The scriptures say, (Pro 4:5-7) “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
My first question would be, “Where do I get this principle thing called “wisdom”? Then my second question would be, “Where and/or how do I get “understanding”?
Just for the record I’m referring to Godly wisdom and not the wisdom of the world. With that said read Proverbs 7:1-4, “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman…”
So you see that wisdom, the principle thing, is found in God’s Word particularly His commandments. Godly wisdom states what we are to think, what we are to say, and what we are to do. So it easy enough for us to know where to search for this wisdom but then where would we get understanding?
It is pretty obvious that our human nature is resistant to following orders even when they come from God. That is because getting and applying instructions about what to do or what to say is always subject to the soul of man. Until one is ready, willing, and able to change their mind, will and emotions, concerning any issue, the tendency is to think they have a better way.
For example, when God says, “Thou shall not lie” do people tend to make excuses for not telling the truth? Yes! Many individuals will at least minimize such behavior by saying that they just told “a little white lie”.
Resisting the wisdom of God always opens the door for an automatic enrollment into the school of hard knocks. That is where one receives a very pricey education that is paid for through lots of unnecessary pain and wasted time. Such students will experience struggles in their inner man and/or tangle a web that will not come unraveled until they come to terms with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
There is no particular time set once enrolled into this school. Nobody can just drop out like they can in other educational institutions but will be required to go through the entire educational process in order to graduate. This means they will have to come to terms with why God offers His wisdom in the first place. When they have come to this point they will have also learned to trust that God desires them to live in peace and prosperity (not death).
Consider some of God’s other Commandments: Thou shall have no other Gods before me, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not commit adultery, etc.
It must grieve God when we lean on our own understanding because when we fail to acknowledge Him we suffer unnecessary consequences. No parent enjoys seeing their children go through such pain. So how can we avoid grieving our Father as well as this costly school?
The only way I know how is to get to know the why (understanding) behind the what (His wisdom/instructions). Learn to trust Him. Know that He has our best interest at heart just as the parent who would instruct their child to stay out of the road.
Pro 3:13-18 says, “Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou can desire are not to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her.”
We know that it is wise to look to God for wisdom for our decision making. The benefits are laid out before us in the scriptures as well as the command to do it. So let’s do it. And, while searching that out know that His wisdom is applicable to all of your relationships. Marital, parent/child, friends, and etc.
You will find such wisdom as you search the scriptures as well as in my book, Character Blocks (Available at: www.terrydonelson.com ) which is based on the Word of God. There is a lot to learn in order to avoid the unnecessary pain and wasted time in a school that is so costly.
Blessings to all who will hear what the Spirit is saying,
Dr. Terry
His Word says, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. So choose life, so that you and your children may live. (Deuteronomy 30:19)
The world would be a much better place if only we all followed the Ten Commandments…