Walk as the wise do.

Written by Lee Stevenson , sorry I am a lousy editor.

When the bible talks about walking as wise and the stupid ones. It is referring to those who put their trust in the world and do not write God’s word on their hearts and let their own thoughts guide them. Things are rapidly winding down little things that we used to have time to correct can now cause us many problems. For example if we have associations who do not know God and refuse to know him it tells you something about them. If we have someone who frequently puts themselves in a position they could fall short of what God requires it could be very costly. Very soon many will betray each other and even have those who put their trust and faith in God arrested or killed. No matter how kind they may seem if they are not accepting God’s word and refuse to talk about it , it reveals not only that they put their faith in the world or themselves but they may have things in their hearts that we do not see but God can read their hearts and if he has not yet called them to him then we should be very carefully about associating with them or even when we have to work with them. For example say we have to use someones services. They may try to become our friend, even if they do talk about the scriptures which how they respond to all God’s word. Remember God’s words is sharper then any two edged sword able to discern the deeper things in their hearts. If they avoid certain scriptures then depending on the context of the scripture and how they react it could tell us a lot. They may have guilt, they may be contemplating on disobeying God. But if they have come from the world and are just learning they may be having trouble forgiving themselves. In any cause pay attention to those things and it can help us discern whether we should associate or not. At the present time associating with ones like that who seem very kind may seem beneficial in some way maybe financially, maybe they have a certain worldly wisdom we would like to learn or maybe we just like something about them. We should be very cautious. Remember Satan and his messengers can appear as angels of light. Gods word exposes who truly loves God and who is faithful and who is not. If they constantly skirt the line on little things it could draw a person away from God. This is usually from over confidence that a person would do such a thing. The bible has warned us about being spiritually overconfident.

If we are dating we need to pay attention to the things the person does in regard to God and his word. We all have imperfections we have to overcome so we should not be focused on someones imperfections but their spiritual growth. Does the person we may be interested in get over confident and frequently put themselves in a position where they may give in to their weakness? Do they become over confident and think they can do those things because they will not sin. The bible warns pride comes before a fall. We should look at some examples of over confidence in the bible and how it caused some to fall . Not only that but often times when they fell short of God others were also harmed. Surely we would not want to fall short of God and have it result in others being harmed or drawn away from God. If a person does not show spiritual growth or struggles to come to an accurate understanding of God’s word we are warned to be careful of such ones. The bible even told us what things to watch for in such people. The bible warned us they would appear to have a sense of Godly devotion in the last days so we have to be very careful. (2 Timothy 3:1-7) 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, ³ having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, ⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. ⁶ From among these arise men who slyly work their way into households and captivate weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, ⁷ always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.) . I will now discuss instances were some have gotten over confident and it caused them to error. When someone does error and they are corrected we need to pay attention to how they respond to the correction. If they get offended or angry and do not take corrective action then we should be cautious associating with them they could drag us down also. Haughty attitude is mentioned in the above scripture. Often times we brush haughtiness off as being minor but I can tell you from personal experience the haughty and spiritually overconfident ones have been the ones who betrayed and hurt me the most in my life. So we need to pay attention. If we point out an error someone may be making we need to pay attention to how they respond and take the proper actions based on how they respond. We have to keep in mind we are told to be no part of the world but we cannot remove ourselves entirely from the world because of certain needs like food and work, also we have the work of making disciples and telling others about the heavenly kingdom and the hope it gives.

Something to take note of. Often times in the bible when someone is not as close as they seem to be they will look for things in the world to make them happy . For example when Saul lost favor in God’s eyes it says a bad spirit overtook him. He turned to music to calm him. Those who love God and truly have faith in him will turn to God when they are troubled. So we need to pay attention to who or what people turn to when they are troubled.

We have the first example of someone ignoring what God required in Genesis when Eve listened to the serpent. She had been taught what God required and she knew what the end result would be if she disobeyed God. She should have stopped listening to Satan because she quoted what she had been taught and would have known he was being deceptive. Instead she kept listening and he convinced her and eventually Adam that they did not need God to guide and rule over them and that they would not die. This resulted in a separation between God and man and we no longer had as close of a relationship with Jehovah God. Man still does not want to accept that we need God to guide and rule over us. Man has tried every form of government and things have only gotten worse. Man has thoroughly proven those lies wrong. Man cannot rule ourselves we do not have the foresight or wisdom that God has. We cannot end death because God is the source of life. Because he loves us he provided Jesus as a ransom sacrifice, Jesus also defeated death which provided a way for many to be forgiven and for death to be done away with.

Moses and Aaron were guiding Israel through the wilderness. God had told moses and Aaron to strike the rocks with his staff and he would provide water for the people and the animals. Aaron and moses did do as God told them to do but instead of glorifying God and praising God’s name he chastised the people and then struck the rock. God still provided the water for Israel but they had to be disciplined to set an example to others. It resulted in God forbidding Moses and Aaron to enter into the promised land. Surely we would not want to view something little as not being important and have it cause us to have to be disciplined and we lose the future hope of the promises God has given us in his word. In all things we do and receive we should glorify and thank God first.

An error Dinah made not only cost her , her reputation but it also cost some peoples lives. Dinah used to go out and spend time with women of the land. They clearly had a negative influence on her. This caused her to associate with Sheckem a chief ten in Canaan. They eventually had sexual relations. This was something Israel was not supposed to do. They were not to marry or have children with people of the land. Dinah’s brothers got angry because they felt it disgraced Israel. This led to them killing many people and doing other things they should not have done. This brought the anger of many nations towards them so Jacob had to move his family.

What seems like a little thing can rapidly escalate into a very big thing and not only cause problems in our own lives and could even result in death. It could result in harm to others and us losing protection from Jehovah at a time that we need it most. This system is rapidly winding down. We need to be more cautious now then we ever where. It is the little things that can help Satan get his foot in the door and get us to lose our protection from God and possibly our lives. We can avoid things like this by not even paying attention to something that may draw us away from God or get us to put our confidence in ourselves. It is when we are most confident about our spiritual strengths we are most vulnerable. By being aware of our short comings we can avoid situations that may get us to fall short and lose favor with God and even worse lose his protection. Job stated he made a covenant with his eyes. When it comes to sexual immorality Jesus cautioned if a man even looks at a woman to have passion in their heart has already committed adultery. Jesus referred to our eyes as the lamp of the body. (Matthew 6:22, 23) ²² “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright. ²³ But if your eye is envious, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is really darkness, how great that darkness is!) We are in the last days, anxieties are gong to continue to get worse, some may experience loneliness because of the hatred and anger that is rampant. Some may fall on hard times financially. These things could draw us away from Gods word . We may start leaning less on God’s word and on letting it guide us. There are many traps out there and it could not only draw us away from God it could even cost us our lives. If we do escape it could cause us a lot of pain in our lives. We are living in a time when it is difficult to maintain health because of all the toxic medicine, pharmaceutical products, processed foods, GMOs, and the farm chemicals they put on them. There are many toxins in the environment. Stress is already severe now days. If we walk of the path and are led astray we will only bring more stress on ourselves and this will negatively effect our health even more. By protecting our spiritual health we are also protecting our physical health.

The new system is almost here. Better times are very very near we just need to hang on a little longer. Very soon there will be no more illness, violence , sadness or death. Many will walk through the great tribulation into the new system and get to see these things have been done away with. Not only that but if we are one of the ones who walk through the great tribulation we will get to see the loved ones that we lost in death who will be resurrected. Imagine what it will be like living in a world where no one gets sick, no one dies, no one commits acts of violence against another and we no longer have to worry about our belonging being taken from us. So now more then ever we need to walk not only as the wise do but we need to avoid walking with the spiritually stupid one so they do not get us to veer our eyes from the path Jesus showed us to take. By knowing God’s love and the love of Jesus and knowing we can trust them no matter what it gives us hope in the future promises given to us in the bible.

(Ephesians 5:15-20) ¹⁵ So keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, ¹⁶ making the best use of your time, because the days are wicked. ¹⁷ On this account stop being unreasonable, but keep perceiving what the will of Jehovah is. ¹⁸ Also, do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but keep getting filled with spirit. ¹⁹ Speak to one another with psalms, praises to God, and spiritual songs, singing and accompanying yourselves with music in your hearts to Jehovah, ²⁰ always giving thanks to our God and Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 John 4:1-3) 4 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you know that the inspired statement is from God: Every inspired statement that acknowledges Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God. ³ But every inspired statement that does not acknowledge Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s inspired statement that you have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world.

(2 Corinthians 11:12-15) ¹² But what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to eliminate the pretext of those who are wanting a basis for being found equal to us in the things about which they boast. ¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness. But their end will be according to their works.

(Hebrews 4:11-13) ¹¹ Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall into the same pattern of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account.

(James 1:22-25) ²² However, become doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself, and he goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he is. ²⁵ But the one who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in what he does.

(Proverbs 9:13-18) ¹³ A stupid woman is loud. She is ignorant and knows absolutely nothing. ¹⁴ She sits at the entrance of her house On a seat in the high places of the city, ¹⁵ Calling out to those passing by, To those walking straight ahead on their way: ¹⁶ “Whoever is inexperienced, let him come in here.” She says to those lacking good sense: ¹⁷ “Stolen waters are sweet, And food eaten in secret is pleasant.” ¹⁸ But he does not know that those powerless in death are there, That her guests are in the depths of the Grave.

(Psalm 10:4-6)  ⁴ In his haughtiness, the wicked man makes no investigation; All his thoughts are: “There is no God.”  ⁵ His ways keep prospering, But your judgments are beyond his understanding; He scoffs at all his adversaries.  ⁶ He says in his heart: “I will never be shaken; For generation after generation I will never see calamity.”

(Numbers 20:10) Then Moses and Aaron called the congregation together before the crag, and he said to them: “Hear, now, you rebels! Must we bring out water for you from this crag?”

(Numbers 20:12) Jehovah later said to Moses and Aaron: “Because you did not show faith in me and sanctify me before the eyes of the people of Israel, you will not bring this congregation into the land that I will give them.”

(Proverbs 12:1) 12 The one who loves discipline loves knowledge, But the one who hates reproof is unreasoning.

(1 Samuel 16:14-17) ¹⁴ Now the spirit of Jehovah had departed from Saul, and a bad spirit from Jehovah terrorized him. ¹⁵ The servants of Saul said to him: “You see that a bad spirit from God is terrorizing you. ¹⁶ Let our lord, please, command your servants before you to look for a man who is skilled at playing the harp. Whenever a bad spirit from God comes upon you, he will play it, and you will feel better.” ¹⁷ So Saul said to his servants: “Find me, please, a man who plays well, and bring him to me.”

(Matthew 4:1-7) 4 Then Jesus was led by the spirit up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. ² After he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, he felt hungry. ³ And the Tempter approached and said to him: “If you are a son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered: “It is written: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from Jehovah’s mouth.’” ⁵ Then the Devil took him along into the holy city, and he stationed him on the battlement of the temple ⁶ and said to him: “If you are a son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: ‘He will give his angels a command concerning you,’ and, ‘They will carry you on their hands, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’” ⁷ Jesus said to him: “Again it is written: ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’”

(Genesis 34:1-4) 34 Now Diʹnah, Jacob’s daughter by Leʹah, used to go out to spend time with the young women of the land. ² When Sheʹchem, the son of Haʹmor the Hiʹvite, a chieftain of the land, saw her, he took her and lay down with her and violated her. ³ And he became very attached to Diʹnah, the daughter of Jacob, and he fell in love with the young woman and spoke persuasively to her. ⁴ Finally Sheʹchem said to Haʹmor his father: “Get me this young woman to be my wife.”

(Genesis 34:5-7) ⁵ When Jacob heard that he had defiled Diʹnah his daughter, his sons were with his herd in the field. So Jacob kept silent until they returned. ⁶ Later Haʹmor, Sheʹchem’s father, went out to speak with Jacob. ⁷ But the sons of Jacob heard about it and returned from the field right away. They were offended and very angry because he had disgraced Israel by lying down with Jacob’s daughter, something that should not be done.

(Genesis 34:25-29) ²⁵ However, on the third day, when they were still in pain, two sons of Jacob, Simʹe·on and Leʹvi, Diʹnah’s brothers, each took his sword and went into the unsuspecting city and killed every male. ²⁶ They killed Haʹmor and his son Sheʹchem with the sword and then took Diʹnah from Sheʹchem’s house and left. ²⁷ Jacob’s other sons came upon the slain men and plundered the city because they had defiled their sister. ²⁸ They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. ²⁹ They also took all their possessions, captured all their little children and their wives, and plundered everything in the houses.

(Genesis 34:30-35:1) ³⁰ At this Jacob said to Simʹe·on and to Leʹvi: “You have brought great trouble on me in making me a stench to the inhabitants of the land, to the Caʹnaan·ites and the Perʹiz·zites. I am few in number, and they will certainly gather together to attack me and I will be annihilated, I and my house.” ³¹ But they said: “Should anyone treat our sister like a prostitute?” 35 After that God said to Jacob: “Rise, go up to Bethʹel and dwell there, and make an altar there to the true God, who appeared to you when you were running away from Eʹsau your brother.”

(Matthew 5:27, 28) ²⁷ “You heard that it was said: ‘You must not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

(Mark 7:21-23) ²¹ For from inside, out of the heart of men, come injurious reasonings: sexual immorality, thefts, murders, ²² acts of adultery, greed, acts of wickedness, deceit, brazen conduct, an envious eye, blasphemy, haughtiness, and unreasonableness. ²³ All these wicked things come from within and defile a man.”

(Matthew 6:22, 23) ²² “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is focused, your whole body will be bright. ²³ But if your eye is envious, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is really darkness, how great that darkness is!

(Proverbs 4:25) ²⁵ Your eyes should look straight ahead, Yes, fix your gaze straight ahead of you.

(Proverbs 3:5-8)  ⁵ Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding.  ⁶ In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight.  ⁷ Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.  ⁸ It will be a healing to your body And refreshment for your bones.