Observe, Learn and Grow
By George Stroh
August 29, 2022
I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked and received instruction. "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest. Then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man." (Proverbs 24:30-34)
I imagine King Solomon was out for an early morning jog (probably without his secret service detail) and passed by the field of a rather lazy fellow who was also a man known for lacking common sense. Solomon, the wisest man who ever walked the earth, other than Jesus Christ, reflected upon what he observed and as he wrote, "received instruction". Laziness, lack of common sense, and neglect will soon bring material poverty. By the way, this is also true in the spiritual realm as well. Christians who neglect their spiritual lives by not being consistently instructed by the word of God and the fellowship, godly wisdom, and the ministry of the saints in a solid biblical Church, will be spiritually impoverished.
One of the many blessings of being a born again Christian is having the indwelling Holy Spirit of God that gives us supernatural spiritual insight and instruction as we observed God's creation and as we study and reflect upon God's Word; Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit; combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2:12,13)
Unbelievers, of course, can and do also learn by observation of creation, human nature, and causes and effects of decisions. The difference is the natural or unregenerate mind, without the Holy Spirit, cannot understand or appreciate the wisdom of God and must rely solely upon the superficial and often flawed, wisdom of man; But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
King Solomon understood the source and great blessing of God's wisdom; The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) If you are a Christian, you will have spiritual perception and the ability to gain godly wisdom and instruction in everything, especially in His word. Observe, learn and grow!
Maranatha!