Are you lusting for something or someone outside God’s design for your life? Has the object of your affection captivated your mind and taken over your thoughts? Perhaps, you long for a position in your company or on your team, a title in ministry, a scholarship at a particular school, a part in a major production, a coveted award, a sleek automobile, a stylish boat, a posh residence, a recurring image, or even a person who is not your spouse. Solomon offered pause when such a temptation floods our souls: “Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place; for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes” (Proverbs 24:15-16). When trials and tribulations come, the wicked fall hard, but the righteous bounce back.
Solomon frequently juxtaposed the righteous, those who do what is right in God’s sight, with the wicked, those who commit wrong and are an affront to Him. God blesses the former, but He opposes the latter: “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:3). The righteous are satisfied, while the wicked remain wanting. Israel’s king went on to address how we can discern the communication skills of the wise from the foolish: “The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse” (Proverbs 10:32).
Does the overall scorecard of your life the past year resemble the righteous or the wicked? Are those around you blessed by your desires and your words, or are they put off by them? Maybe it’s time for a long-overdue appointment with the Righteous One who makes all things new again. Block out ten minutes on your calendar each day for the next month to make quiet time for God. Read a chapter from Proverbs and pray, asking God to fill you with wisdom from His Holy Spirit. Seek the heart of Christ to serve those you encounter. Surrender any desire apart from His design for your life. The Restorer will give you the right words to say at just the right time in order to advance His Kingdom amidst your family, your coworkers, your friends, and even your enemies.
Episode 104: 30 Sayings of the Wise – Fools from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.