Gone Fishin'

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 9

Gold Nugget

Verse 9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

Commentary

"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime". This old proverb may not have been a bible proverb verbatim, but today's "gold nugget" has got the concept covered anyway. Although God created the world, spun it on its axis, and created all that is in it; He took great pleasure in allowing us to be a part of fertilizing it for continued growth and reproduction, both for His creation-earth and His creation-us. I believe He takes great pleasure in seeing us grow each other in wisdom and truth. I believe He takes even greater pleasure in seeing us grow someone to the point that they can feed themselves. Even greater still, growing them to the point where they can not only feed themselves but, can in turn, teach someone else to fish.

Someone taught me how to fish and it is of great importance to me that I teach as many people how to fish as possible. I refuse to just sit around like a bump on a log. In the process of growing others, we should pay special attention to fertile ground that is ready and willing to be planted in. Our proverb today says, "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." When we find people who are willing to receive instructions and yet we neglect to instruct them, we have done them and God a great disservice. Maybe we should be especially sensitive to those that are teachable and be willing to teach them, all while remembering to be teachable ourselves. We have been called to be fishers of men and it's about time we hang up the "gone fishin" sign.

Prayer

Lord, help me to be both sensitive to those that need instruction as well as be sensitive to those that can instruct me. It is so important that I both receive instruction and instruct those who I can. I want to please you with humility and service to others. Amen

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