Putting the I into WISDOM
The Christians who have most influenced me for good have had a fully functional familiarity with the book of Proverbs. They were (and are) able to take their considerable knowledge and apply it to their lives, providing both godly examples and godly advice. Join with me as each one of us endeavors to put the I into WISDOM. Let us seek to exemplify God’s wisdom in our daily lives. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Prayer is an integral part of wisdom. Proverbs 2:3 adds supplication to the study of God’s Word (verse 1) and attentiveness to Biblical preaching (verse 2) as essential items in developing spiritual discipline and growing in wisdom. Both verbs used here are intense: in fact, “liftest up” or cry aloud is even stronger than “criest.” Solomon’s personal experience exemplifies this emphasis on entreaty. In I Kings 3:9, he implored, “Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad.” That prayer was answered each time Solomon made a decision – as long as he listened to God’s answer. The fact that “criest” is strengthened by “liftest up” tells us that we must be persistent in prayer and in prayerfully waiting for clear direction. How will we know the wise choice? First, God may use His wise people to instruct us (Proverbs 1:8; 2:1; 4:1; 5:1; 7:1; and numerous other verses in Proverbs). Christians with years of credibility and integrity should be listened to. Second, any answer to prayer must be in agreement with the Word of God. Third, if there are no verses that deal directly with our problem, we must discern if a perceived answer is consistent with the revealed character of God (James 3:13-18). Fourth, the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who is fully God, will provide His peace (I Corinthians 6:19; John 16:13). Let us make it our practice to pray for God’s wisdom.