Most people have a inherent desire to live their lives with wisdom. And this is especially important since we all make so many daily decisions, both large and small. There is worldly wisdom, which can be great, and then there is Godly wisdom. We should use both, but we should always use Godly wisdom first.
I recently heard a great definition of wisdom:
into the ways and purposes of God.
When we take hold of those ways and purposes of God, then we will succeed in life, we will receive those blessings that God wants to give us and we will live in happiness and peace.
The bible has a lot to say about wisdom. Wisdom IS the principle thing. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. But without wisdom, one cannot apply faith or anything else.
Throughout the bible, we are told that Jesus lived His life to please the Father. Jesus grew in wisdom as He studied the scriptures as a young boy. And, Jesus only had the Torah, (the first five books of the Bible), to read. We have the whole New Testament to give us valuable wisdom in how to apply God’s way to our lives.
James 1:5 tells us to ask God for wisdom, and He will give it to us. God says that a “foolish” man despises wisdom. I know we don’t want to fit into the “foolish” category.
2 Timothy 3:15-16 says that the scriptures have been made available to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. So that – the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
When we need wisdom in any area of our lives, the bible should be the first place we go to.
So, what does teaching, rebuking and correcting have to do with wisdom? Everything!
When we see what God has to say about something then we can learn how to change our ways to line up with the way Jesus did things. It will help us to walk that straight and narrow path and stop making so many wrong turns and bad decisions in our lives.
Proverbs 4:6 says, forsake not wisdom, and she will keep, defend and protect you; love her and she will guard you.
Godly wisdom will keep and protect us from the evil strategies of Satan. Unless we’re walking in wisdom, we give Satan opportunity after opportunity to pull us into darkness in ways we never see coming.
Proverbs 4:8-9 tells us to hold on and cling to instruction and never let it go! It says to guard it well, for it is your life.
A weak, halfhearted hold just won’t do! God tells us to grasp hold of and guard instruction. Why? Because there are too many things in this world that try to come against us and to pull us away from God.
Proverbs 4:23 says – Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance, for out of it flow the issues of life.
Our thoughts and emotions may try to pull us in a bad direction – but when we “know that we know that we know” that God’s Word is the Truth and that it works every time, our heart and mind will guide us to use that Godly wisdom.
We need to take time to get into the Bible to see what God is saying to us, and then pay attention to what He has said. Our greatest desire should be to spend time with God, by talking with Him and reading His Word. God’s Words are life to those that find them (by studying) and medicine, health and wholeness to our bodies (Proverbs 4:22.)
Wisdom is crying out loud! But we have to listen and hear! God will not force us to do anything against our will. As we continue to hear and read the Word of God:
- Wisdom will become embedded in our heart,
- We will walk, talk and make decisions with more trust and confidence, and
- Fear will no longer dominate us.
All of us want a peaceful, profitable, happy life. So why not take the wise instruction from the Master?
God tells us that “Wisdom is the Principle Thing” therefore, get wisdom; and it will protect us.