GOD REWARDS WISE LIVING WITH HIS BLESSINGS
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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.” – Proverbs 9:10-11 –
God’s wisdom spans the ages… timeless and unchanging. By wisdom, God created the world and its very foundations (Proverbs 3:19). How we need His wisdom as a foundation for our lives! A foundation of understanding and discernment that results in just and right living… and reaps the blessings of God’s favor.
Wisdom first and foremost comes from God. He is the source of all wisdom. We cannot gain God’s wisdom on our own. We can search a lifetime and never find it. We can only seek wisdom from God who will bless us with it.
The key to wisdom is fear of the Lord… reverential awe, admiration and praise of Him. Seeing Him as He truly is, with absolute authority and power over all. Recognizing His attributes of holiness, omnipotence and glory. Honoring Him, respecting Him and obeying His Word.
“You are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30
Jesus is God’s revelation of Himself to us. Through Christ, we find wisdom from the source of all wisdom. By His Spirit and His Word, we become wise. Jesus portrays wisdom in action throughout His earthly ministry. In following hard after our Lord, we can gain wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom is the mind of God revealed in His Word. When we read God’s life-changing Word and allow it to penetrate our hearts and spirits, we see our lives transforming. His promises give meaning and direction. When we allow His Spirit and His teachings to guide us, we become wiser, more discerning, more Christlike.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”– 1 Corinthians 3:19
Wisdom is far more than knowledge. Knowledge is an amassing of facts. Wisdom is applying the facts to change our lives. It is living out what we have learned. A person may be intelligent but not wise if they are not allowing their knowledge to transform their thoughts, attitudes and actions.
The wise person seeks to know and love God. Scripture says that to live without wisdom is to live as a fool… stubborn, lacking truth, refusing instruction, living apart from God. The wise seek the truths in God’s Word and apply them… seeing their lives bloom and prosper.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.” – Proverbs 3:7-8
How do we become wise in our own eyes? By relying on our own wisdom instead of God’s. By making choices along worldly ways. By looking to the ungodly for wisdom. We fail to look to God’s Word and His revelation and discernment. We forget to apply His teachings to our everyday decisions.
When we seek God’s wisdom… turning from evil and seeking the good in life… we honor the Lord for all the world to see. We live a life that glorifies Him.
Our choices, whether great or small, determine the course of our lives. Wisdom is the rudder that steers our lives on the right course. Without it, we are adrift… sailing along with the winds and waves… following no designed route… at the whim of the weather. We risk our eternal future with no set course to lead us home.
“Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you… you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.” – Proverbs 3:21-23
When we ask for wisdom, God will give in abundance (James 1:5). For the Lord delights in wise living. His promised rewards are peace, favor, long life, protection, health and prosperity. We may not be given great material wealth. Yet we will lay up treasures in heaven by living a life pleasing to God in all wisdom and understanding.
When we walk in the ways of wisdom, we are walking with the Lord. He is by our side, our Guide for life. We live in His divine favor and stay on His wise path for living… the path that will lead us safely home.
Lord, today I seek Your wisdom, for I know You will give in abundance. Wisdom as the foundation for my life. Wisdom that empowers me to live a God-glorifying life… to seek You always and become ever closer to You… to do life wisely in Your loving presence. Let my thoughts be Your thoughts and Your ways my ways. Let me seek wisdom with all my heart that I may gain heavenly treasures. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
