Gaining
wisdom as we grow is something I figured would be a given when I was
younger. We read our books, we study in school and get wiser right?
Not
necessarily. Reading through Ecclesiastics this summer I found that
wisdom does not necessarily keep you from making ignorant or foolish
choices; Solomon the wise king informed us in the end of the book
that all the wisdom in the world does not help you unless you use it
for God's glory.
Gaining
riches seems like a really great idea too. If only I were rich my
kids could have brand new cars, go to the best University of their
choice, I could hire a maid, a driver to drive my hubby to an
elaborate office that he only had to boss over people who did the
busy work and the bossing over others. He would have the best crew to
work with because he would have chosen the best employees. If we were
rich we could take our time hiring and study who needs employment
enough to really do a good quality job. He would have a garden to
walk in each day if things got stressful and spend time taking with
God to give him peace.
Yep,
riches would be great! Accept, we read of several kings who tried to
be rich, who wanted to be the best and what happened? They fell.
One
such king ended up eating grass like a cow.
Each
day we need to stop and think about what it is that God has for us;
not to ask Him for what we want from Him.
When
I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my
mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let
your heart retain my words;keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom!
Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my
mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and
she will keep you.
Wisdom
is the principal thing; Therefore
get
wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:3-8
 |
| We must use wisdom in the path we take each day; one leads to fruitfulness the other to destruction. |
The
Word of God tells us that we need to get wisdom, so that is good but
with it we are to get understanding. In that understanding we find
that we are to not get our own understanding but to understand the
wisdom of the Lord. In doing this we just may find the secret to life
love and other mysteries!
Just
because you have wisdom do not think you have it all. Jesus was full
of wisdom and knowledge and all kinds of good words and yet the
people rejected him thinking he was being above his stature.
Matthew
11 tells us that even though Jesus was the son of God he had to deal
with peoples snobbery and bad attitudes. He used that wisdom that He
had to deal with them.
How
much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to
be chosen rather than silver. Proverbs 16:16
As
I prepare for the year of High Schooling my homeschooler I am asking
God for wisdom in what I teach, what I add on the side that will draw
us from the home part of study to the group settings and the world
itself distracting us from the main focus. I have to choose wisely
when I pick the courses with my high-school student. My College aged
adult children do the same, they have the choice to choose wisely and
get understanding of the subject matter they need for their degrees
or to choose foolishly and pick courses that will be useless.
When
we choose our plans for the day it is no less important than the
choice of courses we choose.
When
we choose to follow God's plan in any of the above topics we will
choose right.
How do I find God's plan for my day, life or existence?
How do I find God's plan for my day, life or existence?
The
words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like
will driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be
admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much
study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's
all. Ecclesiastics 12:11-13
A
wise little boy once told me a memory verse that said it clear and
simple;
“The
Word of the Lord is right, and you should know about God, you should
love Him and make Him be in your Heart”. Daniel W. age 4
That
is it, the meaning of life, the direction finding map work, the
guidance from the Lord. You should love, know about God and make Him
a part of your life. In this little boys words come the wisdom many
still seek today.
Are
you seeking God's wisdom?
Read
the Word.
Are
you looking to hear from Him for guidance?
Read
the Word and Pray.
Are
you wanting to know why you exist?
Pray,
Read the Word, and pray again.
He
will direct you and guide you in all that you do but you must do this
part.
Trust
in the Lord with all your heart and lean not in your own
understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct
your path, your life, you ways, your days!
If
and when we give over and allow God to be our boss, our director, our
guide, our parent then we can follow the way He wants us to go, and
we can know our purpose.
Then
we can know what real wisdom is all about.
Dear
heavenly Father, thank you for the wisdom of Solomon and the other
wise people in the Word you have left for us to read. Give us
direction in our lives through our prayers and reading each day and
help us to truly know what our purposes are and what to do about it.
In Jesus name, amen.
Suggested
Readings: Proverbs 4:1-27 , Matthew 11:1-55, Ecclesiastics 12:1-14