Luke 7:35, “Wisdom is proved right by her children.”
We my think we are wise, but the fruit of our decisions bears witness against us. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD an shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7
We see here a reiteration of the same principle. Wisdom begets fruit. When you walk in wisdom, even your body responds beneficially.
What is wisdom?
If everyone is wise in their own eyes, how an I avoid being deceived into living foolishly. What is wisdom?
Wisdom is adhering to God’s best for your life.
To live by the true principles of wisdom, our world view must be shaped by reality; reality that God is supreme and sovereign, that he created all (including me) and wrote the owner’s manual for my spirit, soul, mind and body, and that He is good and (to His ultimate glory) wants the best for me.
If God is omni-[good, knowing, powerful] then I can trust His prescribed ways for me life.
His ways for my life are chronicled in a little book (the Bible) He had his faithful followers compile for Him. When we read it and obey it, we can’t lose. Life won’t go perfect according to our dreams, but it will produce fruit that bears witness to our obedience and His wisdom.
Just do a word search for “wisdom” in scripture, or spend a year in Proverbs, reading a chapter each day (there are 31 chapters, so that works out nicely).
You’ll pick up incredible nuggets like:
- “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20
- “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” Proverbs 17:28
- All of Proverbs chapter 2!
How do you get wisdom?
Wisdom starts with the fear of God. [Proverbs 1:7]
Not a “fear” in the sense of thriller novels and suspenseful movies. A “rightful fear” as in “honor and respect”.
When we approach train tracks, we show honor to the train by giving it enough room to pass. We “rightfully fear” the train. That doesn’t mean we don’t board the train and ride it. Our fear of God is the same. It allows us safety and benefit; intimacy and blessing.
When we know God created it all, including me, and is good — and we believe He has a plan for everything, including me, and it is also good… we can begin to trust Him and love Him. “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” John 14:21,23
Desiring God’s wisdom means desiring God’s best for my life. It means trusting His ways over my ways.
If I decide to never change my car’s oil, instead of obeying the advice of the owner’s manual, my engine will cease up and my car will become worthless.
In the same way, our lives will eventually unravel when we don’t follow God’s ways.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” Proverbs 3:7 Fear of the Lord is the first step in true wisdom.
What does that mean?
If my acknowledgment of God a Lord is set, then the next step is to learn what He has to say and then to do it.
I must read scripture. Then I must be willing to change my ways, until they line up in accordance to His ways.
If I say I fear God but don’t do what His word says, I don’t truly fear God. I don’t true love Him. Obedience isn’t always the fruit of love, but love always produces obedience.
I’ve had the opportunity of speaking into many young men’s lives. When I do, some nod their heads in agreement. But until I see them walking out the things I recommended, I won’t know if they agree in the head or in the heart. There is a difference.
Head knowledge, on it’s own, produce pride and deceives. But when truth pierces the heart, in a relationship of love, it has power to change lives.
Seek to fall in love with God. This will start with rightful fear, be coupled with trust and desire; and will conclude with obedience, which will look like wisdom and produce blessing.
How will I know I’m walking in wisdom?
You will know you are walking in wisdom when you are disciplining your spirit, soul, mind and body.
This will look like: time in prayer, time in the word, choosing the things of God, shunning any thoughts that aren’t of God, pursuing holy thinking, and offering your body as a living sacrifice to Him.
You will know you are walking in wisdom when you have men and women of wisdom around you that have permission and accessibility to speak truth into you.
This means you are available to them, and offer yourself so that they can have an accurate perception — you’re not avoiding them, hiding parts of your life from them or deceiving them by only presenting what you think they want to hear.
You will know you are walking in wisdom when you do the things they tell you to do, and stay away from the things they advise you against.
Finally, you will know you are walking in wisdom when your life bears the fruit of wisdom.
People will trust you. There will be blessing and favor, from God and man. Opportunities will open up to you on a regular basis; when doors of opportunity are consistently closing, this can sometimes be a sign of poor fruit in your life. And if your response is to blame everyone else for it, wisdom would acknowledge that you are bearing the bitter fruit of your own foolishness.
God wants good for you. He knows what’s best for you. The ways of wisdom will bear the fruit of God’s goodness towards you, so that, ultimately, He might be glorified rightly.