How can I make good use of the wisdom of God?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible addresses the ideas of seeking, getting, and applying wisdom from God. In fact, five books in particular fit the genre of ancient Near Eastern “wisdom literature”: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. The book of Proverbs personifies wisdom (chapter 1) and points to the Lord as the source of it (2:6; 3:19; 9:10). Many of the Psalms link such insight to reverentially fearing God and obeying His precepts (19:9; 34:9; 111:10). Besides the wisdom books, many other parts of the Bible discuss wisdom. The New Testament shows that the wise obey God’s commands (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22). Besides following the Lord’s precepts, Scripture teaches that believers can gain wisdom by asking God for it (Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 1:17; James 1:5). The type of wisdom gained is godly, which the Bible distinguishes from worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18–21; 1 Corinthians 2:6–7; James 3:13–15). Scripture depicts the wise as those who revere God, keep His commands, and pray to Him for wisdom.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” The “fear” the psalmist speaks of in this verse is reverential, based on the understanding of who God is and who we are. Also, fear is the “beginning” of wisdom, not the whole of it. Believers must start by recognizing the greatness of the Almighty God, but we progress in wisdom as we learn more about Him and His purposes for humankind.
• In Proverbs 2:6, a father provides guidance to his son, dealing with the value of wisdom, the source of which is clear: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” The writer grounds wisdom in the Lord, and so should we.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19 conveys the value of being wise: “Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.” The world values power, but as this verse shows, wisdom is an even greater asset.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Matthew 7:24, Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” What follows is a parable contrasting a man whose house withstands harsh weather because it is built on a strong foundation versus the man whose house topples because it is built on a foundation of sand. Likewise, those who build their life around the foundation of Jesus’s teachings are wise and can withstand worldly storms.
• The sandy foundation of the parable is like the worldly “wisdom” Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The truth about Christ is the only saving wisdom.
• Scripture is a source of wisdom, and as James 1:5 shows, so is prayer: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” This verse is among several others that discuss the hardships believers may face. This Scripture suggests that the wise can more effectively handle adversity.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

No one’s life is always smooth. We all face trials and tough decisions. When looking for answers, we might call up a friend, post on social media, subscribe to popular self-help figures, or search the internet for answers. Is it really any surprise when those “solutions” don’t work out? There’s a better way: Believers have the timeless handbook for living: the Bible. This ancient text provides solutions to problems both then and now—there really is “nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Its principles and precepts are of everlasting value. And even better, its author—the source of all wisdom—has promised to give us wisdom if we ask Him for it. Nothing the world offers us is even close to being as effective. Believers must regularly read the wisest book of all time, written by the very source of wisdom. But we have to go beyond just reading (James 3:13). It isn’t enough to merely know what the Lord wants of us. We must apply our God-given wisdom in the wisest pursuit: glorifying God. Scripture depicts the wise as those who revere God, keep His commands, and pray to Him for wisdom.

UNDERSTAND

• God’s wisdom is gained through Scripture and prayer.
• Wisdom is applied by obeying God’s commands and glorifying Him.
• Godly wisdom contrasts with worldly wisdom.

REFLECT

• In what areas of your life do you need God’s wisdom the most, and how can you actively seek it through Scripture and prayer?
• How do you distinguish between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom when making decisions?
• What steps can you take to ensure that you are not just gaining wisdom from God’s Word but also applying it to glorify Him?

ENGAGE

• How does the Bible’s definition of wisdom differ from the way the world defines wisdom, and why is this distinction important?
• What can we learn from biblical figures who sought and applied God’s wisdom, such as Solomon or Paul?
• How can we encourage one another in our churches and communities to prioritize seeking and applying God’s wisdom over worldly advice?