How are you using your abilities?
(Prov 12:8 NIrV) A man is praised for how wise he is. But people hate those who have twisted minds.
As Solomon continues his antithetical proverbs, here he compares the reputation of the man who operates in wisdom with the reputation of the man who has a twisted mind. To be true to the text, let's look at a couple of definitions. The word translated "wise" in this text is the Hebrew word sekel, which means: possessing the ability to be discrete; prudent; sensible; possessing understanding. The word translated "twisted" in this text is the Hebrew word avah, which means: to do amiss; to make crooked; to commit iniquity; perverted; to do wickedly; to do wrong. The reality is that both men are doing something.
Both men are active, alert and industrious. They have both decided to put their minds to work. They are both determined to be men of action. It is with this dog-minded determination that they seek to make their impact on the world. The difference is that one is seeking to use his ability to impact the world in a positive way, while the other uses his ability negatively. They both have ability, they both have an inner-drive that keeps them going, and they are both committed to seeing their plans come to fruition. However, society accepts one and rejects the other. Society gives one the Nobel Prize and the other a death sentence. Solomon says that one is praised, while the other is hated. One is applauded and admired, while the other rejected and despised. Why? Because one used his God-given ability for good and the other for evil. Hebrew word avah I mentioned earlier is also the word where we get whicker or whickered. A picture of whicker furniture is a good example of how twisted the minds of some men become. They head down the road of unrighteousness and before they know it, they are deeply entangled in their own minds. Some of the most brilliant minds in history have done the most harm, because, at some point, they became twisted and they did not even know it.
Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Jeffrey Dahmer and the like, all spent countless hours devising elaborate plans to do harm to others. I am sure that Osama Bin Laden has convinced himself, in his own mind, that what he is doing is right. I am sure that the man who straps a bomb to his chest, enters a crowded market, and detonates the bomb, killing himself and countless others with him, has convinced himself that what he is doing is right. I am sure that he spent a great portion of his time nursing and rehearsing his plan. He calculated what he wanted to do and he performed it with eerie accuracy.
The problem is that these people were deceived. The enemy was able to pervert their ability, so that their talents - talents that could and should have been used for good - could be used for the kingdom of darkness. All these, and others like them, have a reputation, but not a reputation that any of us would desire. They are known, but they are known for the wrong reasons. So what does this mean? It means that the type of reputation that you build is entirely up to you. You can use your God-given abilities for good or you can use them for evil - the choice is yours. However, if you subscribe to Today's Word, then I believe you want to use your abilities in ways that are pleasing to God. If you do, if you are diligent and determined to apply the talents God has given you for His glory, then Solomon tells you this morning that you will be praised. You will build a reputation for doing good, for making good decisions, and for being a person that can be counted on. As you do, you will be commended and the Father will be glorified.
Are you determined to use what God has given you for His glory? Father, I thank You for exposing the enemy to me. I shall not be deceived and my mind shall not be perverted. I think on things that are pleasing to You. I devise plans that bring You glory. I put my hands to DO things that build up and do not tear down. I make a positive impact in my sphere of influence, today and every day, for Your glory! I build a reputation for being a person of Godly character, possessing a tireless work ethic, and one who consistently makes good decisions! Glorify me, that I may glorify thee! In Jesus' name. Amen!
(Prov 12:8 NIrV) A man is praised for how wise he is. But people hate those who have twisted minds.
As Solomon continues his antithetical proverbs, here he compares the reputation of the man who operates in wisdom with the reputation of the man who has a twisted mind. To be true to the text, let's look at a couple of definitions. The word translated "wise" in this text is the Hebrew word sekel, which means: possessing the ability to be discrete; prudent; sensible; possessing understanding. The word translated "twisted" in this text is the Hebrew word avah, which means: to do amiss; to make crooked; to commit iniquity; perverted; to do wickedly; to do wrong. The reality is that both men are doing something.
Both men are active, alert and industrious. They have both decided to put their minds to work. They are both determined to be men of action. It is with this dog-minded determination that they seek to make their impact on the world. The difference is that one is seeking to use his ability to impact the world in a positive way, while the other uses his ability negatively. They both have ability, they both have an inner-drive that keeps them going, and they are both committed to seeing their plans come to fruition. However, society accepts one and rejects the other. Society gives one the Nobel Prize and the other a death sentence. Solomon says that one is praised, while the other is hated. One is applauded and admired, while the other rejected and despised. Why? Because one used his God-given ability for good and the other for evil. Hebrew word avah I mentioned earlier is also the word where we get whicker or whickered. A picture of whicker furniture is a good example of how twisted the minds of some men become. They head down the road of unrighteousness and before they know it, they are deeply entangled in their own minds. Some of the most brilliant minds in history have done the most harm, because, at some point, they became twisted and they did not even know it.
Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Jeffrey Dahmer and the like, all spent countless hours devising elaborate plans to do harm to others. I am sure that Osama Bin Laden has convinced himself, in his own mind, that what he is doing is right. I am sure that the man who straps a bomb to his chest, enters a crowded market, and detonates the bomb, killing himself and countless others with him, has convinced himself that what he is doing is right. I am sure that he spent a great portion of his time nursing and rehearsing his plan. He calculated what he wanted to do and he performed it with eerie accuracy.
The problem is that these people were deceived. The enemy was able to pervert their ability, so that their talents - talents that could and should have been used for good - could be used for the kingdom of darkness. All these, and others like them, have a reputation, but not a reputation that any of us would desire. They are known, but they are known for the wrong reasons. So what does this mean? It means that the type of reputation that you build is entirely up to you. You can use your God-given abilities for good or you can use them for evil - the choice is yours. However, if you subscribe to Today's Word, then I believe you want to use your abilities in ways that are pleasing to God. If you do, if you are diligent and determined to apply the talents God has given you for His glory, then Solomon tells you this morning that you will be praised. You will build a reputation for doing good, for making good decisions, and for being a person that can be counted on. As you do, you will be commended and the Father will be glorified.
Are you determined to use what God has given you for His glory? Father, I thank You for exposing the enemy to me. I shall not be deceived and my mind shall not be perverted. I think on things that are pleasing to You. I devise plans that bring You glory. I put my hands to DO things that build up and do not tear down. I make a positive impact in my sphere of influence, today and every day, for Your glory! I build a reputation for being a person of Godly character, possessing a tireless work ethic, and one who consistently makes good decisions! Glorify me, that I may glorify thee! In Jesus' name. Amen!
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