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DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

FORWARD

Prov 18:2

2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

NIV

A difficult saying in one sense but yet so simple and plain to see the truth of it. What we first need to come to grips with is what exactly is meant by understanding. It is related to intelligence is some sense but also to the argument, or the ability to discern and discuss issues of importance to life. This would be a person according to one scholar of old as one who does not love his book, his business, his bible, and his prayers but only plays the fool with his sports. This would indicate those who find no pleasure in the important issues of life have no purpose, no meaning, and no substance to their character. They may have a charming personality but not a shred of substance of character. The concept of steel sharpens steel is one that Solomon states later in the 27^th chapter of Proverbs. The idea is the same here in the sense that if we but only are content with our own opinions in life, then we never move forward, advance, become deeper in character and most importantly our relationship with God. This carries the implication of one being content with milk when there is meat to eat. An infant has but one desire, its own need for milk, he has no desire to learn anything else. But as a child grows he absorbs all the information he can get. He puts everything in his mouth, wants to know about this thing, how it tastes, what is the texture, is it soft, or hard. But something happens in adulthood. Some would become stagnant in their thinking, in their learning being content with what opinions they have about every aspect of life. It is when we engage in social intercourse with others that we are faced with ideas which either cause us to retreat to the self-indulged, self-arrived opinions or we consider the idea, research to find if any validity is in it, and perhaps revise our understanding of a particular topic. This certainly holds true in our thoughts about the truth of scripture. The varied denominational stands on certain aspects of scripture reveals some believers may well be content in their own opinions and refuse to consider another rendering of the truth. This may also be a result of approaching the truth with perceived opinions or filters which hinder finding truth. We are told if any of us lack wisdom we should ask God.

James 1:4-8

 5 If any of you lacks wisdom , he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

NIV

This would also imply that once we have petitioned God for wisdom and have received a generous portion of if, we should not be open to every wind of doctrine that comes along the pipeline of life. Humankind is always trying to find a new tread, a new way, and this is not isolated to the unbelieving world. The Christian community has been subject to a varied of false teachers and preachers as well as trying to develop newer more contemporary methods to satisfy those who desire the milk rather than the meat. That sounds harsh and is not meant as a judgement, but merely an observation. We cannot be content with what we have always known, we must continue to grow in our understanding of how God desires us to live. Yes, we may be set in our ways to a certain point, but that is because of the revelation of God. If we seek wisdom from God, as he reveals his wisdom then we grow to that wisdom and then live according to it until more truth is revealed. This may occur as we engage in discourse with other believers in search of the wisdom of God. Let us not sit idle in our own opinion, or pew, it is then we would simply just stink.