I Can Know Truth By Looking at God

In review of Proverbs 2:9 it says, “Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.” (NLT)

Today’s verse comes from Proverbs 2:1-11. It tells me how I can learn the truth by looking at God. It tells me to listen to what I (wisdom / God) says, and to treasure my commands. I am to tune my ears to wisdom and to concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and ask for understanding. Search them like hidden treasures. Then I will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and I will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then I will understand what is right, just, and fair, and I will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter my heart, and knowledge will fill me with joy. Wise choices will watch over me. Understanding will keep me safe.

Wisdom comes in two ways: It is both a God given gift and also the result of an energetic search. Wisdom's starting point is God and his revealed Word, the source of "knowledge and understanding". In that sense, wisdom is God's gift to me. But he gives it only when I earnestly seek it. But because God's wisdom is hidden from the rebellious and foolish, it takes effort to find and use it. The pathway to wisdom is strenuous. When we are on the path, we discover that true wisdom is God's and that he will guide me and reward my sincere and persistent search.

God gives me wisdom and victory, but not for drifting through life or acting irresponsibly with his gifts and resources. If I am faithful to him and keep my purpose in life clearly in mind, he will keep me from pride and greed.

I gain wisdom through a constant process of growing. First, I must trust and honor God. Second, I must realize that the Bible reveals God's wisdom to me. Third, I must make a lifelong series of right choices and avoid moral pitfalls. Fourth, when I make sinful or mistaken choices, I must learn from my errors and recover. People don't develop all aspects of wisdom at one. For example, some people have more insight than discretion; others have more knowledge than common sense. But I can pray for all aspects of wisdom and take the steps to develop them in my life.

As I looked at yesterday, three philosophies — individualism, secularism, and relativism —  have devastated our society’s moral thermometer over the past few decades. The consequences have been dramatic on society in general and on each of us individually. So what do I do about it? You have to start with God. He embodies truth. What is right and wrong gets its meaning in the character of God himself. Dishonesty is wrong because God is honest.

Unfaithfulness is wrong because God is faithful. I can know truth by looking at how God interacts with me. The Bible says, “[God] shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision every time” (Proverbs 2:9 TLB). I can know the character of God through his Word. The Bible tells me what’s true, whether or not I like what it says. Once I encounter truth, God’s truth, I’ll recognize two key features of it everytime I see it.

1). It’s universal. It applies to everyone. If it doesn’t apply to everyone, it’s not truth. It’s an opinion.

2). It’s unchanging. It won’t be moved by fads or fashions. Adultery was wrong 2,000 years ago, it’s wrong today, and it will be wrong 4,000 years from today.

The choice is mine. A few years back Newsweek summarized this question on the cover of their magazine. They asked, “Whose justice? Whose morality? Whose community? Whose family? Whose values?” That’s my choice each and every day. Our world today gives us three options for how to discover truth: I can choose to base my morality on what I think, on what other people think, or on what God thinks. I really have no other options. My choice will dictate how I live, how I love, and, someday, how I die. But it’s my choice.

Bottom Line:

God helps you understand right and wrong, and how to find the right decision every time.

What this means to me:

God will help me understand and distinguish right from wrong. He will help me with the right way to go or right decision to make.

In summary, I need to listen to God for truth. I need to cry out for insight and ask Him for understanding. God will grant a treasure of common sense to me if I’m honest. He will be a shield to me when I walk with integrity. He will guard my path and protect me when I am faithful to him. Wisdom's starting point is God taking him seriously and relying on his revealed word. I need to choose to base my morality on what God thinks and not what the world or others think.

This morning Father I give you thanks for revealing to me your truth in your word, for your protection and for your guidance. I pray this morning for your continued help and guidance as I work through a list of to do's and projects. Help me guide those around me, help me to respond rightly to others. In your Son Jesus name I pray, Amen!