Wisdom ❤️ 2024 – Week 3

The Bible defines wisdom clearly & concisely. I believe that is why many a fool, including myself, more often than not, despise or shy away from wisdom.

We must read the Bible to truly understand what God’s definition of wisdom is: it’s not about perfection – NO! We are mere mortals, and we fall short of that.

Proverbs‬ ‭1:20-33 ‭NKJV‬‬

‭‭[20] Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. [21] She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: [22] “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. [23] Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. [24] Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, [25] Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, [27] When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. [28] “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. [29] Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, [30] They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. [31] Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. [32] For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; [33] But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

From the beginning of time, as part of God’s creation- mankind was set apart from everything else that God created, with purpose and a covenance with God. He made man in His image and made woman out of the man’s side to be his companion. I truly believe that Adam and Eve were filled with God’s wisdom.

That sacred covenance with God was broken when they chose to listen otherwise to what God had told them. That wisdom was taken away from them when they thought they could be more like God and know more than Him.

And from that time onwards, mankind has been on a quest to find that wisdom or knowledge – even to the point of scaling the heavens and stars, to become like God, to know more than God.

My friends, wisdom is not about being more knowledgeable, being perfect, being sinless, and the so many worldly standards we aspire to be.

Wisdom is acknowledging that we are nothing without God! It is about fearing God, and knowing the only way back to God is through His Son – Jesus Christ 🙏. Christ is wisdom personified!

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭8:1‭-‬36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

[1] Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? [2] She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. [3] She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: [4] “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. [5] O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. [6] Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will  come right things; [7] For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. [8] All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. [9] They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. [10] Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; [11] For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. [12] “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. [13] The fear of the Lord  is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. [14] Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. [15] By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. [16] By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. [17] I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. [18] Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. [19] My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. [20] I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, [21] That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. [22] “The  Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. [23] I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. [24] When there  were no depths I was brought forth, When there  were no fountains abounding with water. [25] Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; [26] While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. [27] When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, [28] When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, [29] When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, [30] Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, [31] Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. [32] “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are  those  who keep my ways. [33] Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. [34] Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. [35] For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; [36] But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

On our own, we will never be able to get this wisdom. We need Jesus in our lives. We pray, we read the Bible and live according to God’s will… we will fail from time to time, that’s ok – we’re human. But we continue to grow in our faith, always asking God for wisdom, trusting in Jesus to lead us.

God’s mercy & grace is not only for those who follow Him but is upon every person here on earth, believers and non-believers alike. We all wake up to the same sun, the air we breathe, the moon and stars – all God’s creation just like we mankind are.

Hence, as we grow and experience God’s blessings, we must make it our mission to share God’s love and mercy with others. We must live in a way that brings God’s hope, joy, and peace to those we encounter daily.

‭‭James‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
 
[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 

To God be the glory always, Amen 🙏