WISE UNTO SALVATION
Jack Davis
Part 3
“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” Proverbs 30:24,28
God’s marvelous Word is filled with wise instruction in progressing toward possessing. Let us appropriate by faith all the best, made available by grace. Jesus Christ is made unto us wisdom, therefore we are wise to lay hold and hold fast to Him, and all that is promised in Him.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee” Proverbs 4:7-9.
These verses impress upon me the importance of putting first things first, as does Proverbs 2:11. The strong words of expression here would speak forcefully of the earnestness, and urgency with which we should be wise unto salvation: receive, incline thine ear, apply thine heart, cry after, lift up thy voice for, seek as silver, search for as for hid treasures.
“She taketh hold with her hands.” We are soundly admonished to lay hold, hold fast, fighting the good fight of faith.
Many “church members” feel they are doing well to be just sitting on the premises, others claim to be standing on the promises, but, praise God, some full overcomers are seizing upon the privileges, and urging others to do the same. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” Heb. 6:10-12.
The house of Jacob is told that they are to possess their possessions Obadiah 17. Jesus said, “In your patience possess ye your souls” – Luke 21:19. Paul wrote, “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour” I Thess. 4:4. The saints of the Philadelphian assembly are told “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” Rev. 3:11.
Paul wrote, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust…That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” I Tim. 6:20; II Tim.. 1:14. Therefore we are faced more with a matter of the Spirit’s control instead of self-control. Yet, we daily, moment by moment, decide who runs or controls our lives.
We are taught in I Cor. 6:11 of some of the things that have been done that we may inherit the kingdom of God. The Spirit makes us to know through the Word the things that are, and are not expedient, or profitable for us on the course to eternal wealth. V. 12 – “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” We each have the same privilege of bringing our bodies into subjection to the life of Christ, presenting it a living sacrifice, as Paul did.
I Cor. 9:26 - “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.” Rom. 12:1-3 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
We each are equipped to bring our thoughts into the captivity to the obedience of Christ. II Cor. 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations (reasonings), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Thus shall we appropriate an abundant entrance into the palace of the King of kings, and enjoy forever the ultimate blessings of being wise unto salvation.
