PROVERBS 15
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
– Proverbs 15:13-18
PROVERBS 15 THE KNOWLEDGE SEEKER
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Those who wants to serve the Lord seeks his truth
He cannot tolerate sin or lies; he exposes what is untrue
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
Those who love the Lord are kind and empathetic
The knowledge seeker discerns what is evil and good
He constantly pursues what is pleasing to the Lord.
One of the manifestations of a true believer is that he is a knowledge seeker. He pursues truth that gives him the ability to live a life of serving the Lord. The book of James stresses the importance of pursuit of wisdom in chapter 1 verse 5. He says that if anyone lacks wisdom, that person has to ask God who gives generously to all and without reproach. James also expounds that the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Hosea 4:6 also reminds us that people are destroyed for lack of knowledge and rejecting knowledge will lead to detrimental consequences.
REFLECTION
- Why is it essential for Christians to be knowledge seekers?