“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them…The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5, 7).

In an episode on the classic Andy Griffith show, Barney told Andy he should just let Opie, “decide for himself” how he wanted to live. That was, after all, part of growing up.

Andy had these words of wisdom.

“No, I’m afraid it don’t work that way. You can’t let a young’n decide for himself. He’ll grab the first flashy thing with shiny ribbons on it. Then, when he finds out there’s a hook in it, it’s too late. Wrong ideas come packaged with so much glitter that it’s hard to convince ’em that other things might be better in the long-run. All a parent can do is say “wait” and “trust me” and try to keep temptation away.”

That, my friends, is what the Bible calls wisdom.

What Barney said might sound good, but is terrible advice.

Solomon told his son, “Get wisdom…The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.”

Wisdom doesn’t just come to you. It’s something you need to pursue, something you need to work hard at.

So, my friends, “Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get wisdom.”

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Sin.

Our culture doesn’t like that word. Our culture hates being guilty of that word. So, our culture continues to change the concept of sin. In time, we have come to believe only things like murder, rape, theft are sins.

But, have you ever thought about what sin is? What is it?

The Greek word for sin is hamartia. It means “missing the mark” or “failure.” If sin is missing the mark, what is the mark? Who sets the mark? Who determines what the mark or the aim is? Without someone setting the mark, it makes no sense to miss the mark. The second meaning of the Greek word for sin is failure. Again, the question is failure from what? Who determines what failure is? In order to fail, there has to be a goal, or target, or something at the end. So, who decides what the goal, target, or the end of something is?

Christians, God and only God determines the “mark” or the “goal.” Sin is always a sin against God. No matter how much our culture changes and reviles against the idea of sin, God’s truth is God’s truth. Sin is sin. Sin is sin against God.

Therefore, the only solution to sin is to get right with God.

God has made a way for sinners to get right with God. That way has a name. His name is Jesus. Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. When we confess that we are sinners in need of a Savior, God forgives.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to my heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to my eyes…They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, honey from the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:7-9, 10)

The law of the LORD – refreshing to the soul.
The precepts of the LORD – giving joy to my heart.

So, when’s the last time you looked at the Ten Commandments and thought, “refreshing!” and “oh, joy!” not in a sarcastic way, but with genuine delight?

Have you ever thought about God’s commandments and thought, “Wow! More precious than tons of pure gold.” Have you ever read God’s commands and thought to yourself, “Oh, so sweet! Sweeter than honey from the honeycomb!”

You see, we think of laws and commands as something that is restrictive and prohibitive. But that’s not how many Jews thought about God’s laws. They genuinely delighted in God’s laws. God’s laws were sweet to them because it showed them how to live. God’s laws were something to be celebrated, something to delight in because no other nation had a God who clearly gave them the secrets to happiness and joy.

Even the Sabbath laws and the thirty-nine different ways to protect the Sabbath command were there to honor God. In time, and within certain circles, these laws and commands were practiced legalistically. But that was not the intent of those who came up with the thirty-nine ways to protect the Sabbath command. They genuinely wanted to give God the best worship possible.

It is we who are mistaken when we view God’s laws and commands as restrictive and prohibitive. They are given to us so that we may truly live the life that God intends for us to live. They are gifts.