"Do As I Say, Not as I Do! (Proverbs 4:7)

I am sometimes perplexed when I read Proverbs. Most of the proverbs were written by Solomon, probably one of the wisest men who ever lived. In spite of his wisdom, he did not heed his own words. Late in his life, his heart followed after other gods and he married many foreign women, explicitly disobeying God’s commands. Composing so many of his proverbs later in his life, it was almost as if Solomon were following the old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do!”

As I write these daily devotional blogs, I often reflect upon what I have written. Do I also live with a similar hypocrisy? If I write about the perils of pride, do I take it to heart and obey God’s commands? Or do I secretly boast in my heart over my accomplishments and drop subtle hints to those around me? Do I control my anger and guard my tongue? Or do I disguise a slanderous statement or gossip as frank speaking? I am definitely guilty of, “Do as I say, not as I do!”

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
Proverbs 4:7 (ESV)

All of God’s Word is wisdom. It  needs to permeate every fiber of our body and direct all of our actions and thoughts. But wisdom is not enough. It is only by the illumination of the Holy Spirit within our lives will be able to be fully transformed by this wisdom and gain insight. How can we receive the Holy Spirit? Confess and repent of your sins and acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And the moment you do, the Holy Spirit will indwell within you and begin the transformation.

Once you are saved, you yield and obey the Holy Spirit. God loves us but still allows us free will to resist and disobey His leading and teaching. This is what I have done so many times in my life. I am not proud of this and the only reason I can keep confessing my sins and returning to God is because of His grace and mercy. He still loves me and accepts me, in spite of hypocrisy and lack of insight. By His grace we have been saved through faith.

Get wisdom and get insight. Whatever you say, do!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.