“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes. a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

The LORD hates.

We don’t see that often. When we think of God we think of love. After all, God is a God of love. But because God is a God of love, God’s love must also hate. The reason for this is because God doesn’t love for the sake of love. God loves us. We are the object of God’s love. Therefore, God hates that which harms us.

What are the things God hates?

• A haughty eye
• A lying tongue
• Hands that shed innocent blood
• A heart that devises wicked schemes
• Feet that are quick to rush into evil
• A false witness who pours out lies
• A person who stirs up conflict

Notice that each of these things destroys community. These things make community impossible. Because God loves us, God hates that which destroys God’s community.

God’s community is precious to him because we are precious to him. God is most pleased when we live in harmony and unity.

Pursue love. Pursue unity. Pursue harmony.

That’s what honors the God who loves his people.

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-7).

If you’re a fool, it’s because you choose to be one.

Being a fool has nothing to do with being ignorant. Ignorance has no moral undertones. It just means one doesn’t know, not one is incapable of learning. An ignorant person can stop being ignorant by learning, by understanding.

Being foolish, being a fool is entirely different than being ignorant. A fool is one by choice. And that’s just dumb. That’s foolish. Shame on fools.

The text today says, “GET” wisdom. “GET” understanding.

The Hebrew verb for “Get” is written in the imperative. This is a command. God commands us to “GET” wisdom and understanding. Wisdom and understanding is within everyone’s grasp. We just need to go and get it. We need to pursue it. We need to want it.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given you.”

If anyone is a fool, if anyone lacks understanding, it’s by choice.

Don’t be a fool.

How can we “Get” wisdom and understanding?

1. Ask God. God promises to give us wisdom.
2. Remember God’s words and obey them. We are told, “Do not forget my words or turn away from them.”

Get it?

Get it!

“And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

What we believe matters. What we believe absolutely matters. What we believe absolutely matters because our beliefs impact our behavior.

A lie believed as truth impacts our lives as if it were true.

Be mindful what you think. The thoughts we allow ourselves to think shapes our reality, and as a result it shapes our future.

As we think, so we become.

We either take control of our thoughts or our thoughts will take control of our lives. The choice is our’s.

The Apostle Paul gives us good counsel. He tells us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. We do not allow thoughts to run its course. We take each thought and make it captive to the authority of Christ.

The standard which determines what is true and what is false is the standard of God’s revealed truth in his word. God’s word is the basis by which Christians regard as true and false.

What we believe matters. What we believe absolutely matters. What we believe absolutely matters because our beliefs shape our lives.