Series: Wisdom That Works
Message: Wisdom Creates Community
Preacher:  Amy Markoch
Reflection: Mark Witas
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Jessyka Dooley
Live Beyond: J. Murdock
Live Purpose: Kyle Smith
Editor: Becky De Oliveira

Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.

Read: Proverbs 3:13-35 in the English Standard Version (ESV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.

Reflect: “Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways” (Proverbs 3:31).

When I was a kid I always love the period piece movies that depicted the first century Roman world. Movies like Ben Hur were amazing to me because there would be a whole coliseum full of people screaming and cheering for the brave gladiators who would be fighting to the death. These great fighting men wielded weapons like spears, long handled axes, swords, and chains with spiked steel balls on the end. In true form, most of these fights would reach a climax when one opponent stood above another, weapon raised, and then looked at the Roman Emperor to see what his next move should be. The stadium would grow silent as all eyes were focused on the thumb of the laurel wreath-wearing leader. His arm would be outstretched and his thumb would start in the middle position, not up, not down. If, after several seconds of suspense, the thumb turned up, the defeated gladiator had his life spared for another fight another day. If though, the thumb turned down, the standing gladiator would be obliged to end the life of the failed fighter in some sort of gruesome way.

As an adult, I’ve wondered (as one who enjoys watching sporting competitions) if, as a young person, I would have had season tickets to the Roman games. Would I have gained some sort of perverse enjoyment from seeing men slaying each other to death? Would I have stood and cheered the victor on as he bludgeoned the life out of his opponent? Maybe. I don’t know that I can honestly answer that question. I’m pretty sure that now, as a converted person, the taking of human life would abhor me and turn my stomach. I don’t think I’d get any joy from watching the taking of life. 

I wonder, if it were made legal again, if we could fill stadiums with folks who would want to witness gladiator games that would promote fights to the death. I have my suspicions that we could. But that could never happen in the world today; at least not in the civilized world.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, by age 18, the average young person who grows up in the United States will have witnessed 16,000 simulated murders and over 200,000 other acts of violence on TV and video screens.

It seems like all of our heroes, at least on the big screen, turn to violence to solve their problems. The Hulk, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Batman and Superman all end up kicking butt and taking names. They leave a string of violence and dead bodies in their pursuit of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. 

How different is this from Jesus’ method of doing battle. His battle cry from an army of angels was, “Peace on earth and goodwill toward men on who his favor rests.” Jesus wasn’t a proponent of a violent tit-for-tat. He knew that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth would leave us with a world full of blind people that couldn’t chew their food. Instead of violence and violent responses to violence, Jesus said things like, “Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. Those who live by the sword die by the sword.”

His game plan for responding to violence was to allow it to play out finally and fully on His body. On a cross. Which makes no sense to a world that is convinced that violence is the only way to peace.

Recalibrate: Is it possible that Jesus was wrong? Is it possible that it’s impossible to survive in this world without killing each other to achieve peace?

Respond: Pray these words: “Jesus, help me to embrace peace and reject violence. Help me to be a bringer of peace to a violent and wartorn world.” 

Research: Read Matthew 5.

Remember: “My child, hold on to wisdom and reason. Don’t let them out of your sight”  (Proverbs 3:21, ICB).

Mark Witas is the lead pastor at Sunnyside Adventist Church in Portland, Oregon.

Play a game of Filling Up with your child. Fill up a bowl with breakfast cereal and milk. Fill up a cup with juice. Fill up the sink to wash the dishes. Fill up your tummy with good food. We want to fill up on the best things, right? Fill up your heart and soul with love. Love is what your heart and soul are designed to be full of. Let love live in you, and overflow and flood the spaces you are in.

The last chunk of verses in Proverbs 3 tell us what wisdom actually looks like when it’s in you and me. What do you think a wise person talks like? How do you think a wise person acts? Find a Bible and read Proverbs 3:27-35. When you see something that a wise person would do, point it out! Make a list of all the things a wise person does. When you’re finished come back to the Daily Walk and see if I found any of the same answers! 

A wise person—
Does good  for people who need help
Gives good things to their neighbors
Doesn’t hurt their neighbors
Is worthy of being trusted
Doesn’t accuse people if they didn’t do anything wrong
Isn’t jealous of people who are mean and hurtful to get their way
Is honest
Does what is right
Is blessed by God
Is not proud
Receives honor

Let’s say for a second that all the lights went out in the church, a snowy wind blew the doors open, everything inside froze, and I was left with nothing but what was in my pockets. Based on what you learned about me yesterday, I might be OK for a little while, seeing as I have fire (lighter), kindling (notebook pages), and a propellant (Chapstick). With these things, I might survive for a little while before I froze. But how likely is this scenario? Not very . . . 

But how about in my dreams? 

Definitely plausible.

But if crises like this only happen when I’m asleep and wearing pajamas, what good is all the stuff in the pockets of my daytime clothes? 

Solomon points to the idea of keeping wisdom and discernment on you at all times (in your soul and around your neck) once more in Chapter 3 Verse 24. He says that carrying these two items will cause you not only to be secure in times in which you are awake, but when you lie down to sleep. You will, “not be afraid” and your “sleep will be sweet.”

Protection not only during the day, but long into the night as long as you’re with Wisdom!

How do you prepare to go to sleep every night? After you brush your teeth and get a drink of water, do you also check to make sure you still have discernment around your neck and wisdom in your soul? If you aren’t now, then how might you go about starting in order to have you sleep better?

I’ve never been violent. In fact, I’ve always been a lover not a fighter. So when I read a verse like the one we studied today, I instantly think to myself, “I got it! This isn’t something I need to work on or pay that much attention to.” I can be so naive. Often when we hear the word “violent,” our minds go to the extreme. We think of action movies or of people getting mugged on the street. But we can be violent in many other ways. In fact, Jesus says that if you hate someone you are being violent. Whenever we wish anything but good for someone else we are being violent. I know I’m sounding very extreme, and you may be thinking I’m crazy, but I think we have to take the words of Jesus seriously. If we truly view others as Jesus does, then we should only want and desire good things for them. This is a hard thing to do. In fact there has been someone in my life who I didn’t want good things for. I didn’t hate them, dislike them, or want anything bad to happen to them. I just didn’t want to see them succeed. This is not the Spirit of Jesus in my heart but the sickness of sin. Sin always moves us away from God and others. Jesus always calls us to love more.

Zan Long is GRC director for faith development for ages 0-17. She lives in Sydney, Australia, and serves at her local church in nearby Kellyville.
Jessyka Dooley is assistant youth director for the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Denver, Colorado.
J. Murdock is associate pastor at Boulder Adventist Church in Boulder, Colorado, where he focuses on youth and young adult ministry.
Kyle Smith is the associate pastor of youth and family ministries at New Haven Adventist Church in Overland Park, Kansas.