“O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.” (Proverbs 8:5, RSV)
A day trader in stocks had done very well for himself. To make good choices in the stock market, he diligently and thoroughly studied the companies in which he traded stocks frequently. He knew the quality of the products made by that company. He had followed the careers of the leaders in the company. He often poured over the company earnings reports and brochures. He scoured news sources for all the information he could gather. His earnings and future depended on his accurate assessment of the stock market.
On a Thursday morning, the day trader’s best friend paid a visit to the office. As the two were talking, the day trader saw a small blurb of news come across his computer screen. That blurb mentioned an article concerning a new product being debuted at a company. A few minutes later, the day trader noticed a small rise in the stock price. His eyes grew large, and he said to his best friend, “Do you see that small rise in the stock price? Something important is happening in that company today. As he focused like a laser on the stock price levels, the day trader immediately typed some things in on his computer and said to his best friend, “I just purchased ten thousand shares of that stock. Now, pay attention. In the next hour, as we talk the stock price will go up. I just know it. I’ve been waiting for this to happen!” Sure to his word, twenty minutes later the stock price of that very company rose seventy-five cents per share. The two reacted with joy that the day trader made $7500 in less than an hour by paying close attention to stock market fluctuations.
By keeping laser-focused on a specific area of the stock market, that day trader was able not only to make a living but a healthy profit. He was highly successful in discerning the movements of certain stocks. Paying close attention to his area of expertise kept that day trader well apprised of what was going on not only in the company but what was going on in the stock market.
I only wish that more people would pay close attention to the movements of the Holy Spirit and things of a spiritual nature. As the day trader was wildly successful due to paying close attention to the stock market, those who are close to God can see many important aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit in the world. Paying close attention to spiritual aspects of your life, to the meaning of scripture for your situation, and to the world around you are all critical if you want to understand the direction of God’s work.
For sixteen years, Thomas brought his family to church. He had a strong faith in God and wanted his children to know the Bible and be introduced to God. Thomas’ wife was also a firm believer in the saving grace of God and the redemption that came with Jesus on the cross. The whole family were active participants in their church. Thomas enjoyed the men’s Bible Study group. His wife was active in Sunday School and Christian Education programs. His children were ever-present in Sunday School classes and youth mission programs.
Coming home from worship one Sunday in July, Thomas had a bad feeling about his neighbor. The man next door seemed off. He was walking around mumbling under his breath. He had an angry scowl on his face. Thomas knew the man to be a fellow Christian. His actions seemed not only odd but menacing. Thomas walked to the fence between their yards and asked his neighbor how things were going. The neighbor yelled an obscenity at Thomas and kept working. On and off that entire Sunday, Thomas watched over his neighbor.
Late in the day, Thomas saw his neighbor’s wife out for a walk. He stopped what he was doing and approached her. The two talked and Thomas mentioned that her husband seemed off and angry. The wife responded that she hadn’t seen him all day as he was working outside. Thomas urged her to check on her husband and let him know if everything was alright.
Three hours later, the wife next door telephoned. When Thomas answered the call, the wife filled him in on what had happened. After talking with her husband, she took him immediately to the hospital. There in the Emergency area, they found that the neighbor had suffered from a heat stroke and was even still having heart palpitations and other complications. The doctors mentioned that a few more hours outside and the man may have been brain damaged. The wife thanked Thomas profusely for the timely conversation. She even baked Thomas and his family a dozen cookies that evening.
As Thomas lay in bed that night, he thanked God for the wisdom to see what was happening with his neighbor. He praised God for calling his attention to what was happening. Thomas was grateful that he had not ignored the symptoms of his neighbor nor rejected the increased feeling of urgency that had filled his soul. Thomas knew that in a real way, God was sending him to help that neighbor.
There will be times that God will speak to you, urge you to take a certain stand or to go a different direction. At crucial moments, God will speak to your heart. The Holy Spirit may bring up red flags in a conversation or cause certain words you hear to spark a memory or make you pause. In a million different ways, God will speak to you and direct your attention. BUT WILL YOU NOTICE?
In the scripture for today from the book of Proverbs, the Wisdom of God is speaking. Out of concern for the ways of men, it gives a warning: “O foolish men, pay attention!” (Proverbs 8:5). These words are meant to help you to see that God may want you to pay attention to certain things in life in order to discern what path you should take, changes you should make, or spiritual battles that may be upon you. Proverbs 8:1 claims that at times, God’s wisdom will call out to you. It will beg you to listen. It will urge you to pay attention to something God is doing.
All too often, people do not pay attention to God’s wisdom. They don’t listen for God’s voice or perceive the leading of God’s Spirit. Angels can be sent by God to help guide you, but if you aren’t paying attention, their directions will go unnoticed. In little and big ways, God will want you to pay attention to what He is doing. Will you?
Is there something you have not been attentive to lately? Is God warning you about something? Is God trying to reach out to you with grace? Are you ignoring God’s voice or too busy to heed God’s Spirit? Is there a blessing you are missing? Is there a temptation looming large? Pay attention to God’s wisdom. Seek God’s voice. Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring knowledge and discernment.
On a Thursday morning, the day trader’s best friend paid a visit to the office. As the two were talking, the day trader saw a small blurb of news come across his computer screen. That blurb mentioned an article concerning a new product being debuted at a company. A few minutes later, the day trader noticed a small rise in the stock price. His eyes grew large, and he said to his best friend, “Do you see that small rise in the stock price? Something important is happening in that company today. As he focused like a laser on the stock price levels, the day trader immediately typed some things in on his computer and said to his best friend, “I just purchased ten thousand shares of that stock. Now, pay attention. In the next hour, as we talk the stock price will go up. I just know it. I’ve been waiting for this to happen!” Sure to his word, twenty minutes later the stock price of that very company rose seventy-five cents per share. The two reacted with joy that the day trader made $7500 in less than an hour by paying close attention to stock market fluctuations.
By keeping laser-focused on a specific area of the stock market, that day trader was able not only to make a living but a healthy profit. He was highly successful in discerning the movements of certain stocks. Paying close attention to his area of expertise kept that day trader well apprised of what was going on not only in the company but what was going on in the stock market.
I only wish that more people would pay close attention to the movements of the Holy Spirit and things of a spiritual nature. As the day trader was wildly successful due to paying close attention to the stock market, those who are close to God can see many important aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit in the world. Paying close attention to spiritual aspects of your life, to the meaning of scripture for your situation, and to the world around you are all critical if you want to understand the direction of God’s work.
For sixteen years, Thomas brought his family to church. He had a strong faith in God and wanted his children to know the Bible and be introduced to God. Thomas’ wife was also a firm believer in the saving grace of God and the redemption that came with Jesus on the cross. The whole family were active participants in their church. Thomas enjoyed the men’s Bible Study group. His wife was active in Sunday School and Christian Education programs. His children were ever-present in Sunday School classes and youth mission programs.
Coming home from worship one Sunday in July, Thomas had a bad feeling about his neighbor. The man next door seemed off. He was walking around mumbling under his breath. He had an angry scowl on his face. Thomas knew the man to be a fellow Christian. His actions seemed not only odd but menacing. Thomas walked to the fence between their yards and asked his neighbor how things were going. The neighbor yelled an obscenity at Thomas and kept working. On and off that entire Sunday, Thomas watched over his neighbor.
Late in the day, Thomas saw his neighbor’s wife out for a walk. He stopped what he was doing and approached her. The two talked and Thomas mentioned that her husband seemed off and angry. The wife responded that she hadn’t seen him all day as he was working outside. Thomas urged her to check on her husband and let him know if everything was alright.
Three hours later, the wife next door telephoned. When Thomas answered the call, the wife filled him in on what had happened. After talking with her husband, she took him immediately to the hospital. There in the Emergency area, they found that the neighbor had suffered from a heat stroke and was even still having heart palpitations and other complications. The doctors mentioned that a few more hours outside and the man may have been brain damaged. The wife thanked Thomas profusely for the timely conversation. She even baked Thomas and his family a dozen cookies that evening.
As Thomas lay in bed that night, he thanked God for the wisdom to see what was happening with his neighbor. He praised God for calling his attention to what was happening. Thomas was grateful that he had not ignored the symptoms of his neighbor nor rejected the increased feeling of urgency that had filled his soul. Thomas knew that in a real way, God was sending him to help that neighbor.
There will be times that God will speak to you, urge you to take a certain stand or to go a different direction. At crucial moments, God will speak to your heart. The Holy Spirit may bring up red flags in a conversation or cause certain words you hear to spark a memory or make you pause. In a million different ways, God will speak to you and direct your attention. BUT WILL YOU NOTICE?
In the scripture for today from the book of Proverbs, the Wisdom of God is speaking. Out of concern for the ways of men, it gives a warning: “O foolish men, pay attention!” (Proverbs 8:5). These words are meant to help you to see that God may want you to pay attention to certain things in life in order to discern what path you should take, changes you should make, or spiritual battles that may be upon you. Proverbs 8:1 claims that at times, God’s wisdom will call out to you. It will beg you to listen. It will urge you to pay attention to something God is doing.
All too often, people do not pay attention to God’s wisdom. They don’t listen for God’s voice or perceive the leading of God’s Spirit. Angels can be sent by God to help guide you, but if you aren’t paying attention, their directions will go unnoticed. In little and big ways, God will want you to pay attention to what He is doing. Will you?
Is there something you have not been attentive to lately? Is God warning you about something? Is God trying to reach out to you with grace? Are you ignoring God’s voice or too busy to heed God’s Spirit? Is there a blessing you are missing? Is there a temptation looming large? Pay attention to God’s wisdom. Seek God’s voice. Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring knowledge and discernment.