“He who pays attention to the word [of God] will find good, And blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the LORD.”
Proverbs 16:20 AMP
What a beautiful promise from the Word of God today! Many of the promises of God are conditional as this one qualifies those who would find happiness and prosperity! In a day and age where wealth and influence is flaunted as success, the Scripture reminds us that true happiness and prosperity comes from a right relationship with God! It is important to understand the word here used for “pays attention.” The Hebrew word is the word meaning “to get wisdom; gain understanding; to have a capacity for understanding proper teaching.” We read about the national rejection of God in the book of Deuteronomy.
“For they are a nation devoid of counsel, And there is no understanding in them. 29“O that they were wise, that they understood this, That they could discern their future and ultimate fate!
Deuteronomy 32:28-29 AMP
I cannot think of a better verse to describe the condition of our country’s leadership! The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that a day would come where people would not heed sound doctrine.
“For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,4and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. 5But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:3-5 AMP
Notice that the issue is that the Word of God “challenges them” with truth. No matter how you cut the cake, truth is absolute. If it were not, man would have never stepped foot on the moon! The unchangeableness of God is why we can rest confidently on His Word! From the beginning, God has spoken the truth. Man is the one who has decided that he knows best and can ignore the reality of truth. I always am reminded of the Words of Jesus,
“So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. 32And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
John 8:31-31 AMP
Do you see it? To know the truth is to abide in His Word! That is why it is so imperative that you be in a solid Bible teaching church. Paul encouraged Timothy to,
5But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:5 AMP
It is easy now to find a “church” that will cater to your every whim. We are not called to cater to the flesh but rather to be “transformed by the renewing of our mind in the Word of God.” Even for me, you should always go back to the Word and see if what I am saying is true! That is your responsibility. Remember that we are on the road to holiness. That means there will be times when God will challenge us forget that which is behind and press on to the mark of the high calling of Christ in our lives! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken