Are You One Of The Wise?
The books of Proverbs, Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs are known as wisdom literature. They cover topics such as how to live, why there is suffering, and what our destiny is. As I read Proverbs 13:20, my mind went two directions…am I friends with wise people and am I a wise friend to others? The world tells us to lean on people who tell us only information we want to hear or tells us what makes us happy. If someone tells us hard facts, move to the next person. Wise people do not tip toe around what is socially correct, they give the truth in a caring and compassionate way, but they do not deviate from it.
In so many areas of our lives, we are thrown into groups of people without our choosing. We do not choose our co-workers, who our children are in class with, we do not have the ability to choose some of our family members, and we sometimes find ourselves in groups of friends that end up being people we did not choose to hang around. With that being said, it is hard to always surround ourselves with wise individuals. That may be something we cannot control all the time, but we can control whether or not we are one of the wise ones for those who walk with us.
As I began to evaluate my life and question whether I am one of the wise, I began to wonder what it truly looks like to be wise. What is the difference between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom?
Godly wisdom begins with a healthy fear of the Lord. If you were to look at multiple versions of the Bible, you would find that the phrase “fear God” is mentioned over 300 times. The Christian Faith Guide says that fear of the Lord is “having a deep reverence and respect for God, acknowledging His sovereignty and power, and obeying His commands.” This is the first step of walking in wisdom because you realize your gift of wisdom comes from God who has all power. He can gift you with wisdom and also take it away. This fear results in a holy life, a life of desiring to walk with God in obedience and respect.
Worldly wisdom has no concern of another individual or deity, it is solely concerned with oneself. We’ve all heard the terms, “street smarts” or “common sense smart”. These are examples of worldly wisdom. They may get you through the day here on earth, but they do not give you the kind of wisdom that helps you walk with God or bring others closer to Him. Most people who are worldly wise only seek ways to better themselves. They always have an agenda planned that makes them look or become better. They are strategic in their planning and manipulating.
We have to work for godly wisdom just as one would work for “book smarts”. When we were in school we took the time to study each subject so that we had it engrained in our heads. We have to study to gain godly wisdom as well. Godly wisdom is found through a couple of ways. James 1:5 says if we desire wisdom, we must ask for it by our Heavenly Father. We also must stay in the Word. God’s Word provides a wealth of knowledge on how to live and a clear understanding of what our purpose is. Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” A person may be born with “common sense”, but they are not born wise, it is something that must be acquired. Psalm 19:7 states the truth that God delights in dispensing wisdom to the simpleminded. It says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Do not believe the lie that the Bible is impossible to understand and that you are unworthy of grasping it. God desires for us to understand His Word. He desires for us to have the passion to ask and receive this wisdom.
As said before, we may not always have a chance to place individuals around us that have godly wisdom, but we do want our heroes or our go to people to exuberate godly wisdom. God uses individuals to help in His work. Ask for advice from older, wiser individuals who have walked with God longer than you or those who have experienced circumstances with God that you have not experienced yet. Also, be a person who demonstrates godly wisdom to those around you. We are all influencers to someone else and you never know who your words or actions are impacting.
Our three practical ways to fight the lie and gain godly wisdom:
Ask for the gift of wisdom. (James 1:5-8, Jeremiah 29:13, and Psalm 119:169)
Dig into God’s Word to find godly wisdom. (Psalm 119:130, 98-100)
Stand firm on the truth of God. (Ephesians 6:11, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Corinthians 16:13)
I leave you with this verse that reminds us who we are and how we are to conduct ourselves as we interact with those around us.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27
Digging Deeper:
Name those around you that you are a direct influence to. Are you displaying godly wisdom to these individuals?
Who do you lean on for advice? Are they individuals who share godly wisdom or worldly wisdom with you?
In what areas of your life do you need to ask for godly wisdom?