March 2, 2024 -- Proverbs 1:7-9 -- True Luxury and Victory

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
   fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
   and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
for they are a graceful garland for your head
   and pendants for your neck.
Proverbs 1:7-9 ESV

In the day when this was written a runner who'd won a race received a garland of victory. So King Solomon teaches the reader to walk in knowledge and wisdom and instruction is to find victory in your life. The next metaphor is that knowledge and wisdom and instruction are pendants for your neck. These are the only true luxury in your life. The clear warning is that godless people, fools who know the LORD is but live as if He does not exist, will try to snatch the garland of victory off your head and have you exchange the luxury of God’s goodness and love for the chains and iron fetters of sin.

Where is the Devil tempting you or charming you, enticing you to put off the victory that is yours in Jesus for foolish things? Jesus warned His followers: “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b ESV). Read the Bible. Talk with Christian friends. Pray together. Take hold of the victory that is yours in Christ.

Perhaps the greatest luxury in this world is not money, or Bitcoin, or topnotch over the moon jewelry, it is the fear of the LORD which is a pendant of luxury around your neck. Money and accounts can be frozen by the government. Bitcoin is volatile and easily manipulated. Precious diamonds can be grown in a lab. What is luxury? What has lasting worth in this world and in the world to come? It is the knowledge of God that comes from a steady diet of instruction which together lead to wisdom.

ALMIGHTY GOD, Who didst lead our fathers into this land, and set their feet in a large room: Give thy grace, we beseech thee, to us their children, that we may approve ourselves a people mindful of thy favour, and glad to do thy will. Bless our Dominion with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from lawlessness and discord, pride and arrogance, and fashion into one godly people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Give to all the spirit of service, love, and mutual forbearance. In prosperity make us thankful unto thee, and in the day of trouble suffer not our trust in thee to fail. So that, loving thee above al things, we may fulfil thy gracious purpose in this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
DIVINE SERVICE BOOK FOR THE ARMED FORCES, “For the Dominion of Canada” 1950, page 17

https://youtu.be/-WXi3lGYA6E?si=70Egza7Jg_tb-I0I Pat Barret “Morning by Morning”

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