Open in New Tab Here
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 13:14 (ESV)
Angus Barbieri fasted for 382 days. During his fast, the Scotsman ate only yeast, electrolytes, vitamins, and beverages. (1) While humans may amazingly go more than a year without any real food, we can only last about three days without water. As water is to the body, so is the teaching of the wise to the soul. (2)
Death is the default position of man and has been since the fall of our first parents. All mankind is in need of life-giving wisdom. True wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7 and 14:27). Therefore, wise teachers are regenerate persons, for no one fears the LORD apart from His saving grace (Psalm 14:1-3). The teachers wisdom comes from their hearts (Proverbs 4:23) and is aimed at the hearts of their pupils, imparting life and turning the students from death.
King Solomon was one such teacher, and though he was certainly not without sin, even quite grievous sin, he sought to impart life-giving wisdom to his sons. He also pointed forward to the perfectly wise teacher (John 13:14) who gives living water to His people (John 4:13-14) in contrast to the dry deadness of false teachers (2 Peter 2:17).
As students of Jesus Christ, our hearts produce rivers of living water (John 7:38) and being filled with the Holy Spirit, we have all been given the ability to be wise teachers (Romans 15:4). Are you listening to the Wise Teacher? Are you ready to receive instruction from the saints who have been filled with goodness and all knowledge and to serve others through wise teaching?
Father, By Your grace you have delivered us from the snares of death and opened our ears and eyes to Christ our wise Teacher. You have given us living water, sealing us with the Holy Spirit. Having filled us with all goodness and knowledge through faith in Christ Jesus, please help us to instruct one another for the sake of Your Name and the good of Your church. Eternal praise be to the One and only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
In Christ,
Pastor Rich
References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_Barbieri%27s_fast
2. I do not mean to divorce the soul from the body understanding that we are whole persons. As the soul goes so goes the physical body to glory or perdition. In other words the body also requires the nourishment of the soul in order to live.
