Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Children: To be partakers in the concerns of Christ

  Prov 3: 1-8

V5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” 
As children, students, and striving young men and women, we all are in the race to be wise, to be knowledgeable. The societal systems we have created around us – be it at school, extracurricular activities, talent clubs, at work, and even our communal gatherings and homes, are all geared to push us to be smart, and informed. We feel ‘good’ (to put it lightly than ‘proud’!) to know more than the other. We have an opinion on everything that happens around us, fighting for ‘airtime’, debating fiercely, even viciously, in our conversations – face to face or on social media. 
Well, the quest for the so-called ‘wisdom’ began in the Garden of Eden – the first human community – where man lived in perfect communion with God. Satan entered the scene and whispered to Eve alluringly that if she eats from the tree, she “will be like God, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:5)” and she falls and carries the entire human race into the devil’s trap, the deception of SIN. The story repeated at the Tower of Babel – this time it was a ‘collective’ desire to excel! “…so that we may make a name for ourselves (Genesis 11: 4)”. The tower falls – human wisdom fails. The very King Solomon who advised his son to ‘Trust in the Lord’ (in this passage – Proverbs 3), the one who was bestowed ‘heavenly’ wisdom to rule Israel, allowed his pride to override the wisdom God had given him. He became proud of heart, so he showed off his wealth to the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10). Because of pride, he accumulated great wealth, many wives, and a large number of horses, which he knew he shouldn’t have (Deuteronomy 17:17). Solomon grew to love God’s blessings more than God Himself. 
Our Lord decrees not to rely on the ‘earthly’ wisdom because it is actually foolish (1 Corinthians 3:19), leads to disorder and chaos (Proverbs 16:18), all its creations are futile and meaningless (Ecclesiastes 2), and most importantly, is prideful and therefore sinful (Proverbs 3:7). As children of God, it is important to know that any knowledge or understanding that leads us to think high of oneself does not come from our Lord – it is evil. The Lord wants us to have His wisdom, the ‘heavenly’ wisdom – which is pure (James 3:17), emanates from and leads to humility (Proverbs 11:2), profound, infinite (Romans 11: 33), and above all, rooted in Him, His Word (Colossians 2:3). 
God’s wisdom is He himself – His divine nature, and he allows us to partake of it through total submission, absolute confidence, and unflinching faith in Him. “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end (Hebrews 3:14).” “When we submit our ways to him, He makes our paths straight (Proverbs 3:6).” “By knowing Him, we are granted the precious promise (of eternal life), and thereby we become partakers of his divine nature (2 Pe 1:3-4).” 
Let us pray to our Lord to bestow upon us His wisdom - regularly, consistently, and fervently. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)”

Prayer
Oh father, I seek Your help in humbling myself and imbibing Your divine nature. I know that You – the one without any blemish – humbled Yourself as a human to walk amongst us. You humbled Yourself on the cross for me. I am a sinner – through and through – as I have gloated in being right, boasted of material possessions that are nothing but Your gifts, been prideful of the talents and capabilities that You have entrusted me with to serve others. Forgive me, Father, and renew my spirit. Help me to put my trust in You and not rely on my self-confidence. Guide me in Your ways, every single moment of my life, Father. Amen!    
Thought for the Day
V5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” 

Reno Ann Cherian 
St.  Stephen’s Marthoma Church, East Brunswick, New Jersey

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