“He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.” Proverbs 19:8
If something is mentioned only once in the Bible, is it important to know? Of course, it is! The entire Bible is the Word of God. Every single thing in the Scriptures is given to us for a purpose… to open our eyes to our own depravity and draw us near to God through His redemptive plan. There is nothing we can arbitrarily throw out of the Bible. It’s critical to remember that even If something is only made manifest to us in one verse, it is still vitally important in our relationship with God.
What about something that has more than 200 occasions where it is mentioned in the Bible? I would consider that something of which God really wants me to take notice. According to the Christian Bible Reference site, the word “wisdom” is written 234 times in the KJV Bible! Clearly, this is something to which I need to pay attention.
Psalm 111:10 tells us that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” Understanding who God is, having a reverential awe in regards to the Lord, is the start of attaining wisdom. When we understand that we are the creation and He is the Creator, our journey toward wisdom begins. Proverbs 9:10 confirms this. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Why should we desire wisdom? Here are just a few reasons mentioned in the Bible.
- Wisdom makes us happy.
- “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” Proverbs 3:13
- Wisdom helps us remain humble.
- “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13
- Wisdom helps us obey the Lord.
- “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” Proverbs 10:8
- Wisdom helps us know God better.
- “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” Ephesians 1:17
- Wisdom will protect us.
- “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.” Proverbs 4:6-7
- Wisdom enables us to listen and receive godly advice.
- “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” Proverbs 19:20
How do we get wisdom? First, we pray and ask God for it. James 1:5 states, “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.” From beginning to end, the Bible is filled with God’s wisdom that He readily makes available to us.
Second, we seek godly instruction for our daily lives. Proverbs 8:33 tell us to “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” We receive Biblical instruction from Sunday school classes, worship services, godly devotionals, and of course, from God’s Holy Spirit as we read the Scriptures ourselves. Colossians 3:16 states, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Wisdom is more precious than gold and better than rubies (Proverbs 16:16, 8:11). It is also available to each of us, but it is not acquired passively. It is a conscious choice we make to obtain it. “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;” (Proverbs 2:2).
Choose wisely.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
(from “Be Thou My Vision” as translated by Mary E. Byrne)
“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28
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Is your house built upon the solid rock?