Lessons On Living

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 2:11-13

The Power of Silence

Job 2:11, 13

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

The Power of Silence

We are a chatty society. If we’re not on the phone, we’re sending e-mails. Should e-mail not be available, then we dispatch a fax. In fact, we’re so addicted to verbal communication that many people can’t leave home without a cell phone or pager in their pocket. Yet in times of sorrow, often silence says the most.

When Job’s three friends arrived, they could tell that he was in deep grief. But rather than immediately offer their condolences, they sat with him on the ground for a whole week without saying a word. They restrained what must have been a strong urge to offer advice and suggestions and chose instead to express their sympathy by silently bearing his suffering with him.

In the presence of grief, words sometimes are a hindrance. Often we resort to speaking because we’re uncomfortable with the silence rather than because we have something to say. Consequently, when trying to console a friend we often engage in empty clichés. People who have borne deep anguish, however, testify that it is the silent presence of those who care that brings the deepest comfort. It is not their words but their quietly sharing the load of sorrow that helps the bereaved bear up under suffering.

Don’t be in a hurry to speak to those who are grieving. A hug or a squeeze on the arm may bring more comfort than a hundred words. Ask God’s Spirit to make it clear to you when He has prepared your friend’s heart to hear your words. Until then, let your comfort be expressed in silence and in prayer rather than words.

Less talk often means more comfort.

_________________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 3:9-12 John 14:1

In the Depths of Discouragement

Job 3:9–12

"May the stars of its morning be dark; may it look for light, but have none, and not see the dawning of the day; because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hide sorrow from my eyes. Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?"

In the Depths of Discouragement

Some time ago the Hayden Planetarium in New York City issued an invitation to all those interested in applying to join the crew on the first journey to another planet. Eighteen thousand people applied. They gave the applications to a panel of psychologists, who examined them thoroughly and came to this conclusion—in the vast majority of cases, those who applied did so because they were discouraged with their lives here and hoped they could find a new life somewhere else.

Job was mired even deeper in discouragement. He wasn’t simply seeking a new life; he wished he had never been born. After losing his wealth, his health and his family, Job felt it would have been better had he never seen the light of his first day. Before we move too quickly to criticize Job, most of us have to admit we’ve never experienced in a matter of minutes the kind of devastating blows that this man did. Job went from the highest heights to the lowest depths with hardly time to take a breath.

Christians are not immune to disasters and the discouragement that sometimes accompanies them. But as Job was to discover later, we do have an answer—God. The Lord Jesus told His disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1). When your heart is filled with discouragement, Jesus can fill it with His peace.

If you are discouraged today, running away and starting a new life is not the answer. Instead, completely place your situation in Christ’s hands. Turn over every troubling thought to His care. And let the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, give you new hope.

Let the God of peace fill you with the peace of God.

_________________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: John 16:33 Job 5:6-7 1 Peter 4:12

Snafu

Job 5:6–7

For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

Snafu

Perhaps you have heard someone talk about a snafu. You probably realized that this meant something had gone wrong, but you may not know how the word became a part of our English language. In reality, snafu is the first letter of each word in the phrase, "Situation normal, all fouled up." In other words, when something goes wrong, why be surprised? It’s only normal for things to get fouled up. A snafu is something that can be expected. It’s just a part of life.

Job’s circumstances, of course, predate the word snafu but not the idea behind it. Job’s friend Eliphaz recognized that "trouble" and "man" have a natural affinity for one another. As sparks from a fire are drawn upward by the rising heat, so trouble seems naturally drawn to man. It reflects another adage of our time: "If something can go wrong, it will." No matter when or where you live, snafus are going to find you.

Christians are sometimes dismayed when things go wrong in their lives. After all, when we trusted Jesus as our Savior, our troubles were supposed to be over, right? Yet the truth is much different. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33). That’s just a normal part of living. The apostle Peter even said, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (1 Pet. 4:12). Snafus are not strange or out of the ordinary, even for Christians.

Perhaps you are experiencing a snafu today. Something you planned is fouled up. Don’t be surprised. Instead, turn to God. When your life goes contrary to your expectations, He is able to give you either the wisdom to deal with it or the grace to live with it. Trust Him.

When trouble draws close, draw close to God.

_________________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Hebrews 12:11 Job 5:17

God's Chastening

Job 5:17

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty."

God’s Chastening

Lou Holtz, former head football coach of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, is legendary in his adherence to discipline. In an interview with The Saturday Evening Post in 1989, he was quoted as saying, "When it comes to discipline here, we ask three questions: Will it make him a better man? A better student? A better athlete? If the answer is yes, we make him do it. The next step is up to him. An individual has a choice when you discipline him: either to become bitter or better." Judging by his squad’s record, both on and off the field, Lou Holtz’s charges for the most part became better men.

Job’s friends failed to understand God in many ways, but Eliphaz the Temanite was right in this respect. God’s discipline is never meant to destroy but ultimately to bring joy. The word in this verse for "happy" (also translated "blessed") literally means "to walk straight." God’s correction is given to keep His people from wandering away from the straight path and getting into situations that bring pain and heartache. Those who submit to His guidance will avoid many of the experiences that bring unhappiness to others.

God’s discipline doesn’t always feel good, especially if we fight against it. The writer of Hebrews confesses, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous" (12:11). Yet the writer continues, "Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." A right relationship with God ultimately leads to a happiness that makes everything else seem insignificant.

Are you undergoing the chastening of God right now? If so, look ahead to the fruit He will bring out of this difficulty. Remember that God is seeking to correct your course so you can avoid future pitfalls that will bring you even greater pain. Let Him have His way in your life even if, at the moment, it’s hard to bear. You’ll be glad you did!

Pain now means gain later.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 4:1-5:27 Psalms 141:3 Job 6:24-27

The Power of Words

Job 6:24–27

"Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? Do you intend to reprove my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind? Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you undermine your friend."

The Power of Words

In regions of South America there is a snake called the "two-step." If it bites you, you take two steps and die. Its venom swiftly paralyzes your nervous system, which stops your heart. But even if you don’t visit South America, you’re in peril of something else that is just as deadly. Words have the potential to kill relationships, paralyze love, poison minds, destroy faith, stain purity and deface reputations.

Job recognized the capability of words to destroy when he exclaimed to his friends, "How forceful are right words!" After bearing up under the onslaught of Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4:1–5:27), he was brought to the point of frustration. Instead of helping, his well-meaning companion only served to undermine his friend with his words (v. 27).

It is no small matter when we open our mouths. When our words are right, they can be a powerful force for good. But when they are wrong, they work like a deadly venom. Instead of being helpful, they are destructive. Rather than building up our friends, our words can tear them down. Those who are weak and helpless (Job’s reference to the "fatherless" refers to these kinds of people) can be blown away by what we say.

Be careful today how you speak to others. Consider your words before you say them. Especially in times of crisis, the right word can bring healing and encouragement, while the wrong word can destroy your relationship with another person. Be sensitive to God’s Spirit. Seek His guidance before you express yourself. And ask God to set a guard over your mouth to keep you from saying the wrong thing (Ps. 141:3).

Words are like dynamite; don’t let them blow up in your face.

____________________

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[airIam2worship]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 4:1-5:27 Psalms 141:3 Job 6:24-27

The Power of Words

Job 6:24–27

"Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? Do you intend to reprove my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind? Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you undermine your friend."

The Power of Words

In regions of South America there is a snake called the "two-step." If it bites you, you take two steps and die. Its venom swiftly paralyzes your nervous system, which stops your heart. But even if you don’t visit South America, you’re in peril of something else that is just as deadly. Words have the potential to kill relationships, paralyze love, poison minds, destroy faith, stain purity and deface reputations.

Job recognized the capability of words to destroy when he exclaimed to his friends, "How forceful are right words!" After bearing up under the onslaught of Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4:1–5:27), he was brought to the point of frustration. Instead of helping, his well-meaning companion only served to undermine his friend with his words (v. 27).

It is no small matter when we open our mouths. When our words are right, they can be a powerful force for good. But when they are wrong, they work like a deadly venom. Instead of being helpful, they are destructive. Rather than building up our friends, our words can tear them down. Those who are weak and helpless (Job’s reference to the "fatherless" refers to these kinds of people) can be blown away by what we say.

Be careful today how you speak to others. Consider your words before you say them. Especially in times of crisis, the right word can bring healing and encouragement, while the wrong word can destroy your relationship with another person. Be sensitive to God’s Spirit. Seek His guidance before you express yourself. And ask God to set a guard over your mouth to keep you from saying the wrong thing (Ps. 141:3).

Words are like dynamite; don’t let them blow up in your face.

____________________

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AMEN to that Brother.
As the Bible puts it even a fool seems wise when he keeps his mouth shut.
Pr 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent. ASV
The old saying goes like this "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything"

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 7:6

Fast, Faster, Fastest

Job 7:6

"My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle."

Fast, Faster, Fastest

Men have always had a love affair with speed. The faster they can go—first with horses, then with cars and now with space shuttles—the happier they are. Speed has increased to the point where we have moved from measuring events by the calendar (years, months, weeks) to often measuring them in nanoseconds (one billionth of a second) to reflect how fast things are moving. And what’s more, each increase in speed is usually greeted with enthusiasm.

But that was not the case with Job. He bemoaned a speed that most of us are not too thrilled about—the speed with which the days of our lives go by. The fastest object Job had to compare his life to was the shuttle used by a weaver to create a piece of cloth. A skilled weaver could sling the shuttle back and forth at eye-blurring speed. Job’s lament was that his days seemed to be going by as quickly as the weaver’s shuttle.

The longer we live, the faster our days do seem to go by. Even though 24 hours is still the same, the events of our lives begin to stack up quickly on the history side. At the same time, the future side gets shorter and shorter, and the events of life seem to come more rapidly. This should motivate us to make sure that we diligently invest our time more wisely. As the days speed by like a weaver’s shuttle, make sure you accomplish each day what the Lord wants you to do.

If you are putting things off until "someday," stop procrastinating. Do them now. Someday will be here and gone before you know it. The days of your life are being played out as rapidly as the fast-moving weaver’s shuttle. Someday the shuttle will be stilled. Don’t be caught with work for the Lord left undone.

Make sure when the cloth of your life is finished that no threads are missing.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 9:2

Righteous Before God

Job 9:2

"Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?"

Righteous before God

According to Parade magazine, the zoo in Copenhagen, Denmark, has put a human couple on display. Henrik Leh-mann and Malene Botoft live in a see-through cage in the primate display next to the baboons and monkeys. Their habitat has a living room with furniture, a computer, a television and a stereo. The kitchen and bedroom are part of the display. Only the bathroom is excluded from public view. Unlike their neighbors, who aren’t allowed out, the two humans occasionally leave their fishbowl existence to shop and water the flowers on their porch back at home. But for the most part, their lives are on public display.

Job realized that every human being lives under similar conditions when it comes to God. Nothing that we say or even think is hidden from divine scrutiny. Therefore, it is no surprise that Job wondered, perhaps with a hint of hopelessness, how it might be possible to be righteous in God’s sight. With every sin and failure noted, who could possibly stand before God?

When we compare ourselves with other people, we might feel that we’re not all that bad. After all, we don’t get drunk, use drugs or cheat on our income taxes. And when it comes to volunteering for charity, helping at church or just spending time with our family, we may even be sterling examples. But take one look at God’s standards and you’ll see a different picture. As He looks into our hearts to see our motives and view our hidden thoughts, our self-imposed halo begins to slip. It becomes obvious that Job’s question needs to become our own: How can I be righteous before God?

If you are sensing your own need for a right relationship with God, be assured that He has provided a way. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, all your sins have been paid for and you can be forgiven. When you receive Him as your Savior, you stand in His righteousness before the Father. Trust Jesus today and live right before God in the righteousness of His Son.

Christ’s righteousness makes us right with God.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Isaiah 55:9 Job 11:7

A Big God

Job 11:7

"Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?"?

A Big God

As the people of Job’s day walked the earth, they likely didn’t know that our world is 8,000 miles in diameter, with approximately 198,980,000 square miles on its surface. It is unlikely that they realized that this globe we call home is composed of 264 billion cubic miles. Most surely it was beyond their knowledge to compute that even though Earth is big, Saturn is 995 times bigger and Jupiter is 1,281 times bigger still. Furthermore, they had no inkling that beyond the few stars they could see there were at least 300 billion more.

Yet even without the benefit of all these mind-boggling figures, the people of Job’s day knew that God, the Creator of all they saw, was bigger than anything they could comprehend. Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job’s friends, was right when he said that no one could plumb God’s depths or find God’s limits. His thoughts run deeper than any human wisdom; His power outstrips man’s best efforts.

Some people object to the concept of God because He is beyond their ability to understand. They argue that if they can’t comprehend Him, then certainly He must not exist. Others simply dismiss Him as irrelevant because He fails to act as they feel He should. Yet God says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:9). Who is man to try to whittle God down to what he can understand?

Let God be God. Don’t try to shrink Him down to fit neatly within your scheme of things. If He were small enough for you to comprehend, He wouldn’t be big enough for you to worship. The fact that He is beyond your understanding is confirmation that no situation will ever exceed His ability to handle it. To live confidently, you don’t have to understand God—you just have to trust Him.

Only small people insist on a small God.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 13:15

Total Trust

Job 13:15

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

Total Trust

Years ago a military officer and his wife were aboard a ship that was caught in a raging storm at sea. Seeing his wife’s fear, the man tried to comfort her. Suddenly she grasped his sleeve and cried, "How can you be so calm?" He stepped back and drew his sword. Pointing it at her, he asked, "Are you afraid of this?" "Of course not!" she answered. "Why not?" he inquired. "Because I know you love me too much to hurt me," she said. He replied, "I also know the One who holds the winds and the waters in the hollow of His hand, and He loves us too much to fail to care for us!"

Job had that same trust. He had lost his children, his wealth and his health. Even his wife had turned against him. He had only one more thing to lose—his own life. Yet Job declared that even if it were to come down to that final loss, he would continue to trust that God had a purpose in everything that happened to him. In Job’s eyes, the important issue was not what was happening but whose hand was behind it. If God did it, Job knew he could trust it.

Often our trust is based on the "what" rather than the "who." We focus on the event rather than the One who controls that event. Consequently, when trials and tribulations come crashing down upon us, our faith is shaken. We can’t understand why a loving Heavenly Father would allow such grief to enter our lives. Yet if we truly believe that He is loving, we can say with Job that even though He slay us, we will believe He intends it for our good. In His infinite wisdom and goodness, He will take the most difficult circumstances and use them for our good.

When you are facing life’s most severe trials, focus on the character of God. Build your trust on who God is, not on what is taking place. When you know who He is, you never have to worry about what He will allow to happen.

Trust is based on character, not circumstances.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 1 Corinthians 6:14 Luke 24:1-3 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 Job 14:14

To Live Again

Job 14:14

"If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes."

To Live Again

The Romanian weekly Tinerama reported that a woman fainted when she opened her front door and found her husband standing there. It all started when a man named Neagu choked on a fish bone, stopped breathing and collapsed. The family doctor, knowing Neagu’s heart condition, didn’t think twice about proclaiming the 71-year-old dead of a heart attack. But three days later, grave diggers at the cemetery heard a suspicious sound. They opened Neagu’s coffin to find him surrounded by wilted flowers but very much alive. It took Neagu three weeks to convince the authorities to cancel his death certificate from their register.

Job, however, had more in mind than mere resuscitation. As he looked ahead to that day when he would put aside his mortal body, he asked the age-old question, "Will I live again?" Implied in Job’s question is not the hopeless uncertainty of the pagan world but a quiet confidence that someday it would be so. As a result, he was willing to plod through his trials patiently, knowing that a greater and more glorious day lay ahead.

As believers in Christ, we have even more reason to be confident. We have not only the promise of resurrection (1 Cor. 6:14) but also the example of Christ (Luke 24:1–3). The apostle Paul assured us that what is sown perishable shall be raised imperishable (1 Cor. 15:42–44). That which is placed in the ground will someday be resurrected to rejoin the spirit from which it was separated and together spend eternity with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:14–17).

If you are troubled by pain and disappointment, be encouraged by what is to come. Wait patiently for that day when God will give you a new body in which to live a new life. The difficulties we experience now will one day vanish into eternity. Take heart—the best is yet to be.

Real life begins after this life.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 19:25

My Redeemer Lives

Job 19:25

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.

My Redeemer Lives

Some years ago an article appeared in National Geographic magazine that told of a young man from Hanover, Pennsylvania, who was badly burned in a boiler explosion. To save his life, physicians covered him with 6,000 square centimeters of donor skin as well as sheets of skin cultured from a stamp-sized piece of his own unburned skin. A journalist later asked him, "Do you ever think about the donor who saved you?" The young man replied, "To be alive because of someone else is too big, too much, so I don’t think about it."

Job, on the other hand, not only thought about the One who would save him, he longed for Him. As he looked at his life, he realized his need for a redeemer. In spite of his best efforts, his life fell far short of the perfection that God required. Yet he rejoiced in the fact that the One who would pay the price for his sins was alive—not only alive, but would someday actually stand upon the earth. It was on this great event that Job pinned all his hopes.

For those of us who live on this side of Christ’s birth, we know that our Redeemer came, lived among us and died on the cross for our sins. And, like Job, that is the great event on which we pin all our hopes. Even though it took place centuries ago, the death and resurrection of Jesus is the crux around which everything else revolves. Because of this Redeemer, we have the assurance that we are free from the penalty of sin. The price has been paid, God’s justice has been satisfied, and we are restored to a full relationship with the Father.

Have you been redeemed? If not, Christ offers you that opportunity right now. He paid the price for your sins when He died in your place at Calvary’s cross. Accept Him as your Redeemer today. If you’ve done that, then give Him thanks. Christ has set you free.

Redemption: don’t leave life without it.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Psalms 16:11 Job 20:4-5

Momentary Pleasures

Job 20:4–5

"Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?"

Momentary Pleasures

John Bunyan was a Puritan preacher and author of the classic Pilgrim’s Progress. A local magistrate threatened to put Bunyan in prison unless he promised that he would not preach, but he refused to quit. For the next 12 years (1660-1672), he was intermittently in and out of jail. Defiantly he declared that he would remain in prison until the moss grew on his eyelids rather than fail to do what God had commanded him to do. To John Bunyan, the pleasures that come with freedom were not worth the price of disobedience.

Job’s friend Zophar the Naamathite understood this as well. He was wrong in assuming Job had some hidden sin in his life that he would not confess. Zophar was right, however, in pointing out that the pleasures enjoyed by the wicked and the hypocrites are only momentary. As substantial as they might seem, perhaps continuing for many years, compared with the rewards of the righteous that will last for eternity, such pleasures are short-lived. Stripped of sin’s glamour, it’s obvious that the ungodly are making a pretty poor deal.

We should always make choices with God’s timetable in mind. While the pleasures available to those willing to compromise their stand for the Lord are varied and enticing, they can endure at best for only a lifetime. On the other hand, the psalmist reminds us, "At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Ps. 16:11). How shortsighted it would be to choose a few years of comfort and ease over the never-ending pleasures that God has stored up for those who are faithful to Him.

If you are facing a choice today, ask yourself if your decision will result in temporary pleasures or eternal rewards. That answer will make it clear which way you should go. If you live for what is eternal, the temporary will have little appeal.

Today is no substitute for eternity.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 23:10

Like Gold

Job 23:10

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold."

Like Gold

It’s a well-known fact that many people have become successful by compensating for personality or physical flaws. Winston Churchill, for example, stuttered as a youth yet became a great orator. Glenn Cunningham was so badly burned as a boy it was thought he would never walk again. He became, however, one of the world’s great milers. George Bernard Shaw was so painfully shy that he found it difficult to talk with anyone. But Shaw forced himself to join organizations where he would have to speak before audiences. In each of these situations, it was the fiery trials that brought out the best in the person.

As Job looked at the tests that God allowed in his life, he did not despair. Instead, he saw them as the instruments that would be used to bring about good. He knew that as the heat of a fiery furnace was needed to remove the dross from precious metal, so it took the cleansing flames of affliction to remove thoroughly the impurities from his life. He was confident that he would come forth not as a burned-up cinder but as a nugget of purest gold.

God is not in the demolition business, but He does run a refinery. His purpose is not to destroy but to purify. The burning difficulties that test us are designed to remove the dregs that hinder us from serving Him with clean hands and a pure heart. He seeks not to ruin us but to increase our value. His desire is to separate from us anything that would detract from our worth and make us ever more useful in service to Him.

If you are in the fiery furnace of affliction, take heart. God’s hand is on the thermostat. He will allow the heat to do no more than remove the impurities. As you go in mixed with the dregs of this world, you will come forth pure and refined.

Only precious ore is put in the Refiner’s fire.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 28:28 Job 28:12

Where Is Wisdom?

Job 28:12, 28

"But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" And to man He said, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding."

Where Is Wisdom?

A young man got into financial difficulty by loaning a friend in another town $500. He neglected to ask his friend to sign a written note. He didn’t even ask for a receipt indicating the amount loaned. When the young man needed his money back, he realized he had nothing with which to document his claim. In desperation he turned to his father for advice. After a moment of consideration, the father said, "Write him and say you need the $1,000 you loaned him." The young man said, "You mean $500." "No," said the father, "you say $1,000, and he will immediately write back that he owes you only $500. Then you will have it in writing." The son followed his father’s wisdom and the problem was solved.

Job, too, was perplexed by his situation. He had been a righteous man, yet now it seemed as though his world was falling apart. He felt the need for wisdom. "But where," he asked, "do I find it?" His Heavenly Father gave him the answer: It is in the fear of (respect for) the Lord. Only to the degree that those who seek wisdom are willing to respect God will they be motivated to apply the truths that He shares with them.

If earthly fathers can give wise counsel, how much more so can our Heavenly Father? But to gain true benefit from that counsel we must have reverence toward the One who gives it. Unless we respect the source, we’ll never value the product. We not only need to hear, but we also must heed.

If you are looking for wisdom today, the best source you’ll ever find is as close to you as your Bible. God speaks clearly through His Word to give you the guidance you need for your daily life. If you fear Him, obey what He says and take note of the benefit of heeding His Word.

If you respect the Lord, you’ll benefit from His wisdom.

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