7 benefits of investing in wisdom.

Hey there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

  • Previously, we’ve talked about foolishness and identified different types of foolish people. Today, we’ll focus on wisdom.
  • Wisdom has MANY benefits; we are focusing on seven (7) of them.
  • Wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.
  • Knowledge is information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance.
  • Understanding having the power of comprehension; achieve a grasp of the importance or explanation of something.
  • God set us up to be victorious in this life. That doesn’t mean we won’t have challenges, but if we are listening to His wisdom, we’ll come always be in His perfect will, hence, our decisions will be perfect. Perfect doesn’t mean without troubles, rather we are walking in God’s perfect will for our lives.

Scripture references:

1.  Powerful decision-making ability

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

2.  Soul-love and goodness

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good (Proverbs 19:8).

3. Life and favor

For whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord (Proverbs 8:35).

4. Better than money

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! (Proverbs 16:16). 

5. Happiness
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding (Proverbs 3:13).

6.  Rewarding
My son, eat honey because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste:So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward and thy expectation shall not be cut off (Proverbs 24:13-14).

7.  Keeps you as you age

 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. (Proverbs 19:20).

So, how do you get this wisdom?

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6).

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). 

BCU Fam, do you see the benefits of choosing wisdom over foolishness? Going the wise route may not be popular, comfortable or make sense, especially if we are comparing what God told is with the  world’s “wisdom” which is full of bitterness, strife and confusion. In fact James 3:13-16 reminds us that type of wisdom does not come from God,  but is earthly, sensual (based on self and its desires apart from God’s word), and devilish! With God’s help, I want to stay away from making choices that have those three connotations. Anything that is earthly, self-seeking and devilish does not set us up for the rewards of making good choices here AND will cause us to miss Heaven. NO thanks!

I opt for widsom!  How about you?

Please share your musings in the comments section the BlenCouragesU.com website and we can continue our chat!

As we wrap up,  if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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Behind the definition of insanity: The simple fool.

Hey there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

  • So far, we’ve contrasted wisdom and foolishness.
  • In addition to the typical “foolish”, there are different types of foolish people.  Last time, we talked about the scornful foolish person.
  • This time, we’ll go over the simple foolish person  (In Hebrew, simple is defined as “pethi” meaning empty-headed, open to being easily influenced/persuaded).

Solomon addresses the youth, in particular young men. Proverbs 1:1-4

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtlety [wisdom, skill, or caution] to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

Simple men can be easily led astray by the wrong woman. Proverbs 7 tells the whole story. Here’s a snippet.

6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

In addition, Proverbs 9:14-18 goes on to tell is about the simple woman and how she operates.

13 A foolish woman is clamorous (loud and repetitive): she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

What happens when you practice being simple?

Proverbs 14:18
The simple inherit folly [evil or wickedness] : but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

How does the scornful fool help?

Proverbs 21:11
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

Is there any hope?

Psalms 19:7
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

You know BCU Family, Solomon asks a good question How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? (Proverbs 1:22). In fact, Proverbs 1 goes on to talk about what happens when we choose to ignore wisdom.

Sure, we many of us have made less than wise decisions and may make some more. The thing is, simple, foolish decision-making should not be continual, willful, and intentional. We do not have to repeat the same lesson over and over again. Instead, let’s look to the Lord for some wisdom. James 1:5 says God gives wisdom out liberally without scolding us–we just need to ask.

So what are your musings on our topic of the week? Please join the discussion in the comments box below and we’ll continue from there!

If you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

Photo cred: Photo by Elijah O’Donnell on Unsplash

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8 ways to recognize a scorner

Hey there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights

    • The Word of God,  in particular, the book of Proverbs, admonishes us about being wise versus foolish.
    • While foolish is a general term and the opposite of wisdom, there are different types of foolish people.
    • This lesson will focus on the scornful fool (in Hebrew, the word for scorn is “luts“, defined as making mouths at), who is void of wisdom and understanding (and is not interested in it), often resorts to mockery and disrespect to get back at those who are  walking in wisdom and/or try and correct him/her.

Scripture references                    

Scorners are:

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men (Proverbs 24:9).

Scorners do:

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? (Proverbs 1:22).

A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke (Proverbs 13:1).

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth (Proverbs 14:6).

A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise (Proverbs 15:12).

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath (Proverbs 29:8).

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge (Proverbs 21:11).

Scorners outcome:

Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools (Proverbs 19:29).

Listen, BCU Fam, this study ENLIGHTENED me! The vile scornful spirit and any by-products of it has to go in the mighty name of Jesus! Let’s talk some more about this! Please share your thoughts on scornfulness in the comment section–right here on the BlenCouragesU.com website.

Finally,  if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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A quick lesson on wisdom and foolishness.

Hey there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

  • Wise people are defined as being discrete and judicious in the use or applications of knowledge.
  • Fools are defined as being mentally inept; dull in understanding or stupid. (yikes).
  • There are only two types of decisions: wise or foolish.
  • We are all subject to making foolish decisions no matter what our age/experience level is.
  • The willful, intentional, repeated practice of making foolish decisions is where trouble is.
  • God set us up to be victorious in this life. That doesn’t mean we won’t have trouble or challenges, but if we are listening to His wisdom, we’ll come always be in His perfect will, hence, our decisions will be perfect.

Scripture references:

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him (Proverbs 22:15). 

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord in all thy ways and He will direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

The wise shall inherit glory [what is honorable and good], but shame shall be the promotion of fools (Proverbs 3:35).

For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail (Isaiah 32:6).

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20).

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14).

A fool utters all his mind, but a wise man keeps it in till afterward (Proverbs 29:11).

Whew! BCU Fam, I have to admit, these Scriptures hit home quite a bit, but I’m grateful for it. Better to be corrected and obey now, rather than ignore and pay later. What are your thoughts? There is a comments section right here on the BlenCouragesU.com website just waiting for you to start our conversation!

Finally,  if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

BlenCouragesU4 Comments

Let’s make a deal…

Hey there BCU Family!

As usual, you have the option of listening to our podcast (click the BCU avatar below to listen), reading the notes or BOTH. In any case, we pray the podcast blesses you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy your study!

So while it’s back on now, as I child, I remember watching the original “Let’s Make A Deal”, with Monte Hall as host. For those unfamiliar with the show, Wikipedia describes it this way:

  • The format of Let’s Make a Deal involves selected members of the studio audience, referred to as “traders,” making deals with the host.
  • In most cases, a trader will be offered something of value and given a choice of whether to keep it or exchange it for a different item.
  • The program’s defining game mechanism is that the other item is hidden from the trader until that choice is made.
  • The trader thus does not know if he or she is getting something of greater value or a prize that is referred to as a “zonk,” an item purposely chosen to be of little or no value to the trader.

In watching the show, I’ve observed people trade good money or a solid prize in intrigue, mystery, curiosity and greed for the hidden items behind doors number 1, 2 or 3.

While the show was entertaining and fun, we can apply the Let’s Make a Deal premise to our own lives. When we think about it, those of us who know Christ in the pardoning of our sins and have the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 2:38), received the best “deal”–eternal life in Heaven in exchange for the one-way reservation we had to hell. While God blessed us with salvation, it’s our responsibility to maintain that salvation–and that means making the right decisions according to what the Word of God says, versus exchanging His will and Word for what may seem better–until you get it.

How many of us have traded what God said for “the hidden item” or zonk you’d find out about after your exchange?

  • Our purity for a little love aka lust (which can end in unwanted pregnancy, unexpected responsibilities,  disease and heartbreak).
  • Our honesty for a larger income tax refund (which will rapidly be blown through or the item not be as wonderful as when you purchased it).
  • Our time with God for a movie or TV show (leaving your flesh temporarily satisfied and your spirit restless and empty). All these consequences are the “zonk” that wasn’t calculated into your exchange.

The adversary works through our flesh, if we let him. And he who would like nothing more than for us to “make a deal” with him to trade what we KNOW to be true–what we have in hand– (what God said or asks for),  for something that might seem better, but after the reveal,  turns out to be of of little or no value.  Let’s take King Saul for example.

In 1 Samuel 15, Saul, the anointed king of Israel, was told by God to destroy Amalek and spare NOTHING. Rather, Saul spared Agog, the king of the Amalakites and choice sheep, calves, oxen and lambs (vs 9). The Lord then spoke to Samuel, the prophet telling him that he regretted making Saul king, because he turned his back on God–and would not keep His commandments. This upset Samuel so much he cried the whole night.

The next day, Saul told Samuel he had done what the Lord said, to whit, Samuel asked about the animals he heard bleating. Let’s take a look at the exchange:

15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Saul made a deal.

He exchanged what He KNEW to do, what was sure, traded the divine will of God for people approval and choice animals—that God didn’t even ask for. In fact, He said t DESTROY everything.

Saul’s trade cost him his place on the throne.

And no matter how sorry Saul was—he could not and did not get his throne back.

Once God says “no”, His decision is final.

This is SO sobering, BCU Family. And yes, while we live in the dispensation of grace, we STILL are accountable to God to maintain holy living which means not practicing sin. I know firsthand how tempting going outside of God’s will is to get what you want–especially if you’ve been waiting a long time. While trading God’s commands for what looks/sounds good or may offer instant gratification, the trade always ends up with us losing. Losing our blessings, miracles, peace of mind, favor with God and yes, even our place in Heaven. Is anything on Earth worth that? Saul would tell us no.

With the help of the Lord, let’s hold onto God’s Word and obey it as He asks. In doing so, we can rest assured that His gifts will never compromise His Word and they will ALWAYS be perfect! Amen? Amen!

What are you thoughts about what we chatted about? Are you all done with deal-making with the help of the Lord? Please head down to the comments section to share your thoughts so we can continue our conversation!

In the meantime, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram,  You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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