This week I want to continue on laying the foundation we started last week. We are working off of 2 primary Scriptures that show us that this is where we need to begin. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Pro. 4:7 – but read the whole chapter) And, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Pro. 9:10 – again, read the whole chapter) Add to that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments : his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111:10)
In a past post, I summed up a working definition of wisdom that was stated thus:
“Wisdom is being able to see the Big Picture, God’s view and purpose, and then carrying through and acting on it. ” I don’t know how long or how far I will carry this this week, but for today I just want to make a couple of general observations.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Cor. 3:19) “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” (James 3:15) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) Not all that is called “wisdom” is true wisdom from the Lord. Some of it is just plain fleshly foolishness. The wisdom we desire to teach our children is the wisdom of God, from His Word.
Pro. 2:6 tells us that “the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” (read also, at least vss. 1-11) And, James 1:5-6 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” Because, as Pro. 2:7 says, “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous. ” God is the source of true wisdom and He will give it to the “righteous” that ask for it in faith. We are told that “thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him , if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deut. 4:29) So we are to seek for wisdom, “seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;” (Pro. 2:4) We are to seek with all our hearts. For God’s wisdom is in His Word, and it will be found by those that seek it.
Which leads me to my second initial observation. The Proverbs are a great place to begin looking for God’s Wisdom. They contain much for us to learn about wisdom.. A whole curriculum could be built upon the Proverbs. In fact, that is exactly what they are, a parent’s instructions (the college curriculm given to a young son) for living a successful life.
One small thing that you can do to begin laying this foundation in wisdom is to begin reading the Proverbs daily. Read them as a family. Disuss them and reason from them. An easy discipline to follow is to read the “Proverb of the Day” every month – Pro. 1 on the 1st, Pro. 2 on the 2nd, etc. You will read through the book of Proverbs every month. (You can double up on chapters 30 and 31 in the months that only have 30 days.) Don’t think you will exhaust what can be gleaned from these words of God’s Wisdom in 1, 2 or a few months. The depths are endless. Also, begin memorizing from the Proverbs. There are great passages and whole chapters that are worth comitting to memory.
Well, there’s a starter for you. We’ll continue tomorrow, Lord willing.
