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 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.)
For good or for bad, our words reveal character. Proverbs 14:5 says, “A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.” Similarly, Proverbs 12:17 states, “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.” These statements may seem obvious, but the important point is that a person’s words will be worth no more than what that person is worth. Valuable words reflect a character of value, as we find in Proverbs 10:20: “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.” At the center of genuine Christianity is the certainty that our value is based upon the values found in Scripture. Proverbs 4:23 remains a foundational verse in this regard: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The “heart” is the inner man, who we are at the core. Moreover, the “heart” really is life itself (“the issues of life”). Of course, we may not (and, in fact, will not) meet all Scriptural standards, but we know what they are and thus have a solid foundation for strong character. As we mature in Christ, may our words increasingly mirror His values.