became a Christian I had no idea what God required of me. I found myself daily challenged by what the Bible taught. I had to make changes in my private and my public life. My goals, and the way I would choose to achieve them, were impacted by the teachings of Scripture. Even now, as I daily read the Word, I am confronted and challenged. The Bible is constantly tweaking and changing my thinking and behaviors.

If you are unwilling to allow the Scriptures to confront, challenge, and change your lifestyle, you need to examine whether or not you have ever truly surrendered your life to Christ. Jesus warned, on the final day of judgment, many will find that while they thought they knew the Lord, they had in fact, deceived themselves. On the other hand, if you allow the Word of God to guide, challenge and change your behaviors, you will experience the blessed life. Instead of being afraid of correction, we should look forward to whatever transformation the Lord may bring, through the power of His Word.

Pastor Jim