don't crack wise at me‏

I have only recently began to discover Jesus in Proverbs.

He’s always been there.

I was just looking for something else.

Proverbs 18:1

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.

No man can find God on his own.

Every man will aspire only to wickedness by pride or rebellion.

Unless Jesus enters our dilemma, we are destined only for destruction.

Proverbs again and again points us to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:24

^…but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God

Jesus is the wisdom of God.

There is no such thing as wisdom apart from Jesus.

Proverbs is not a “how-to-live” book, but rather a “by-Whom-we-live” book.

Romans 1:5

…to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations…

Does faith produce obedience? Paul hopes so. He boldly proclaimed only 5 verses into his theological treatise regarding the Gospel in Romans that he desired its fruit would produce obedience fueled from faith.

Why?

For the sake of His Name among all nations.

We often turn wisdom into wise dealings.

By merely pursuing wise dealings, we can make friends and influence people.

But to whom and for what?

If not for Jesus, it’s not the Gospel or faith that’s driving our exertion.