Dear Family and Friends,

Let’s pick up where we left off last week, continuing through the steps that prepare us to receive His wisdom. (If you are new to my blog, it will help to read last week’s message as well.)

But before we jump into the next steps, allow me to clarify something.

Gaining wisdom is not like completing a ‘step’ on a checklist and moving on to the next: Fear the Lord ✓, Know God loves me ✓, Humble myself before the Lord ✓.

Wisdom comes from doing these ‘steps’ day after day, keeping to a steady pace as we journey with our Lord – – and with the wise.

Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬ says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”  ‭‭

Do you notice it says we become wise when we walk with the wise? We don’t ‘get’ wiser as we take these steps. We become a new person – a wise person – as we walk with the Lord.

Proverbs 13:20 also introduces our next step – walking with the wise and accepting their advice.

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The scriptures are clear – we cannot become wise on our own.

I once shared with a young pastor that choosing a mentor is not as simple as choosing someone with a title and the trappings of success. Those are indicators of human wisdom, but is that what we seek?

James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ provides guidance to those seeking a wise advisor.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”  ‭‭

Look for evidence of a God-fearing heart, deeds of love, a life well lived.

Do your homework, observe, and ask questions. Do they treat others as Jesus would? Do their actions reflect a love for others? Is there strife at home? When they give advice, is it biblical?

Remember, a companion of fools suffers harm.

The next step in our journey to becoming wise is knowing God’s word.

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart.”  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why is knowing God’s word important?

We learn how God thinks, for we know that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, they’re higher. (See Isaiah 55:8-9)

We also know that God’s word is transforming, helping us shed our old ways. (See Hebrews 4:12)

I suspect you know this but I’ll say it anyway – the teachings of the Bible and Jesus are upside down from the way we think and act.

For example, Proverbs 3:9-10 says to, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

Another step to becoming wise is knowing how to face our troubles and challenges, by transforming our suffering into wisdom.

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Do you know why Job 12:12 NIV asks these rhetorical questions, “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

I shared the following exchange three years ago when our grandson was five years old. It’s worth repeating:

“Luke, did you know that in sixty years you’re going to look like me?”

“Papa, what will you look like in sixty years?… Will you be extinct?”

Speaking on behalf of the aged, yes it’s true, we don’t stop making mistakes or no longer suffer when we hit sixty.

Hidden in the silver lining of every cloud is a lesson to be learned. Rather than wallowing in regrets or sorrow, let’s fix our eyes on the silver lining and turn our experiences, good and bad, into wisdom.

The final step to becoming wise is to ask God for wisdom, but in doing so let’s follow King Solomon’s example.

When the Lord asked King Solomon for whatever he wanted, the King did not ask for long life or wealth or the death of enemies. 

“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ NIV‬‬

His asked for wisdom to better care for others.

And the Lord was pleased.

As we ask to become wise, let’s set our hearts on using this gift to please the Lord.

In love always,