wisdom

Jamie Munson posts on the source of wisdom:

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. (Prov. 16:16)

Do you believe that? Wisdom is better than money.

Really? Come on, what’s better than money?

Unfortunately, as much as we may try, wisdom cannot be bought. Education, counseling, and even self-help books can be good things, but they are not the true source of wisdom. Wisdom comes from God, and he cannot be bought. But he is willing to give you as much wisdom as you ask for.

We must put our lives under the authority of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and wise people.

As we’ve seen in James, God invites us to ask with faith for wisdom, and he promises to give it to us generously. James also warns us regarding the differences between worldly and godly wisdom. I believe God is wisdom, has wisdom, that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10; Job 28:28), and that he wants to give it to us, but how does he give it?

God gives wisdom in three primary ways:

1. THE SCRIPTURES

• All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16)
• For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)
• Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Rom. 11:33)

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you… But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:15-17, 26)

3. COUNSELORS (I.E. OTHER PEOPLE)

• Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Prov. 11:14)
• Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. (Prov. 15:22)
• Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. (Prov. 20:18)

All three of these sources of wisdom call us to humble submission. We must put our lives under the authority of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and wise people. The alternative is pride, foolishness, and disgrace. This means that, as leaders, we who are in authority must also be under authority (Prov. 11:2; 28:26).

How is your pursuit of wisdom going?