The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (91 page)

December 12

The Best Gifts

     
A man’s pride brings him low,

          
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Pride, oh, the problem of pride. The dictionary says it’s “an overrated self-esteem.” It’s arrogance, haughtiness, a feeling that we are better. Humility is just the opposite. Pride brings people down. Humility stoops down and lifts others up.

The Christmas season is the perfect time to choose to be humble. Two thousand years ago, the King of kings chose to be born in a manger. Philippians 2:4-7 gives us a beautiful pattern. “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others. . . . Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God . . . he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

That very first Christmas, Jesus was the gift. He did not bring silver or gold, he brought kindness and goodness. He gave himself. In his honor, let’s make kindness and goodness the key ingredients in all we do and all that we give. Do you know a widow? The holidays can be lonely; pray for her, take her shopping, hang a cheerful wreath on her door. Are your kids being inconsiderate of your wishes and needs? Let it go and love them anyway. Did your sister hurt your feelings last holiday? You be the first to call and mend the gap. Put homemade cookies in the mailbox for the mailman, shovel your neighbor’s sidewalk, let a mom with little ones go ahead of you in line at the store. What if you really did humble yourself and lift others up? Well, then Christmas just might come to your house a little early.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Do you know the true story of Santa Claus? Nicholas was born during the third century in Patara, a small Greek village. His wealthy parents raised him to be a devout Christian. But they died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor” (Matthew 19:21), Nicholas used his inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was known for his generosity and love for children.

“He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way” (Psalm 25:9).

One Year Bible Reading

Amos 7:1–9:15; Revelation 3:7-22; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 29:23

December 13

Fear of Man

     
The fear of man brings a snare,

     
But whoever trusts in the L
ORD
shall be safe.

Peer pressure is a huge dilemma for most teenagers. As teens, most of us feared being different or looking different. But, sadly, many never grew out of it. The pressure to fit in and to please people can not only cause us to do wrong, but it can also keep us from doing what is right. It can keep us from speaking up for what is true and good.

Many people have never read the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. They think it could never apply to them living in this modern, complicated world. Not so. Recently as I read it, I felt like I was reading front page news. Man-pleasing religion, false spirituality, corrupt political shenanigans, tragic moral decline, and the rejection of godly principles—this was going on in the once-godly nation of Israel. It was heartbreaking. Even the so-called prophets of God were saying, “It’s fine. We will never suffer the consequences.”

But then there was Jeremiah. He had the Word of God in his hands, a deep care for the people in his heart, and God’s message on his lips. He would have been much more comfortable and popular if he had just shut his eyes and shut up, but he couldn’t. The Lord himself had stirred his heart.

Jeremiah stood with God, and it’s been said, “Just one standing with God is a majority.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Like Jeremiah, we live in a world of compromise. Many so-called Christians are chameleons. They say they love God, but they live like the world. This is very confusing to those who don’t know Christ. Even the guy at the bar has no respect for this double standard. It’s time for us to live true to our faith and true to the God who is faithful to us. “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose” (Philippians 1:27).

One Year Bible Reading

Obadiah 1:1-21; Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 29:24-25

December 14

The Justice of God

     
Many seek the ruler’s favor,

     
But justice for man comes from the L
ORD
.

As you read this, can you picture Solomon sitting at a little desk having just written this proverb? God had given him deep insight into the way human affairs on this earth operate. He was a king, a ruler. Was he thinking of the many times people had sought his favor, hoping to get answers and help for problems that were not only over their heads but way over his? How aware he must have been that life is much too complicated for any human being to make unfair things right and to unravel life’s dilemmas. God had made him wise enough to know his own inadequacies. This is true wisdom.

Other great men like Abraham Lincoln came to the same conclusion. He said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.”

God is inviting you—in fact he is
urging
you—to draw the same conclusion. You also have nowhere else to go. Kings and presidents, Congress and courts of law, can never bring real solutions for a broken world full of broken souls. We need a Savior! Every single one of us needs a Savior.

But the good news is we do have a Savior—Jesus. Justice comes from the Lord. He alone is our Good Shepherd, our Strong Tower, our Comforter, our King of kings, our Bread of Life, our Prince of Peace, and our Light of the World.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Kids have a keen sense of justice. Even a four-year-old will cry out the words “It’s not fair!” We may not say these words, but there are times when we think them. We long for things to be right. We fret about things we have no control of. But have you taken your concerns to God? Worry and frustration accomplishes nothing. Prayer does. Prayer links you to the faithful love of God who reigns over the universe from the throne of grace. “The L
ORD
will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O L
ORD
, endures forever” (Psalm 138:8).

One Year Bible Reading

Jonah 1:1–4:11; Revelation 5:1-14; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 29:26-27

December 15

Wise

Today’s Wisdom for Women is an interesting proverb. Instead of making a wise statement, it is one man, Agur, expressing his frustration that he is not wise. Good. Good for him. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit. . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:3, 6,
NKJV
).

In Proverbs 30:1 Agur says, “I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God.” He goes on to say in verses 2-4,

     
I am the most ignorant of men;

          
I do not have a man’s understanding.

     
I have not learned wisdom,

          
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

     
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

          
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?

     
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?

          
Who has established all the ends of the earth?

     
What is his name, and the name of his son?

          
Tell me if you know!
(NIV)

Maybe you feel exactly the same. This would be a very good time to talk about how godly wisdom
is
attained.

• It’s a gift from God bestowed on those who ask. Solomon asked. James 1:5-6 said we can ask too: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. . . . But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt” (
  NIV
  ).
  
• God’s Word is wisdom. As we read it every day, it teaches us and trains us. God’s Word also warns us regarding the things that are dangerous and foolish.
  
• Wisdom is not just information. It must be lived—rubber meeting the road of life.
  
• “The fear of the L
  ORD
  is the beginning of Wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10,
  NKJV
  ).
  

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Experts who study the learning process tell us that knowledge is like a magnet. The more you learn, the more the magnet in your brain becomes larger and stronger. It then attracts and absorbs information at a faster rate. It is the same with the attainment of wisdom. Each time you learn a wise principle and then apply it, your capacity and retention is increased. Wisdom becomes part of you, a second nature; “you grow wiser.” May God grow you, deepen you, and cause you to become a woman who not only acts wisely, but is wise.

One Year Bible Reading

Micah 1:1–4:13; Revelation 6:1-17; Psalm 134:1-3; Proverbs 30:1-4