Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding,” says Proverbs 4:7. The Bible talks a lot about wisdom and defines it by giving examples and then demonstrating what occurs when we don't act appropriately. The book of Proverbs contrasts the wise and the ignorant, stating that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). When we learn to live in the fear of the Lord, we gain wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is a reverence for Him that has a significant influence on how we live. Respecting, obeying, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe are all aspects of God's fear. Those who fear the Lord are aware that their loving heavenly Father is watching and assessing everything they think, say, or do. We produce wiser decisions when we live with a consciousness of God's nearness. With the supervision of a parent, an obnoxious child will be encouraged to behave better. Similarly, we may understand what God's Word says about a situation, but knowing that He is actively watching us pushes us to comply.
God's wisdom is revealed in His written Word. Following God's testimony has a way of "making the simple wise" (Psalm 19:7). When we study the Word and apply it to our life, we become wise: "Your precepts are constantly with me and make me wiser than my opponents." Because I concentrate on your statutes, I have more understanding than any of my professors. I have greater insight than the elders because I follow your commands” (Psalm 119:98–100). When we have the Bible as our guide, we develop in wisdom and may securely navigate the traps of this life.
We gain knowledge when we learn from our failures. Everyone makes errors, but the difference between the wise and the foolish is that the smart learn from their mistakes and do not do the same fault again. Fools keep coming back, perplexed as to why they keep getting the same results. According to Proverbs 26:11, a fool returns to his folly as a dog returns to its vomit. However, in order to gain wisdom, we must analyze our stupidity from God's perspective and set personal boundaries to avoid repeating it.
Wisdom entails viewing life through God's eyes and behaving accordingly. To experience life through a larger lens, we must free ourselves from the constraints of earthbound thought and purpose. Life isn't all about us. It's all about God. We are simply specks in God's grand scheme, and a wise person will see this. “Lord, help me see this issue from Your perspective and make choices that please You,” is a smart prayer. When our ultimate purpose is to bring glory to the Lord, our decisions have a better chance of being sensible (1 Corinthians 10:31).
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