As we kick off our first study in Proverbs, we can see how God wants to bless us with the goodness of His wisdom.
But even believers can choose lesser paths. When we do we dishonor God, and we harm ourselves. Sometimes the ripples of our unwise choices last for generations, disaffecting the people we love the most.
Ask God to teach you how to seek His kind gift of Godly wisdom.
First, let’s look at how visible Godly wisdom should be to a believer.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters her voice in the public squares.
She calls at the head of noisy places.
At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
Proverbs 1:20-21
This verse means that despite the allure of unwise choices, if you walk with the Savior and have the Spirit of God in your heart, you can discern Godly wisdom from the world’s foolishness.
The Spirit not only guides us, but He inspired every word in the Bible. The Bible provides the information needed to conduct our lives with wisdom.
Having human wisdom alone is not enough.
To begin with, you won’t even desire Godly wisdom if you have not found peace with God, which means having received grace from our Lord Jesus Christ.
For they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
Proverbs 1:9
The Hebrew language interprets this verse as an increase of grace. This is not more redemption but rather more of God’s fullness of grace. Every attribute of God we share enhances our lives and relationships with Him and others.
So, wisdom would be a natural and grace full gift from our maker.
Why not do a study on this grace? Start with John 1:14. You will just love Him more when you fully understand this attribute.
“Grace upon grace.”
Many believers seek wisdom from God especially when searching for God’s will. That is a great goal.
But His primary will for you is redemption and to grow to become more like His Son. Everything else follows with troubles and shadows, joys and sunshine.
The key is just emulating God, not the world. It is coming to the place where your relationship with God is more than enough even if you lose every other relationship, health, money and even your life.
Look at the passage below. Think about examples from Christs’ time on earth that show wisdom. The very first one that springs to mind is when He faced Satan in the wilderness. Go back to Matthew 4 and read how Jesus defeated His enemy.
Do you see what He did? He quoted scripture to Satan. Scripture that Satan knew, by the way. Jesus didn’t match wits with the evil one. He exceeded them. The wisdom of Jesus just toppled Satan. It always will.
to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding;
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
Proverbs 1:2
So, it follows that to be truly wise, you must know God. You do that through the Spirit and God’s Word. The Bible promises that if you search for God He will be found. Jeremiah 29:13
Do you believe that godly wisdom can be seen in the lives of little children? What about dear people who are mentally handicapped? Do you think stay-at-home moms and dads who mow lawns for a living can be wise? Can physicians, engineers and professors humble themselves to have the wisdom given by God?
All of those people can have Godly wisdom. God’s ways are not like your ways and mine. Look what He does.
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young man—
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
Proverbs 1:4-5
Do you see? God’s Word and His Wisdom are available to every intellectual capacity. Wisdom is God’s gift, not man’s ability.
True wisdom is given to all who ask for it. James 1:5
But it is most serious to disregard God’s gift of wisdom. People who scoff at the notion that God is the Sovereign Lord of the whole world are facing such serious consequences.
We see three examples of unwise people. True believers may fall in step with the world, abusing God’s grace and Jesus’ suffering. We must desire a right relationship with God to avoid being numbered among the unwise.
Take a look at what the unwise world would love for you to fall for:
“How long, you simple ones, will you love foolishness?
How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
and fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs 1:22
Here are two passages to consider. Which describes your walk with God.
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge, you didn’t choose the fear of God.”
Proverbs 28-29 (WSB)
“But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Proverbs 1:31 (WSB)
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 