To Market, To Market

(Pro 31:14 KJV) She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

We are talking about the ideal wife, and it seems mother.  This is one busy lady.  Here we seem to be referring to the way in which the matriarch will supply daily sustenance to her family and household staff.  The comparison is to business people.  The lady does not go out in the field, grow the food, harvest it and prepare it.  She buys it in the state that the food seller finds most profitable for himself.  

We are talking about a number of qualities.  We have planning, knowing value, being able to pay.  We also have the ability to bargain, which is a characteristic of the market in much of the world.

So?  Be a good steward.  That involves what you buy as well as caring for those you are entrusted with. 

Marriage Woes

(Pro 30:23 KJV) For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

This verse gives us a clue to why some marriages are full of misery.  If you start with the NASB who describes the woman as “unloved” (8130) you see one scenario.  Picture a woman who has never been loved.  She may have had no father or a father who failed in every important way.  She may have never been Daddy’s Princess.  It is possible that even her mother rejected her.  She is a walking time bomb if she manages to get married.

Take it a step further as the KJV has “odious”.  This translation says the woman in question is really impossible to be around.  The cause may have been she was unloved as a child.  The cause could be a refusal to acknowledge sin in her life.  Regardless, she is destined to make the life of her husband and children miserable.  

And of course the lesson goes the other way.  There are men who are odious too.

So?  There is not much you can do about someone’s past or present.  You can be lifting them up in prayer because God has the ability to remake the odious if they are willing to be remade. 

Justice or Mush

(Pro 29:4 KJV) The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

As we move into the new year it is a good time to stop and think about “justice” (4941).  It is one of the mass of words that the forces positioned against God are trying to redefine.  Notice the difference between the KJV, “judgement” and NASB.  The two English words are entwined in the Hebrew.  I would analyze it as the impartial application of the rule of law.  It starts with a concept the humanists reject, absolute right and wrong.  Those standards are established by God from the foundation of the earth.  They are not a result of this weeks polls among academics.  In justice there is also one law for all.  There are not different rules based on gender, race or class.  

The only way we will have a stable, safe nation to live in is if we insist on the Biblical meaning of justice and reject the constantly manipulated mush of the elites.

So?  You can’t know what is right if you don’t read the Book.  Get in the habit. 

Poor Correction

(Pro 28:11 KJV) The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

There is a place for everyone in God’s economy.  There are wealthy people who are good stewards of God’s blessings.  There are poor people who keep the faith even in the struggle.  This is pointing out that the “poor” (1800b) has a responsibility to keep the “rich” (6223) in line.  It is not likely that a poor person will ever get elected president.  He may have started out that way but if he has the qualities to lead the country he will have been successful in other ways.  Our job is to be the child in “The King’s New Clothes”.  

We can see how this works in a democratic system but it is also true in autocratic governments.  Even in the midst of oppression there is buy-in required by the masses.  We have a sacred charge to keep our leaders in line.

So?  This can be applied by voting, where we shop and what we buy.  It can be verbal.  However it applies we are to apply it.

Nice Job

(Pro 27:21 KJV)  As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

“Flattery will get you anything.”  So the saying goes.  The idea is that you won’t have to work hard and will get what your heart desires.  I don’t think this means you should not compliment the hostess on Christmas dinner.  I do think you ought to slow down on the “best meal I have ever had” approach.  

The approach here though is toward the person receiving the “praise” (4110).  We are to be cautious when people start to say nice things about us.  The ones that are really good at trying to manipulate you will find subtle ways to do it.  They will pick something they know you are working on, like painting the house, and they will make more of it than needs to be.  Take a moment, breathe deep, enjoy the compliment, and get on with life.  

So?  I guess a better question to answer than “What do they think” is “What does God think?”  Ask it as you read and worship.

Fire Alarm

(Pro 26:21 KJV) As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

What do you “kindle” (2787)?  In our modern world we are used to lighting a fire with a match and a gas log.  Whoof.  It is done.  It doesn’t work that way in the Solomon world.  If you have ever tried to start a fire while camping you know what a challenge it can be.  You need to start with small, dry pieces of wood.  That is why it is called “kindling”.  When it starts to char and turn black you know you are close.  The actual flame may come as a surprise.

Some people may be able to cause trouble with a word but most of the time it is the result of a consistent picking and stirring.

So?  If your intent is dissension then you don’t need to be reading Proverbs and you will probably have a special place reserved for you in Hell.  If you desire is to glorify God and build up His people then examine your speech patterns and make adjustments. 

Christmas Uncheer

(Pro 25:20 KJV)  As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

When we have someone we care about going through a hard time we want to be helpful.  Often we think that being positive and cheerful will help.  Sometimes it does but there are also many times when they don’t want our positive attitude.  They don’t need us to quote Benjamin Franklin or tell about the time we....  What they need is quiet support.

Think about the times that there is really nothing you can say.  You can listen.  You can make the coffee.  You can clean the house.  You also need to give them a chance to allow the Holy Spirit to heal.  This may be doubly true on a holiday like Christmas.

So?  Discernment is hard but we can usually do better if we think about it.  Don’t drown out the Holy Spirit with a happy ditty. 

Basic Equipment

(Pro 24:14 KJV) So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

We must “find” (4672) “wisdom” (2451).  This seems to become another of those conditional statements that we find in the Bible to balance absolute statements such as “by grace alone.”

“Wisdom” (2451) is essential for your “soul” (5315).  So many people who embrace the name “Christian” reject how important it is to learn, grow and change.  They tend to think of Biblical essentials as the add on that they are used to purchasing with a bit of soft ware.  I don’t know about you, but almost all of the things I do on a computer, other than games, I could do on my first computer.  The graphics and ability to click on things have streamlined and made the basics easier but I still do the same things I did then.  For me the computer is a fancy typewriter and adding machine.  

So?  Wisdom is not an add on.  Wisdom is part of the requirements.  It is not the stereo system in your new car, it is the steering wheel.  Seek wisdom.  Neglect it at peril to your soul. 

The Truth That Unstole Christmas

(Pro 23:23 KJV) Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Christmas time is another good time to stop and consider what is “truth” (571), what is well meaning tradition and what is outright fraud.  The secularization we are watching is all about smothering the truth that created the celebration.  Christmas is about the Incarnation.  It is the day that God became man.  He was born in a manger so that He could die on a cross and be resurrected from a tomb.  That is the truth.  That is what we should “buy” (7069) into.  

That doesn’t mean we have to throw out the fun stuff that has become traditional.  Much of it is like the rum in rum balls.  A little bit adds flavor and I am told the alcohol cooks out.  Too much and it can be destructive.  Tradition has its place but does not trump truth.

So?  Don’t let the attempts to remove the divine from Christmas spoil the celebration.  Don’t let the celebration eclipse the worship.  Invest your day and season in truth.

Christmas Diversity

(Pro 22:2 KJV) The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

This is a principle that America was founded on.  It is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence with “all men are created equal” and continued in the development of the Constitution which forbids income and class as requirements for public office.  Have we always lived up to it?  That is a rhetorical question and always will be.  It is part of the human condition that we will never measure up to ideals.  We can, however, keep trying and striving.  

So?  As Christians we are to look at people as children of God.  That does not mean we accept their sin or sinful behavior.  We do not make lesbians our pastors.  What it does mean is that we do not judge people based on their net worth, blood lines or social class.  We need to keep remembering that the ground is level at the foot of the cross.  Christmas is a good reminder of that.  God announced Advent to the poor shepherds, used a middle class family for the incarnation and invited royalty from afar.  Celebrate.

Illusions

(Pro 21:31 KJV) The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

The difference between the KJV with “safety” (8668) and the NASB with “victory” is worth consideration.  The word is defined as salvation or deliverance.  It is translated with both of those words in both of the translations.  I think there is danger in both of the English words used here.  Although God promises us eternal safety and ultimate victory the Bible is also clear that there will be persecution and suffering in life.  Too often we want to think all will be bubbles and rainbows.

Our confidence is in God and not in any of the blessings He sends our ways.  We have a different perspective on what is important and what is secondary.  

So?  Don’t get discouraged by the headlines even if they are true and accurate.  God is in control and will work His will.  Relax and enjoy the season.

For the Children

(Pro 20:7 KJV) The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

It is important to walk in righteousness.  One part of that requirement is that our eternal salvation depends on it.  If you want to live in one of those mansions that Jesus said He was going to prepare then it makes a difference how you live.  Rebellious sinners will get what they have invested in.

But there is something more important than you and me, at least if you are a parent.  I guess the concern could be extended to anyone who has others looking up to them but here it refers to the “children” (1121) [ben] (sons NASB) that are watching our walk and mimicking our walk.  If the way we walk won’t get us into heaven then it will keep them out also.  We walk in righteousness because our children are watching.  

So?  Keep in mind that loving our children involves setting the example.

The Price of Friendship

(Pro 19:6 KJV) Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

Do you have a lot of friends?  Have you asked yourself why?  Could it be that you are considered a giving person?  Is it genuine generosity or just an attempt to buy love?  I think it could be hard to tell.  The inference here is that the friendship is false, it is opportunism.  If you are doing well be careful of those who seem to suddenly find you interesting.  One of the reason I have never been a big fan of becoming suddenly rich is that it would be hard to tell if people really cared about you or just your money.

So?  If you are the one with the wealth, be careful.  If you are the one without, be genuine.

Accept No Substitutes

(Pro 18:5 KJV)  It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

I like the insights on this verse given by comparing the KJV and the NASB.  They both have nuances that are important.  The KJV says “accept (5375) the person (6440)” compared to the NASB’s “show partiality”.  I think it is important to look at the idea of accepting in light of all the push for political correctness going on today.  The push to conform and accept is not new.  It is just that the organized church and its affiliates have gone overboard to try and get along instead of standing for truth.  Part of the way they are doing this is by redefining words.  “Tolerance” has meant to endure what you don’t like.  Now it is being taught as if it means “respect”.  

We are called to be courteous and kind.  We are taught to love our neighbors.  We are not to accept them or their actions.  One of the ideas that undermines this is the idea of loving the sinner and hating the sin.  In truth you cannot accept one as long as he persists in the other.

So?  Stand for truth.  Do not accept any substitutes.  I think I heard that in a commercial.  They stole the idea from the Bible.  Maybe we should do the same. 

Levels of Fool

(Pro 17:16 KJV) Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

If you had to give me a ratio of fools to wise, what would it be?  Are there any in between or does the Bible require you to be one or the other?  I think there are very few wise people in the  world.  The first requirement is to fear the Lord.  That pretty much rules out everyone who is not a part of the Christian or Jewish faiths because no other group knows the God who created.  They may fear Allah or Vishnu but since those are not really God they can’t be wise.

So start with the general population that identifies as Christian or Jewish.  Now you have to remove those who reject the God of the Bible Who revealed Himself and have substituted some watered down version.  The numbers get pretty small.

How about the fools?  Is it everyone else or just the extremes?  I tend to feel it is everyone else but accept there may be levels of fool.  That means that there are a lot of people out there spending their money in the pursuit of something.  They may even call it wisdom but the evidence is that they will not find it.

So?  Too often we set our priorities and standards based on what we observe around us.  We go chasing after false dreams because we see others doing it.  It is like the toddlers I have been around, all you need to do to make a baby want something is to act like it is important.  We can be better than that.  We must be. 

The Crown

(Pro 16:31 KJV) The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Our culture has bestowed the crown of wisdom on the young.  It has been years since I have been forced to watch TV but one of the things I don’t think has changed is the constant theme that children are wiser than their parents, especially their fathers.  I can remember when we were told to not trust anyone under 30.  I remember one youth pastor telling us that we could not be involved in our son’s activities unless he gave permission.  All of that is one reason we see our society in such crisis.

We limited TV and screened the children’s books in our home.  We did not let our son get involved in a youth department staffed by singles and divorced people but banned parents.  The most important ingredient in this formula though is at the end of the verse, “righteousness” (6666).  That has been our goal.

So?  So far it has worked out for us.  I am not so cocky as to assume I have the answers or that everything is based on one ingredient but the repeated call to upright living cannot be ignored. 

Before the Fall

(Pro 15:25 KJV) The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

You really don’t want to get on God’s bad side.  This is presented in various forms.  At one place God says that if you mess with the unfortunate in life you will need to deal with their lawyer, which is God himself.  Christians and Jews are told to treat their enemies well, or else.  Here the issue is pride.  God seems to get extra rabid about pride.

On one level pride is a matter of feeling you are better than anyone else.  Why does someone get in the fast lane and drive slower than the flow of traffic?  Why do people park in front of fire hydrants?  Why do they put their fence a few inches on your property?  It eventually gets to the point where these people think they are better than God.  I think that is at the root of a lot of “Bible scholarship” and paraphrases masking as translations.  People figure they know more than God.

So?  I don’t know which should be first, courtesy toward our neighbors or fear of God.  Probably it should be simultaneous.  Destruction seems motivating to me. 

Limits to Logic

(Pro 14:12 KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Are you sure?  Really?  Are you willing to bet the farm on it?  One of the differences between Greek thought and modern science is that, while both are thought to be logical, only science demands proof by experimentation.  If you don’t have much time or resources then you may only have logic to go by.  Often that would work out just fine but just as often it will lead to disaster.

So?  Be logical but consult the reference material to find out what you never thought of.  Logic says that man would never be able to fly in a machine that is heavier than air.  I am sure that the first few times it was tried the results were not pleasant.  Now you can design an airplane even if you have never been off the ground.  Our reference manual is the Bible.  It needs to be consulted.  It doesn’t matter how good the deal sounds. 

Storm Drains

(Pro 13:20 KJV) He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

I would guess that “fools” (3684) are a lot more fun to hang with than the cautious and careful.  I remember the days of my youth when a friend showed me how much fun it was to go down in the storm drains and walk around the city.  It was fun.  It was also incredibly dangerous.  If some location uphill decided to release water for some reason we would have become statistics.  If we had run into a pack of hungry rats we might have gotten out alive but who knows what kind of shots we would have needed to keep living.  This was before the days of homeless masses but you never know.

Yes it was fun.  It was also incredibly stupid.  I am sure all of us have similar stories we could tell.  

So?  I am grateful for guardian angels and the grace of God.  This verse is reminding us that His patience may come to an end if our choices continue too long.

Stand Tall

(Pro 12:17 KJV)   He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

Is it possible to speak truth?  The skeptic would join Pilate,

(Joh 18:38 KJV) Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

There is some point in that question because so much of what we have access to is based on deception and lies.  So there is some excuse for being reluctant to commit.

At the same time we, as Christians, must accept that truth does exist.  There is a right and a wrong.  There are some things that never change.  We also must accept that God is serious about us being voices of truth and Truth.

So?  We are called to be salt and light.  We are to seek eternal truth and use it to decide what is daily truth.  Then we are required to stand for it.  That is hard in the current atmosphere of relative values and political correctness, which simply means it is even more important. 

Perennials

(Pro 11:28 KJV) He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

What does it mean to “flourish” (6524a)?  It is another one of those words that can be positive or negative depending on the context.  At its base it means to break out or sprout.  New life comes to mind.  Regeneration is hinted at.  The negative usage has to do with things like the development of leprosy.  Here it seems to be referring to plants so it is obviously positive.

“Righteous” (6662) living has the promise of constant renewal.  Keep in mind that most plants go through cycles of life.  Some die every year and spring back from seeds.  In plant terms those are annuals.  The picture here is the perennial, a plant that keeps coming back.  Think of the tree that drops its leaves each year and buds anew every spring.  Think of the growing vine that seems to always have green shoots coming out.  

So?  We have the promise of renewal but recognize that the promise is dependent on living a righteous life.  Perennial sinners become annuals through disobedience. 

Batting Practice

(Pro 10:29 KJV) The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

The Bible has a lot of different terms for people who follow the living God.  Righteous, blameless and saints are some of the words.  Here it is “upright” (8537).  One of the ideas behind “upright” is that direction is important.  I vaguely remember from my days of childhood how someone told me there was a right way and a wrong way to hold a baseball bat.  It had to do with the label engraved on the wood.  According to this ghost of my past it made a difference which way the label faced.  I was told to have it on top when the bat was held out in front of me.  It had to do with the grain of the wood and physics.

Can you get a base hit if you don’t have an upright label?  I am sure you can because most people ignore it.  Can you fail?  Yes.  How many times has a broken bat robbed the baseball of just enough energy that it never made it out of the infield instead of being a home run?  No one will know, but the point is being upright adds strength and dependability to your swings.

So?  Keep your focus on the things above.  It will improve your lifetime batting average. 

Secrets

(Pro 9:5 KJV) Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Both Wisdom and the foolish woman call for our attention.  Verses 4 and 16 are worded the same but followed by different offerings.  The difference I noticed today is that one is an open invitation to enlightenment and the other is offering some secret delights.  Righteousness flourishes in light.  Evil spreads in darkness.  Even if you look at things like fulfilled prophecy, you find that the original statement was made in public.  It may have been hard to understand but it was in the open.

So?  Be very careful around people who claim to have exclusive information, insights or revelations.  God does not play “Hide the walnut”.  Secret societies such as the Masons have been avoided by Bible believing Christians for that reason but they are not the only ones out there.

Some Assembly Required

(Pro 8:33 KJV) Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Do you know of any Christmas gifts that need assembly?  This used to be a standing joke about children’s toys but it is getting to be true of adult items also.  Ikea, anyone?  It is possible that I could get some Ikea items together by instinct but knowing my handyman skills, I would not bet the farm on it.  I wouldn’t even bet my wife’s cat.  I find that I need to pay attention to the directions.  For me that is wise.

In my spiritual walk there are many things that I am either never tempted on or I know how to avoid.  That is not because of built in wisdom.  It is because I have spend a good deal of time paying attention.  Have you ever watched a movie with someone who is either talking or out of the room at the mircowave?  What is their favorite question?  “Why did he do that?”  If they were focused and on task they would know.  

So?  God gives us the information we need to be obedient and upright.  The manual won’t help much if it is in a box in the garage. 

He Who Would Lie...

(Pro 7:16 KJV) I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

Adultery again.  You would think that Solomon could find another topic.  Maybe it is so frequent because we need to be reminded.  Maybe is to so frequent to help us understand that the moral depravity of America today is nothing unusual.  I am reasonably sure that my sphere has very little going on, if any.  That does not mean that the culture is not guilty.

It also does not mean that we need to accept that as normal.  It does not mean that we need to accept it at all.  In the past few months two people in the broadcast media who were supposed to be solid conservatives have dumped their wives.  I don’t know what was involved.  In a real sense it is none of my business.  What is my business is accepting their opinions as readily as I did before.  If people can’t keep their marriages in order how can I expect them to be reliable on the news?

So?  Always walk with discernment.  One of the pastors I used to know used to jokingly say, “Don’t loan this man any money because he who would lie will also cheat.”  Or was it “he who will cheat will also lie”?  Either way, the principle is the same. 

State Farm Agent

(Pro 6:3 KJV) Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

This is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all recommendation.  If you look at the previous verse it seems to indicate that you are in the present crisis because you have run your mouth off too much.  In other words, you dug the hole you are trapped in.  This is not offered as a solution to the totally unexpected tragedy that strikes at your family.  It is not about lightening strikes.  This is about congruence that comes from your efforts.

So?  Don’t use this verse to justify going to the President about his foreign policy.  It means we are to keep in contact with our neighbors and use that contact to build relationships, not so shoot them down.  I guess it means be a State Farm agent, “And like a good neighbor...”

Going Ostrich

(Pro 5:6 KJV) Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

If we are paying attention, everywhere we turn we see how the common culture of America is being purged of Christian content.  The key here is in paying attention.  Many people are not.  I think it is a choice, not an accident.  It is true that they did not get up one day and say, “I am going to go ostrich today.”  Most of the things that sneak up on us and form our lives don’t come with signs hanging on them.  At the same time we know we are on thin ice for many of our decisions.  If we make it across we breathe a sigh of relief.  If we fall in we call for help, if we can.

Christmas is one example.  It used to be I could turn on a radio station weeks before the day and get a good solid run of genuine Christmas music.  Then it contracted to start on Christmas Eve.  Then it became a bunch of secular music put out by people who were told they needed to do a Christmas album.  Thus it becomes a day of “Imagine” or insipid romantic riffs.  

So?  This chapter is talking about the danger of sexual sin.  The Biblical standard is being watered down and warped on an accelerated basis.  I don’t know if it is a problem for you.  It is a problem for someone you know.  Grab hold of standard of righteousness and put in a good word for the spiritual life. 

The Assurance of Danger

(Pro 4:15 KJV) Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

If there was ever a verse in the Bible crying out for context, this is it.  One thing you can understand from these few words though is that we can make choices.  Whatever this terrible thing is, we can choose to not be damaged by it.  The converse would also seem to be true.  Many of the problems we have in life are because of the choices we make.  What reinforces this is that we do not serve a god of caprice.  He is fixed in character as much as He is dynamic in His involvement in our lives.

So?  We have the joy of a God we can trust and the challenge of having the opportunity to do our part.

Happy Days Are Here

(Pro 3:13 KJV) Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

I believe that the mental attitude and general outlook on life is different for Christians than it is for others.  When we allow the “wisdom” (2451) of God to permeate our being, our view of life changes.  The year 2020 has been a year of one blow after another for our country and many individuals.  It has the potential for gloom and doom as an appetizer for every meal.  That is why we need to seriously think about this word, “blessed” (835).  Being blessed is not just a matter of emotion.  It is definitely not a matter of luck.  It isn’t even being in good circumstances.  It is an approach to life rooted in a confidence in providence.  

This is the reason that people in lower income groups are reported to be more giving than the rich.  They realize that God is in charge and they can share without destroying themselves.

So?  Rejoice is the knowledge that Christmas isn’t about Santa Claus and presents under a tree.  Add to that an awareness that Easter is not about bunnies or new clothes.  A providential view of life gives a blessed response.

The Living Word

(Pro 2:6 KJV) For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

I have not kept a written record but my memory tells me that serious Christians have times when a verse in the Bible will take on new meaning.  They may have read it frequently and heard others quote it but suddenly there is a time when it jumps out at them and grabs them by the essentials.  That is because the inspiration is not tied to ink on a page or the insights of a translator but the result of the Holy Spirit breathing into it and us.  

This is why it is important to keep a steady diet of basic truth.  It is like getting plenty of sleep and washing your hands regularly.  You never know when you are going to need that extra bit of energy or when a bug is waiting to invade your body.  

So?  Take some time to give God a chance to speak to you.  He may be trying and you are not paying attention. 

Exposure

 Pro 1:31 KJV) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

It is amazing to me how we can convince ourselves that we are right.  I can see it very clearly in others.  I need to be aware that I am guilty of the same behavior.  We know all of our excuses just as they know theirs.  We must be different.  Notice I did not say we should, but we must.

How can we be sure?  The average person in the world around us sets their values by what they see and hear on social media and the products of the entertainment industry.  That is why we have a constant changing in the cool styles.  Back when people wore suits you could tell who was with it by the width of their lapels.  Now it involves the latest technology and hip vocabulary.  We on the other had have an unchanging source in the written word of God.  Even with the new translations the standards are the same.  

So?  Expose yourself to the source.  It can happen by accident but God is not promising that.  He gave us Bibles, hymnals and sermons.  You might want to examine the church you go to and ask yourself if you are getting all three.