“When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation” (Proverbs 10:25 NKJV). Tornado season is upon the land and the hurricane season for the year now begins. The weather is very much a topic of talk among all people whether it be tempestuous or tranquil. However, there are storms of life that come that have nothing to do with the weather. Solomon addressed such a thought in Proverbs 10:25. Consider some thoughts about the storms of life. Storms Trouble All People The difficult times of life are not excluded from anyone. Job said long ago, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Jesus Himself stated, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Both the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand faced the following: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house” (Matthew 7:25, 27). Sin and its consequences brought the troubles all face. It is the righteous who know that their sustainer and protector is God. Storms Test the Quality of the Person One does not know how strong he is until the tests of life come. Solomon also wrote, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10).

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV). While wisdom involves a great many correct choices, there is one particular aspect of wisdom that is addressed here. It is the choice of close influences. The child of God is warned, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). How important was it for Rehoboam, the son of Solomon,  to surround himself with the right kind of people? How important is it that the President of the United States have advisors who are wise as the Bible defines wisdom? What about the influences affecting young people of today? One should give close attention to the inspired proverb that Solomon gave because its practical information is timeless. Consider three particulars concerning surrounding oneself with the right kind of people. Identification of Who Is and Is Not Wise It should be obvious from a brief reading of Proverbs 13:20 that not everyone is wise. The latter part of the proverb speaks of destruction, which Proverbs repeatedly addresses. These proverbs are “to give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion” (Proverbs 1:4). Note a passage that shows the distinctiveness of a wise person. “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5). Paul told the young man Timothy where wisdom is found when he wrote, “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). These passages should be familiar to any strong Bible student. These words are fundamental to the blessing of unity with the Father and the Son as well as with all who believe. This prayer has some powerful thoughts for all who claim to believe. Consider three. Unity through the Apostles’ Words Jesus specifically gave the means by which believers would be unified. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). Jesus prayed for the apostles as His own believers and then for those who would come to believe through the apostles’ words. Those words that came from the apostles which would produce unity would be and are the inspired Word of God, not their mere human points of view. This is seen in the context of these prayers in John 14:23-26, John 15:26-27 and John 16:12-13. The idea that religious people who claim to believe in Jesus can be united biblically through different faiths is denied categorically in 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:4-6 and 2 John 9-10. What the apostles said (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) and wrote (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). These three questions are set against the following background. “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, or I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12). The plea made by Paul in Verse 10 is fully supported by the three questions. All three questions are rhetorical questions having a negative answer. Consider thoughts from these three important questions. The Question Over Division: “Is Christ divided?” The religious world is greatly divided, and many believe that such is acceptable to God. Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:20-21). Jesus died that believers might be united in His church (Matthew 16:15-23; Acts 20:28). The apostles worked that all who obey the Gospel have the same fellowship that they had with the Lord (1 John 1:1-3). It is human wisdom that created the problem of religious division. The inventions of creeds outside the Bible, organizations unsupported by the Bible and doctrines contrary to plain