Blog #80 February 07, 2024

I would like to dedicate this offering to my memories of Bill Fountain. Let it be known that the words I bring today came from watching him live them.

Growth is a process of receiving knowledge offered and applying it to the lives we live. This requires us to ponder the knowledge that we might grasp how it can be utilized that our growth might bring us closer to the goals we choose for our life. If the application of this knowledge fails to bring us closer to our goals we see it as foolishness and we throw it away. But, if it brings us closer to our goals the knowledge we accepted and the understandings we gained become wisdom we can share with others seeking the same goals.

Psalms 49:3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

We can all agree that foolishness and wisdom are opposites and will never be the same, but their ability to define the knowledge and understanding we seek are dependent on the goals we choose. I want us to be clear that in our lives wisdom is defined by the goals we choose and that in our lives we will face logical wisdom that can and will separate us from the God we seek. The wisdom we seek is the truth of God. That truth is filled with humility, compassion, integrity, and trust. If it fails on any of these attributes it is not of God and for us it is foolishness.

Isaiah 64:6 But we have sinned; we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

If our goal is God’s Kingdom His word brings us wisdom in abundance. The scriptures frequently bring us wisdom in the form of a nurturing female. For in truth, wisdom directs our growth in the same way a mother directs her children.

Proverbs 6:4-5
6:4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman;
6:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

Solomon brings us wisdom as a woman seeking to share with us her knowledge and her understanding. In this story she is presented as a woman of means asking to share all she possesses with any who will seek her way. It also offers us the concept that there are two very different types of wisdom. They differ in the goals they seek, because one allows us to grow in the framework of eternal righteousness laboring in joy with God in His purpose forever, and the other offers us only the pride and the lust of the world that is temporal and will end with our life here on earth. We begin here wit the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 9:3-6
9:3 She hath sent forth her maidens; she crieth upon the highest places of the city.
9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
9:5 Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

In the richness she possesses, this wisdom could inhabit her home and wait for those that would come. She would bring glory to herself by welcoming them, as a charitable hostess and understanding benefactor, but look what she does instead. She sends the innocent and untainted of her household to shout out the word of joy and gather to her all who seek to celebrate with her. She seeks to give them that which they need and desire. For, her desire is the purpose of the Lord. In communion with God’s wisdom, we gain communion with the Lord.

Colossians 1:10-14
1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;
1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son;
1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins;

As we grow in God’s ways we become protective of all we learn. We want to attack and defeat all that threatens this joy, but understand; this is not God’s way.

Proverbs 9:8-9
9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

As we grow in God’s wisdom, we must learn that the message is not one of condemnation. It is instead a message of hope. It is a refuge for those who fear. It is assurance for those who doubt. It is answers for those who question. It seeks to destroy ignorance and create common understandings that promote oneness with God and the ways of God. Wisdom reaches out to all people, but in her experience; only those prepared for wisdom can accept it. Our labor is to prepare the world that they might be able to receive God and His wisdom. Yes, brothers and sisters it is truly a holy crusade. We must be ready for the challenges we meet and aware of the conflicts they bring. We must gather to ourselves all the wisdom God offers and prepare ourselves to fight this crusade with the weapons of humility and meekness filled with full purpose of heart and a steadfast faith in God and the wisdom of God.

2 Nephi 12:9-11
12:9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say, Eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die: and it shall be well with us.
12:10 And there shall also be many which shall say, Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God, he will justify in committing a little sin: yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this.
12:11 And do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

This is the wisdom of the world and it is false. It denies the sanctity of God and ignores the futile nature of sin. It allows pride a place the heart. It sanctifies rebellion and the power it has to cause death. It might shine bright for a while, but it will surely fail.

Mosiah 9:39-41
9:39 And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9:40 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life:
9:41 Now I say unto you, If this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

This is the wisdom of God and it will last forever. Our labor is to bring to the world the wisdom of God. There is but one message we offer, one hope we bring.

Ephesians 4:3-6
4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,
4:4 In one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Consider the message of oneness we bring. Understand the affect it will have. Those that can understand will grow. Those that can’t won’t. If that sounds too simple, point out to me anything within the Kingdom that is not plain and simple, but don’t make the mistake of confusing simple with easy. That which makes God hard to relate to and impossible to understand is not of God. It is the work of the adversary. It is a lie that preaches mankind is too weak and ultimately unable to live in the ways of God. This fact sadly is true, but God never expected man to approach the Kingdom alone. We will go there in the company of His doctrines, His ordinances, and His Spirit. All will come to God, but only those who come through Jesus Christ will receive all they seek.

Genesis 6:57-58
6:57 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying, Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so, when they begin to grow up sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.
6:58 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore, they are agents unto themselves.

Isaiah7:14-15
7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.*

Though the message of God will be comfort and deliverance to those who seek with a willing heart, it will be agony to those who refuse to recognize what is offered. In fact, they will fight back and rebel against all that is offered. Such is the need for repentance and baptism, for only through covenant with God can anyone ever receive that which can cause understanding.

Genesis 6:62-65
6:62 Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory.
6:63 For, by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified; and by the blood ye are sanctified.

Such is the need to cry repentance to the world that all might be able to accept what wisdom offers. We must first teach them to recognize that which keeps them in bondage to the lust of man. Be warned that abject criticism will cause doubt, fear, and rebellion. We must learn the ways to reach out that will cause their ears to hear and their eyes to see. We must look to the ministry of Christ and realize it didn’t advance itself through judgment and condemnation. His way was the way of love and sacrifice. His way placed the needs of others above His own. He disdained the pedestal and sought to raise-up all who would seek.

1Timothy 5:1-2
5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

Condemnation is fruitless. Only through God’s love can we bring the His ways to all mankind. The love we need cannot be in us except through the work of the Spirit. We must seek humility and humbly teach the ways of humility if the wisdom of God is to ever reach the world of man. We must reach out with both justice and mercy, with love in our hearts and the ways of God in our actions.

Proverbs1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Look again at the wisdom of God. Look and renew our understanding of the true meaning of our necessity to fear God. As in Proverbs 1:7 the fear of the Lord is motivation to grow into a deeper more involved relationship with a Father who loves us. Fear is a motivation that reaches into our lives and forces a change. Love is a motivation, which begins in our hearts and reaches out with change. Our covenant labor will only succeed when it is motivated by a power from within. Only then can our testimony of God working in the life of man be as true as it needs to be.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one prevail against him two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

God’s wisdom is not for those who wish to be alone or solitary. It causes each of us to reach out to others around us. It mandates both sharing and caring. It recognizes the strength and security of fellowship as we face the adversary and his minions. Their goal is to cause us to be alone and fearful of those that would steal what we possess.

Proverbs 9:17-18
9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

The ways of man are solitary. By them, each seeks for their own edification. We are jealous of what we have learned and save it for no one but ourselves. The ways of the world creates an inbred sense of survival at all cost. They are jealous of what we have learned and save it for no one but themselves. The ways of the world creates an inbred sense of survival at all cost. They are the ways of death and play on man’s fears, his doubts, and his need to protect himself above all else. They tell us to steal and hide what you have stolen. Go to the dark places and enjoy alone all that you have gained. Here a trap is created that possesses neither fellowship nor joy and is devoid of any righteous wisdom. This so called wisdom is learned in the house of man then practiced in the house of world. It creates fear, supports doubt, and ends in death.

Jeremiah 5:26-28
5:26 For among my people are found wicked men; they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
5:27 As a cage as full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit; therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
5:28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked; they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

Such are the ways of the natural man. He shuns God’s wisdom and chooses death. We have been shown the house of wisdom. We have been invited to join her in her abode and feast upon all that she can offer. We have been offered security, sustenance, and all that we need to grow and become one with the Father and one with His wisdom. We have been warned of another house that promises us both power and strength, but provides neither. Once again, the Lord shows us all that can be and leaves us to our choice. We can be members of either house but once there we must live within the conditions, chosen.

Alma 16:9 For thus saith the scripture, Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.

Understand that God will honor that choice and will not interfere. His wisdom demands it.

FRED