Posted in Devotion, Subject Index

Kindle Devotional Book Excerpt: Wisdom Calls

   September 27, 2011

I have always hated the expression, “Killing time,” even though I am guilty of it as much as anyone else.

Playwright Dion Boucicault said, “Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them.” Of course, he was a notorious bigamist, so his solution to the problem of boredom is probably not the best.
Perhaps, rather than killing time, we can make some productive use of our ubiquitous communications technologies and fill the unforgiving minutes with sixty seconds or so of attention to activities that build up our souls. All the smart phones and tablets on the market have the potential to connect us, first with Scripture, then with each other, and finally with edifying materials that serve to inspire and educate in those mundane moments we might otherwise have slain.
Electronic publishing is an exciting new way to get religious materials out to an eager audience with minimal expense and lightning-fast results. In addition to web sites, blogs, Twitter feeds, and downloadable PDFs, e-books provide a way to merge conventional information with modern technology. Instead of being tied to a book that is easy to leave behind on the night table or too heavy to carry anyway, iBooks and Kindle software allow the reader to have access to an e-Book at almost any time.
With WISDOM CALLS, I have chosen to go this route and publish a booklet of 120 devotionals from the Old Testament Proverbs, making them accessible to anyone with Amazon’s Kindle software. That includes Macs and PCs, iPhones, iPads and Android smart phones and tablets. Sitting in the doctor’s waiting room or on line to pick up children from school can be an occasion for making the most of our precious time instead of resorting to killing it. Each devotional quotes a relevant proverb and provides a couple of minutes worth of comment upon it. Sometimes humorous, sometimes challenging, always consistent to the ideals of Christ, WISDOM CALLS pays homage to the timeless wisdom of God as we try to find our place in his world.

WISDOM CALLS is useful as a daily devotional book or for a little light reading when only weighty subject matter will do.

WISDOM CALLS is only $4.99 and is available exclusively for Kindle software devices (computers, smart phones, tablets). Click here for ordering information.

Below is an excerpt from WISDOM CALLS:

Wisdom Calls (Proverbs 1:7): The fear of the Lord is the beginning

Perhaps it is the theme of the book of Proverbs, stated in the seventh verse of the first chapter to sum up the passage thus far: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Knowledge–spiritual understanding, godly wisdom, true insight–starts when reverence takes root, and not before. The reason the world is filled with fools is that true godly fear is so scarce. Atheists lack it entirely when they say to their hearts there is no God (Psalm 14). While that is clear, even those who claim to be believers often operate with something less than godly fear. Sin and rebellion are the evidence.

This fear is not abject terror that leads to loathing, but a filial fear that lovingly respects a higher authority (First John 4:17-18). Godly fear, then, is loving, obedient respect. Job spoke much earlier on the same theme: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.” Godly fear does not flirt with temptation or persist in sin in the futile hope that grace may abound despite impenitence. Godly fear hates evil and craves good.

The psalmist agrees: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.” Your IQ might not measure up to Mensa and your pocket book might not fit in on Wall Street, but if you are serious about doing God’s commands, you have an understanding that is both immeasurable and invaluable. The whole duty of man is not of necessity to attain higher degrees and tax brackets, but to “fear God and keep his commandments,” the Preacher writes (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

A scriptural trend has developed, encompassing Job, Solomon and the psalmist. It is a trend that continues in the New Testament. Godly fear is where true knowledge begins–a loving respect manifested in obedience to the will of God (Matthew 7:21-27, First John 2:1-6).

Knowledge involves a correct understanding of the world and one’s place in it as a creature of God, subject to his will and certainly his judgment when this life concludes. Wisdom is a skill acquired along the path of life through both observation and participation. Some lessons are learned more easily than others, some are learned by success where others require failure. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge properly.

Knowledge is gained by study where prayer is helpful in acquiring wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting” (James 1:5-6). Be careful what you ask for, though; true wisdom often comes only through pain.

Author: Smith, Jeff

Jeff S. Smith is an evangelist with the Woodmont church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas. Jeff has been preaching the gospel since 1991 and has a Master of Arts Degree in counseling. In addition to his stateside ministry, Jeff has labored in Canada, Eastern Europe and India. He operates the ElectronicGospel website. Jeff was born in 1969 and raised in Paden City, West Virginia, where he graduated from PCHS in 1987. He was baptized into Christ on January 14, 1988 by Harry Rice and began preaching later that year in the hills of West Virginia. Jeff cut his teeth in the pulpit by doing appointment preaching for churches in the hills and hollers of the Ohio Valley. Following his freshman year at Marshall University, Jeff moved to Florence, Alabama in 1989 to attend the University of North Alabama, where he majored in Public Relations and Radio-Television-Film. Jeff graduated magna cum laude in 1992 and worked as a reporter with WOWL-TV in Florence that year. He gained invaluable experience by preaching for the Ligon Springs church of Christ near Russellville in 1991-1992. On December 19, 1992, Jeff married the former Michele Walker of Green Hill, Ala. and the couple moved to Austin, Texas, where Jeff began working with the Wonsley Drive church of Christ in July 1993. He left Austin for Fort Worth in November 2000. Jeff is also the program director and coach of a special needs softball/baseball team. Jeff currently resides in Burleson, Texas with his wife, Michele, and children, Reagan and Walker.