It didn’t take courage to carry a fresh bloody steak through a hungry wolf pack; it took wisdom not to try it.”
–Ken Pratt (The Leather Man’s Journal)
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.'”
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.'”
–Job 28:28 (NKJV)
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Remember the B.C. comics where one of the men seeks wisdom and climbs up the mountain to seek it from, naturally an old man? For some reason we associate wisdom with age, probably because an older person has experienced so many dumb and foolish things in their lives. What is the old German saying, “Ve get too soon oldt…und too late schmart.”
Solomon was granted wisdom but he didn’t understand true wisdom until late in his life as we are seeing in Ecclesiastes. Yes, he was wise (in most of his ways), but he saw that apart from God wisdom too, can be vanity.
“Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun.” 7:11, NKJV
“For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” 7:12, NKJV
“Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?” 7:13, NKJV
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other; so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.” 7:14, NKJV
Wisdom preserves our lives from human pitfalls–wisdom is protection. Most of us at least try to make wise choices. We don’t purposely get up in the morning thinking that today I’m going to intentionally make a foolish choice or commit a dumb decision. Read those verses again and ponder them carefully. With an inheritance comes the pitfall of pride. Wisdom preserves us from that. With affliction comes the pitfall of doubt and disillusionment. Wisdom preserves us from that. With the anticipation of relief, vindication, even rewards for doing what is right comes the pitfall of resentment and bitterness. Wisdom preserves us from that. (Charles Swindoll)
Read the Book of Proverbs for in it we see that one of the four characters mentioned is wise. True wisdom provides our lives with divine perspective. Look at that powerful word–“consider.” It means to examine for the purpose of evaluating.” Have you considered the work of God? Have you considered God’s blessings? If you enjoy good health, prosperity, fame, do you consider why it happened to you? Oh, I know there is human wisdom, and I’ll not downplay its importance, but have you considered that a word of wisdom is one of the gifts of the Spirit?
Verse 13 should cause us to stop and “consider.” We normally think that God wants to straighten us and everything out, but there are some paths He has purposely made crooked. There are some high summits for us to pass over, some gorges for us to cross, and some valleys that we must travel through. There are some in the world, primarily because of choices not to be wise, God has given them a hard-heart. Whatever comes our way, we are to gain wisdom from it and we are also to use the wisdom we already have in going through it–no matter the adversity, the storm, or the battle.
Too often we fight God instead of trying to find out what He has in store for us in adversity. James reminds us, “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.” (James 1:5, NKJV) Without wisdom, without following the Lord’s commands we find out that life is futile. Why continue in a journey of futility? If we look to God, and His wisdom, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, NKJV) In the midst of troubles, adversity, and peril, God is with us, and He has things for us to learn if we stay in His presence. We have to remember that as we journey the things that come our way are from the all-wise loving Father.
“Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.”
–Lina Sandell Berg
————————————
Remember the B.C. comics where one of the men seeks wisdom and climbs up the mountain to seek it from, naturally an old man? For some reason we associate wisdom with age, probably because an older person has experienced so many dumb and foolish things in their lives. What is the old German saying, “Ve get too soon oldt…und too late schmart.”
Solomon was granted wisdom but he didn’t understand true wisdom until late in his life as we are seeing in Ecclesiastes. Yes, he was wise (in most of his ways), but he saw that apart from God wisdom too, can be vanity.
“Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun.” 7:11, NKJV
“For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” 7:12, NKJV
“Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?” 7:13, NKJV
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other; so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.” 7:14, NKJV
Wisdom preserves our lives from human pitfalls–wisdom is protection. Most of us at least try to make wise choices. We don’t purposely get up in the morning thinking that today I’m going to intentionally make a foolish choice or commit a dumb decision. Read those verses again and ponder them carefully. With an inheritance comes the pitfall of pride. Wisdom preserves us from that. With affliction comes the pitfall of doubt and disillusionment. Wisdom preserves us from that. With the anticipation of relief, vindication, even rewards for doing what is right comes the pitfall of resentment and bitterness. Wisdom preserves us from that. (Charles Swindoll)
Read the Book of Proverbs for in it we see that one of the four characters mentioned is wise. True wisdom provides our lives with divine perspective. Look at that powerful word–“consider.” It means to examine for the purpose of evaluating.” Have you considered the work of God? Have you considered God’s blessings? If you enjoy good health, prosperity, fame, do you consider why it happened to you? Oh, I know there is human wisdom, and I’ll not downplay its importance, but have you considered that a word of wisdom is one of the gifts of the Spirit?
Verse 13 should cause us to stop and “consider.” We normally think that God wants to straighten us and everything out, but there are some paths He has purposely made crooked. There are some high summits for us to pass over, some gorges for us to cross, and some valleys that we must travel through. There are some in the world, primarily because of choices not to be wise, God has given them a hard-heart. Whatever comes our way, we are to gain wisdom from it and we are also to use the wisdom we already have in going through it–no matter the adversity, the storm, or the battle.
Too often we fight God instead of trying to find out what He has in store for us in adversity. James reminds us, “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.” (James 1:5, NKJV) Without wisdom, without following the Lord’s commands we find out that life is futile. Why continue in a journey of futility? If we look to God, and His wisdom, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, NKJV) In the midst of troubles, adversity, and peril, God is with us, and He has things for us to learn if we stay in His presence. We have to remember that as we journey the things that come our way are from the all-wise loving Father.
“Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.”
–Lina Sandell Berg