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How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 12:15 Willingness to Listen

In Advice, Attitude, Behavior, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Change, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Correction, Counsel, Decision Making, Decisions, Discernment, Discretion, Disobedience, Fool, Foolishness, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Guidance, Learning, Listening, Pride, Proverbs, Stupid, Truth, Uncategorized, Unwise, Wisdom on June 9, 2024 at 7:43 am

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Willingness to Listen

This is going to be a long one but well worth the read as it hits the snake dead on the head.

As the readers know this is written in order verse by verse through the Book of Proverbs. Wow, what a powerful verse and a timely one, as I have had some recent encounters with various people who showed some were “a fool” and some “wise” in their actions and responses. I will get into some examples later in this piece.

We have all met those people who know everything they need to know. They need no help or counsel from other people and certainly not unsolicited counsel, counsel they cannot control, even if that counsel speaks directly to their situations. Such has been the case recently. It is sad to see people so steeped in their own spiritual, intellectual, and emotional ignorance or denial or self-deception that they cannot or refuse to see Truth when it is brought to them. ‘They perish for a lack of knowledge.’ (Hos. 4:6) However, the fool always thinks they are right, that their way is right.

What is a fool according to the Hebrew language. When thoroughly researched it has great and in-depth meaning.

“fool” in the Hebrew language means all of the following, with author’s notes:

aphrōn ἄφρων Strong’s Greek #878

mindless, i.e. stupid, (by impl.) ignorant, (spec.) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (mor.) unbelieving:— fool (-ish), unwise.

191 אֱוִיל [ʾeviyl /ev·eel/] adj m. From an unused root (meaning to be perverse); one who despises wisdom. 1a2 of one who mocks when guilty. 1a3 of one who is quarrelsome. 1a4 of one who is licentious.

ESL

Note:

A fool has a perverse view of life, of how things should be done. Their views and actions do not line up with God’s Ways, God’s Truth, or God’s Will. I recently encountered a “spiritual leader” who though warned by not one but two unconnected, unrelated, servants of God that he should not allow a man steeped in sin to lead worship at his congregation, has chosen instead to do so. How perverse is such a thing! Disgustingly so! Leading worship of all things. Then again, at one time Satan was the worship leader in heaven.

And yet another person whose life is literally being destroyed day after day, while she celebrates her ignorance as enlightenment, and tries to persuade others to do the same; their life blood will be on her hands, and she will answer to God for it one day; as will the earlier mentioned “pastor” for his choice.

Yet another, who is missing out on what God has for her because she has chosen to allow a sinful man to bring her down to sin and dictate her life. This one is horribly sad. Some people long for love so much they are too easily controlled.

FOOL ˒ewil (אֱוִיל, 191), “fool.” This word appears primarily in the wisdom literature. A person described by ˒ewil generally lacks wisdom; indeed, wisdom is beyond his grasp (Prov. 24:7). In another nuance, “fool” is a morally undesirable individual who despises wisdom and discipline (Prov. 1:7; 15:5). He mocks guilt (Prov. 14:9), and is quarrelsome (Prov. 20:3) and licentious (Prov. 7:22). Trying to give him instruction is futile (Prov. 16:22).

VCEDONTW

Note:

People should not be given leadership roles when they lack the ability to understand True Wisdom when it is presented to them. God must remove these people when they reach the point that giving sound wisdom and “instruction is futile” due to their lack of willingness to listen. Why should they listen after all, they know it all…right. How pathetic.

˒ĕvı̂yl אֱֱוִיל Strong’s Hebrew #190

to be perverse); (fig.) silly:— fool (-ish) (man).

hâlal הָלַל Strong’s Hebrew #1984

to celebrate; also to stultify:— (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.

keçı̂yl כְּסִיל Strong’s Hebrew #3684

fat, i.e. (fig.) stupid or silly:— fool (-ish).

Note:

These people revel in their wisdom ignorance. Yet, in reality they show just how silly or down right stupid they truly are.

nâbâl נָבָל Strong’s Hebrew #5036

impious):— fool (-ish, -ish man, -ish woman), vile person.

Note:

These types of people’s actions (the foolish and unwise) are both heartbreaking and disgusting at the same time. I feel so sorry for them and their lack of understanding but at the same time I am appalled at their ungodly behavior. Both feelings are normal as God both loves the sinner and hates their sin.

çâkal סָכַל Strong’s Hebrew #5528

5528. סָכַל çâkal, saw-kal’; for 3688; to be silly:— do (make, play the, turn into) fool (-ish, -ishly, -ishness).

çâkâl סָכָל Strong’s Hebrew #5530

5530. סָכָל çâkâl, saw-kawl’; from 5528; silly:— fool (-ish), sottish.

anŏētŏs ἀνόητος Strong’s Greek #453

sensual:— fool (-ish), unwise.

asŏphŏs ἄσοφος Strong’s Greek #781

particle) and 4680; unwise:— fool.

mōrainō μωραίνω Strong’s Greek #3471

act) as a simpleton:— become fool, make foolish, lose savour.

mōrŏs μωρός Strong’s Greek #3474

from the base of 3466; dull or stupid (as if shut up), i.e. heedless, (mor.) blockhead, (appar.) absurd:— fool (-ish, × -ishness).

Pamphulia Παμφυλία Strong’s Greek #3828

Note:

I often think about the fact that these people, along with so many in our society, sound so ridiculous when they speak about their beliefs, and at times I am amazed by how skillfully Satan can blind so many people to Truth.

3828. Παμφυλία Pamphulia, pam-fool-ee´-ah; from a compound of 3956 and 5443; every-tribal, i.e. heterogeneous (5561 being impl.);

Note:

As you think about our society today, I will let that aspect of the definition speak for itself.

paraphrŏnĕō παραφρονέω Strong’s Greek #3912

3912. παραφρονέω paraphrŏnĕō, par-af-ron-eh´-o; from 3844 and 5426; to misthink, i.e. be insane (silly):— as a fool.

Note:

As I have listened to these types of people, their ideas, their beliefs, their intended action, I have often thought to myself, ‘Are these people completely insane?’ and in a spiritual sense, intellectual sense, and emotional sense they are.

phullŏn φύλλον Strong’s Greek #5444

5444. φύλλον phullŏn, fool´-lon; from the same as 5443; a sprout i.e. leaf:— leaf.

Note:

They, as a young “sprout” of a plant, certainly display their spiritual immaturity, intellectual immaturity, and emotional immaturity. All of which they shall never recover from until they are ready to listen to true godly wisdom and counsel.

I am going to repeat the following aspect of the definition of “fool” as it is the core of the problem with foolish people.

aphrōn ἄφρων Strong’s Greek #878

mindless, i.e. stupid, (by impl.) ignorant, (spec.) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (mor.) unbelieving:— fool (-ish), unwise.

These people often absolutely believe they are right, even when everything they believe is right goes against what God has established as right. God’s RIGHT is the only right! But let’s look at why they like their “right” instead of God’s right.

“right” in the Hebrew language, in this verse, from the unwise person’s perspective of right, meaning with author’s notes:

3477. יָשָׁר yâshâr, yaw-shawr’; from 3474; straight (lit. or fig.):— convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet (-est), + pleased well right (-eous), straight, (most) upright (-ly, -ness}.

3474. יָשַׁר yâshar, yaw-shar’; a prim. root; to be straight or even; fig. to be (caus. to make) right, pleasant, prosperous:— direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly}.

Note:

They believe it is the “straight” or the right way for many reasons; among them it is often the “convenient” way, and might also produces a perverse form of what they view as “equity” among people. They believe it right because it is “pleasant” to them; if it feels right do it or if you think it is right for you then it is, both of which are simply garbage. However, to them their actions “seem good” so they view themselves as “upright” in their behavior. And we cannot forget that people think their actions are right because it makes them “prosperous” – we cannot dismiss the greed factor. It is not only greed for monetary gain or possessions but it can often be greed for power, position, praise, etc. This frequently ensnares spiritual leaders.

Foolish unwise people simply do not want to listen to wise godly counsel. Additionally, listening to that counsel involves much more than hearing with your ears, as you will see from our review of the definition.

“hearkeneth” in the Hebrew language, meaning with author’s notes:

8085. שָׁמַע shâma˓, shaw-mah’; a prim. root; to hear intelligently (often with impl. of attention, obedience, etc.

Note:

When a person does not act on what has been spoken to them, they have not heard in a godly sense.

We should all know what “counsel” is but we will review the definition, and we know this speaks only of godly counsel.

“counsel” in the Hebrew language means:

6098. עֵצָה ˓êtsâh, ay-tsaw’; from 3289; advice; by impl. plan; also prudence:— advice, advisement, counsel ([-lor]), purpose.

3289. יָעַץ yâ˓ats, yaw-ats’; a prim. root; to advise; refl. to deliberate or resolve:— advertise, take advice, advise (well), consult, (give, take) counsel (-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.

A person can be a fool for a day, a year, or a lifetime and still come back from this characteristic, if they are willing to turn from their ways (repent), listen to and act on wise godly counsel – then they too can one day become wise.

“wise” in the Hebrew language means:

2450. חָכָם châkâm, khaw-kawm’; from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful):— cunning (man), subtil, ([un-])wise ([hearted], man}.

2449. חָכַם châkam, khaw-kam’; a prim. root, to be wise (in mind, word or act):— × exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.

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All content generated by a human being, 100%, no AI. 

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

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How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 12:9 Popularity or Prosperity

In Advice, Attitude, Behavior, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Change, Choices, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Decisions, Devotional, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Guidance, Honor, Humility, Lifestyle, Pride, Proverbs, Renewal, Righteous, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Uncategorized on January 8, 2024 at 4:19 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

Popularity or Prosperity

This is a very interesting verse that seems somewhat out of place, but we know with the Word of God there is no such thing.

First, it must be pointed out that in the Hebrew definition of the word “despised” there is an implied meaning and a figurative meaning. The word means both to be a person who is “light and in rapid motion” and also a person “held in contempt” who “seems vile” to other people. A godly person would fit both of those categories.

A godly person is going to be a “light” to the world around them. They are also going to be a person who is “in rapid motion” working to care for their family. They are not going to be lazy or a slacker. Being both a “light” in a dark world and a person “in rapid motion” to provide for your family will make you “despised” by a world growing more and more evil and distorted each day. However, it will also cause the blessings of God to rain down on you where you do not lack for the important things in life and may well also prosper to the point where having a “servant” is a part of your life.

This is a far better life than the “entitled person” who thinks life owes them, without their doing much of anything – the self-important person – those who “honoureth” themselves, usually because no one else does or should for that matter. These people lack for almost everything in life including “bread” or food to eat.

Haughtiness, pride, is a horrible sin that God absolutely hates. Many believe pride to be the very first sin, and it was in a way. Pride can typically be found at the root of every sin or every problem with other people in life. Test this theory and see if after you peel away all the various layers at the core of the issue if pride cannot be found.

Humility, God and godliness is the better choice in every circumstance over Haughtiness, Satan, and sin. Your life will be better the quicker you realize this in life.

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All content generated by a human being, 100%, no AI. 

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

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Movie "The Shift"

In Apostasy, Biblical Principles, Change, Choices, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Decision Making, Decisions, Demon, Demon Possession, End Times, End-times, Evil, Godliness, Left Behind, Mental Illness, Movie - The Shift, Obedience, Renewal, Repentance, Righteous Living, Satan, Suffering, Trust, Uncategorized on December 2, 2023 at 4:27 pm

Movie "The Shift"

Okay guys another movie review and recommendation for Christians and all people. Again, another movie that on the surface you would not think it is a Christian themed movie but it absolutely is Christian.

The trailer for the movie seems to be very odd but it truly is a good movie and well done. I am going to provide you with just a few bullet points about the movie because I do not want to give away any of the plot.

† Job – Modern day take on the book of and biblical character of Job.

† Trials – An examination of what it truly means to go through trials in our lives.

† Choices – An examination of the effects of our choices on our life and our very existence.

† Movie Type – Sci-fi version of end times, a disguised Christian movie meant to look secular, with a love story thrown in.

† Suffering – God revealed in suffering.

† Characteristics – The power of selfishness and selflessness.

The Shift… The last sentence of the film.

"This is not my world but this is my home."

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

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How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:29 – Wisdom or Enslavement

In Anger, Attitude, Behavior, Biblical Principles, Change, Choices, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Decision Making, Enslavement, Fool, Money-management, Proverbs, Responsibility, Spiritual Change, Wisdom on June 7, 2023 at 10:10 am

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

29…and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

Wisdom or Enslavement

These above mentioned individuals could fall into the category of what people might view and the Bible might refer to as a fool. A fool always ends up in subjection to the wise in some manner, which is what it means to be a servant to the wise, which is mentioned in the second half of verse twenty-nine.

“servant” in the Hebrew is defined as:

5650. עֶבֶד ˓ebed, eh’-bed; from 5647; a servant:— × bondage, bondman, [bond-] servant, (man-) servant.

5647. עָבַד ˓âbad, aw-bad’; a prim. root; to work (in any sense); by impl. to serve, till, (caus.) enslave, etc.:— × be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ing, self), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from marg.], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper.

The first part of this definition is fairly straightforward, it is easy to see the implications and applications that apply. Fools rarely are in a position of ease when it comes to physical labor. They almost always end up serving other people and in menial ways. They might be highly educated, but because they act foolishly in their life and lifestyle, they work menial jobs just to get by. Another example, they might have won the lottery but because they were foolish with the money, how they used and spent it, their lack of discretion, investing, or saving, leaves them broke within a few years and back at some form of menial work, when had they been wise, they might never have had to work again in their lifetime.

There are two other aspects to what this “servant” of the wise looks like, they will “be wrought” and a “worshipper” of some sort.

To ‘be wrought” aside from the work aspect means to be deeply agitated inside. The fool has deep anger against the wise. The fool thinks they should have what the wise person has, that they are deserving, yet they have done nothing whatsoever to be deemed entitled in any manner to what a wise person might have or possess, whether material, monetary, or intangible things such as relationships, characteristics, peace, looks, contentment, etc.

The other side of the coin is the fool who looks up to the wise to such an intense degree that they begin to enter a form of worship of that person, and more importantly what that person has in life. A fool can covet the life, lifestyle, relationships, money, etc. of the wise person so much that they become a ‘worshipper” of that person. For a worshipper reveres, looks up to, admires the person who has what they want. They seek to be like the wise in respect to having all that they possess, yet most fools are not willing to turn their lives around and become wise in order to have what the wise people have…hence, they stay fools trapped in a bondage of their own creation, while they blame other people for their situation. How terribly sad and unnecessary.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

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Jesus Revolution Movie

In Agape Love, Biblical Principles, Change, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Church Growth, Disunity, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Revolution Movie, Lifestyle, Reformation, Religious Freedom, Revival, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Change, Spiritual Remnant, Unity on March 4, 2023 at 5:19 pm

Saw Jesus Revolution yesterday. I literally cried three quarters of the way through the movie. It was only the last half an hour or maybe that I did not cry big buckets of tears.

It reminded me in many ways, not particularly the hippie thing, but the closeness and openness of the people, it reminded me of the churches that I helped start back in the late 1990s and the early to mid-2000s (based on guidelines God had given us in the late 90s for the types of churches in our lifetime that he would bless and grow substantially). After I came here, Florida, I never found any places like those again, or any spiritual leader who truly wanted to create one.

No offense because I was born here in Florida and grew up here, but compared to a lot of the other places in the country I have been to, this place is so spiritually repressed and I’m talking about godly Christian spirituality. The Body of Christ is supposed to be a family but here in Florida or at least Northern Florida and West Florida, I lived over in Pensacola, it doesn’t seem like a real godly family (then ministers wonder why their churches don’t grow or their ministries aren’t operating the way they should or they are not being used).

The churches that the movie reminded me of…we were so close, we were truly there for each other, we invested our lives in each other, we corrected each other, we helped each other, we loved each other, we truly had agape love for each other. I have not found that to exist here on a deep level, everything the ministry and the relationships are very superficial. Sadly, change can only be on the horizon once people recognize those things and are willing to do something about them, just like in the movie, until that man recognized why his church was so small and so void of the True Spirit, nothing changed.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.