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.)
When we consider wisdom, we are likely to think of discerning God’s will and way. We are correct in that emphasis, but we must not stop there and limit the permeating power of God in our lives. Biblical wisdom is decidedly practical, covering all areas of life, including family (Proverbs 1:8), business (11:1), and reputation (22:1). The wise woman of Proverbs 31 is godly in all of these areas – and more. One Scriptural example that has long been encouraging to me is Exodus 35:30-36:1. Two key points stand out. First, these skilled artisans needed God’s wisdom to do their jobs well; His wisdom is not limited to spiritual insights, as crucial as they are. Second, these workers were specifically led by God the Holy Spirit to build beautifully; their labor was sanctified. From the time I was a youngster, Colossians 3:23 has driven my life: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” All of life matters, no matter what others may say. Much of life is made up of little things, but those seemingly small tasks must be done right. We need God’s wisdom – and God the Holy Spirit – in all areas of our lives. Do not think that what you do is unimportant, even if it is unregarded or unrecognized. God knows, and our tiniest wise acts will not go unrewarded (Matthew 10:42).