Rev. A. Linford
Rev. A. Linford, before his decease, was
recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of
God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College
lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in
his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to
refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the
book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption
Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate.
WISDOM IS LIFE
”He that followeth after righteousness
…. findeth life” Proverbs 21:21,22
To achieve the best in life
requires AIM – we must know where we are going; ACTIVITY we must strive to get
there’, and STAMINA – we must not give up until we attain our goal. And if that
goal is God, the end will be eternal blessedness.
PURSUIT OF HOLINESS – vs 21. The definition of holiness is ”righteousness and mercy” – that is
integrity towards God and compassion toward men. To live in conformity to God’s
law is to live straight and true. There is nothing bent about a God-fearer. To
exhibit brotherly love to all men is to live sweet and pure. Mercy is a godly
trait that oils the wheels of society, secures the bonds of fellowship and adds
reality to religion. As James stated: ”Pure religion and undefiled before God
and the Father is this. To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,
and to keep himself unspotted from the world” – 1:27. To such come life,
existence with quality; righteousness, equated here with prosperity, the smile
of God; and honour, the essence of dignity, of recognised worth and of high
esteem of men.
CONQUEST OF WICKEDNESS – v22. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, for arms continue conflict
whereas good sense prevents it. ”The city of the mighty is scaled” in more
senses than one. First, moral and spiritual force is greater than mere physical
force. Munitions may batter our foes into submission but wise diplomacy can
turn them into friends. On the mental plane, sound argument and solid logic may
subdue our opponent, but tolerance and appreciation can win his confidence and
support. Many verbal contents are waged merely to save face; give a man his
due, and he will listen and concede. But who can win the battle of the mind? It
takes a man wise in God and mighty in the Scriptures to scale the walls of
prejudice and reduce the citadel of false doctrine. But ”the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strongholds” – 2 Corinthians 10:4. Truth must prevail over error.
PRAYER
Grant me wisdom, O Lord, to pursue
holiness and truth