TRUE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

The Word of God is the source of true wisdom. It also grants understanding to the simple. It is the tool for building a successful Christian life. Find out more about today's topic!

TRUE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

The true source of wisdom is the Word of God. It is spiritual wisdom and its Godly. Biblical wisdom is definable as skill for living. It involves living life in the light of the revelation of God's Will gained from His Word and applying this knowledge to our specific situations.

Reference: Proverbs 24:3 Brenton Septuagint Translation (BST)

'A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.'

The above proverb is quite relevant in our lives as Christians and in our changing world. It teaches that the house of our lives is best built with wisdom, which comes from God. It is also set up (established) and sustained with understanding.

Wisdom is the insight into the true nature of things. Though knowledge is the mental possession of powers of perceiving objects, wisdom is the power of right reasoning concerning them and forming right decisions accordingly. It is the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. The Greek words translated wisdom are sophia and phronesis.

While sophia is the insight into the true nature of things, phronesis is the ability to discern modes of action with a view to their results. Sophia is theoretical; phronesis is practical. To understand, is the Greek verb, epistamai, which means "to know well." It can be rendered as 'understanding'. Through this understanding, things are established. In other words, understanding fills your life with rare and beautiful treasures.

A wise man is a godly-willed person, who is courageous and resolute, and able by wisdom to achieve greater things than others can accomplish by their own natural strength or senses. By the fear of God in him, a wise man is supported and blessed, and by prudence, his accomplishment is maintained and prospered. Wisdom and good thought are always found in the gates of the wise. He uses them as raw materials for building the structures of his life.

A weak or foolish man is one who thinks wisdom is too high for him; therefore he will never pay the price for it. No wonder Proverbs 24:7 (CEV) says, 'Wisdom is too much for fools! Their advice is no good.' The book of Proverbs describes the weak-minded as being too self-willed to learn; he lacks determination, emotional intelligence, or discerning capacity. So while others express and contribute their opinions when the business or justice of his city is being transacted, he is nowhere to be found.

Jesus talks about the house of the wise in a parable about wise and foolish builders (see Matthew 7:24-27). The NIV translation of verse 24 says, 'Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.' With wisdom from God's Word, we can build our lives on the solid rock - Christ. The entrance of the Word and the doing of it, give the foundation of our lives firm flooring. The fear of God in us is the protective arms of God - that serves like walls keeping out the cold. Then the understanding of God's Word is like windows letting in God's light to sustain our house (Psalm 119:130 KJV).

If we struggle to build a godly life, then we need these two essential ingredients - wisdom and understanding. However, the Word of God is the key to accessing these ingredients and its available to us. May we have the divine urge every day to go for Godly wisdom in the Word, so we can to build our lives with understanding that we receive from it. By doing so, our lives will stand firm and stay sustained.

Scripture Reading - Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 2:26; 1 Corinthians 1:25.

Guided Prayer:

Thank you heavenly Father for helping me to build my life with wisdom from your Word and to set it up by understanding from your Spirit. I'm strengthened and empowered in my inner man by the right knowledge, to apply the wisdom of the Spirit and establish good success in my world. I'm forever grateful for the ministry of your Word that grants me all I require to fulfil my glorious destiny in Christ in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor EJC

SENSE OF GRACE