Worth or worthless

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

WORTH OR WORTHLESS

Prov 19:2

2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

NIV

This translation seems to leave the meaning of this saying. When we look at the interlinear the saying goes as such: Also without knowledge the soul not good and he that hasten with his feet sins. This certainly has the implication knowledge is that of God, rather than extensive education in worldly affairs, or human understanding because this is about the soul of a man. It does no good for us do anything if we do not have the knowledge of God within our soul. The Hebrew word translated soul means a living breathing being. Because when God created man and he formed him from the ground and then breathed his very breath into the nostrils of Adam, we have that very breathe of God within us. This implies our soul is from God. So then anything we do without that knowledge is but humanity at its worst. It is a worthless, fruitless effect to apply our lives to anything without having that knowledge of God within us.

Rom 1:28-29

28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

NIV

We would have to include the whole of this discussion that was revealed to Paul by the Spirit in order to get the completeness of the truth. However this conclusion portion of the discussion gives us the idea that God put the knowledge of himself into all men. Yet many did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God. This is not good for the soul. Forfeiting the knowledge of God gives way to depraved thinking. When we act with haste, which is to decide with human thinking, which is depraved, it is worthless. The Greek word translated depraved means exactly that, unapproved, rejected, worthless. To act without the knowledge of God, to have goals, ambitions, desires without the knowledge of God, without having God as the center focus of our plans, it is worthless, our lives are worthless. This means our lives have no meaning, no purpose, and no value. Acting in haste leads to sin. Acting, living not having God as the center theme of our lives leads us to sin, we miss the way. We miss the narrow path that leads to eternal life. If we do not have eternal life, if we miss it, because we rejected or suppressed the knowledge of God, our lives mean nothing.

Mark 8:36-38

36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world , yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."  

NIV

Living in haste, having zeal for life, pursuing after the things of the world, being a type “A” personality, being aggressive and passionate about life has no meaning at all without knowing God. Let us keep our focus on God, let us run the race toward God. Let us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, he will take care of the rest. This will make our lives worth living.  It will make our living have worth.