Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”
Our Bible verse for today: “For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings.” Proverbs 1:2 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God gave us the Bible so we can be wise in His ways.”
The purpose of Proverbs, and indeed of the entire Bible, is stated in a straightforward way right there in the second verse of the first chapter of Proverbs, “So we can learn wisdom.” God wants us to be more than just knowledgeable He wants us to be wise, but to be wise in ways that really matter.
Biblical wisdom is not some mystical thing that can only be attained by an enlightened few. This isn’t Buddhism. And we’re also not raising-up a small cadre of Hindu Yogi’s. The wisdom of the Bible is straightforward, practical, and easily understood by anyone who will take the time and put forth the effort to study it. We are to take it to heart and then live by it.
From that standpoint the wisdom of the Bible has a lot in common with what we might call “street smarts”. Biblical wisdom is a realistic understanding of how life actually works in the real world, and it’s an acknowledgement that God has told us in the Bible how to live life well. This is wisdom which helps us to survive and thrive in the rough and tumble environment of daily living in a tough neighborhood (this world).
Biblical wisdom is practical in that it deals heavily in day-to-day real life issues such as morality, ethics, justice, and maturity, just to name a few. The Biblically wise person recognizes and avoids evil, and they actively promote good as part of the mission of Christ on earth.
How do we acquire such wisdom? First and foremost by personal study of the Bible. Secondly, we acquire it by means of regular and active participation in the life of a good Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. We need to place ourselves under the instruction of good and reliable Bible teachers; we need to pay attention to the sermons – taking notes, and applying the points to our lives; we need to be involved in small group Bible studies – participating in the discussions and learning from the insights of others; and we need to regularly seek out Biblical counsel from leaders and mentors.
It’s true that one of the reasons God gave us the Bible is so we can be wise in His ways, wise in the ways that really matter. Biblical wisdom is attainable by anyone who will seek it.
God Bless,
Oak Hill Baptist Church 