Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good afternoon, Zane.

Well—I finally made it up the hill yesterday afternoon to play in the snow for the first time this season. It was just me and Tazzy. Of course, I skid and Tazzy ran. He hasn’t learned to ski yet. We did a route from Timberline to Government Camp, similar to that time you joined me. Not sure I want to try that again on a weekend. The crowd and traffic congestion were unbecoming factors. But we had a great time.

I believe the parable in our reading and its meaning that features the wise man who built his house on a rock is about as vital a piece of Biblical insight for you to embrace as anything else this Holy Book contains. My prayer is that you will decisively take it to heart.

May the Lord direct your choices. Love and prayers—Tua/Ray.

Please make sure you write this down in your cranial notebook—make no mistake about it—this is essential and important: BIBLICAL WISDOM IS A CAUSE-AND-EFFECT PROCESS OF HEARING GOD’S WORD, THINKING GOD’S WORD, AND APPLYING GOD’S WORD. It is this essential process that yields GOOD FRUIT, which Jesus emphasizes in this same passage as the essential standard for judging authentic God-ordained messages and messengers (vv. 15-20). It is the essential foundation upon which a person is then able to build a life of enduring quality that will withstand the storms of life without collapsing—with the wonderful benefit of heaven.

The motto of Nike is, “JUST DO IT!” Just do what? Just do anything you feel like doing? If it feels good, do it? If that’s the message, that’s stupid! (…at least the opposite of wisdom.) And that, I think, is at the heart of a goofed-up culture—one that insists on the freedom to be stupid while, at the same time, insisting on gleaning the benefits of wisdom. That quest is as backwards to the Kingdom of God as expecting rivers to run uphill.

On the other hand, we might imagine Jesus saying, “JUST DO IT!—WITH A HEART AFTER GOD LISTEN TO MY WORDS, AND JUST DO IT!”

This may be another good time to try to clarify an important truth that seems to confuse a lot of people. I might put it this way: THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF DOING THAT CAN EARN A TICKET TO HEAVEN, BUT THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF NOT DOING THAT WILL ACHIEVE HEAVEN EITHER. A legalistic DOING of the Word is not the ticket or the payment thereof, but the heart-level DOING of the Word demonstrates possession of the ticket. Without that demonstration there is no ticket. Jesus clarifies it this way: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ (or uses Christian lingo), will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven” (v. 21).

Let’s give attention to the passionate plea of “Mother Wisdom” (my title) from Solomon’s inspiration: “Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:32-36).

While we’re here in Proverbs, please add this to your hearing: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me (“Mother Wisdom”) your days will be many, and years will be added to your life (How about eternal life?). If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker (stupid), you alone will suffer” (Proverbs 9:10-12).