WISDOM -- WHERE DO I BEGIN?

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

Life is made up of a series of choices. Every day we are faced with them. To, what we are going to wear in the morning to what we are going to listen to on the radio, how much we are going to save on our next paycheck to whether or not we will come to church. Or whether or not we are going to obey the speed limit. Now, I don’t think God is overly concerned with which shoes you wear to work. But he is concerned about whether or not you are walking wisely on this earth.

One thing you see over and over in the book of Proverbs is that it is focusing on the reality of wisdom. What is wisdom? Here is a definition based upon Nelson’s New Illustrative Bible Dictionary: “ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding.”

Now there are many who we consider wise. Maybe it’s based on their education or their experience. It’s crucial to understand that the wisdom in the Bible is different from the world. The wisdom of the world bases its decision making on human rational thought. Biblical wisdom on the contrary basis it’s decisions on the Bible and pleasing God.

We need wisdom today. Every single one of us needs wisdom as we walk in the world. We do have the capacity to make wise choices every day and be blessed by them. The Bible is our guide. It is a record of God’s revelation to us. It tells us specific things for our benefit. Not because God wants to harm us but so he can help us. There is black and there is white. But you know there are some choices that we face where there is not a clearly defined yes or no. And so sometimes we ask ourselves is it right or is it wrong when the real question should be, is it wise?

So, how do I attain wisdom? No matter where you are in life whether you are a child, teenager, adult…No matter what your educational position is…we all attain wisdom the same way. Even before we ask for it something has to happen. That something is found in our scripture. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You see, there is no bypassing that stop. There’s no traveling on the road to wisdom without stopping here. “I can get a little wisdom to get me ahead in life” some say. That’s not how it works. Fear of the Lord means a trust, a reverence, and awe. A respect for what he says in his word. A commitment to the one who is already committed to you. It’s the beginning point. We are all on the same plane. We have to get to a point in our lives where we say, “Okay God, I understand that I don’t know it all. I’m bankrupt and only you can help me live this life.”

We attain wisdom by asking for it. James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom---if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” How does he give it? In what ways? Well, in my life I know he’s just pressed something upon my heart. I just had to trust in my instinct. He has also shown me wisdom through the words of a trusted friend. Surround yourself with people that aren’t just going to tell you what you want to hear. He has given me wisdom by applying his word. He has shown me wisdom by learning from life.

The choice is ours. Both folly and wisdom will call out to us. Follow after wisdom. The starting point is a fear of the Lord.