Viewpoints

Subscribe

Wisdom –More precious than Rubies

  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •
  • Ross Cunningham •
  • Originally published January 15, 2009 at 11:37 a.m., updated January 15, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.

This is the time of year we make fresh commitments and new decisions. It is the time of new beginnings when the New Year arrives. These choices and decisions need to be seasoned with wisdom. In Proverbs, wisdom is described as a woman who has prepared a banquet and goes and invites her guests. We read it in Proverbs 9 verse 1, “Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. 2 She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. 3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. 4 “Come home with me,” she urges the simple. To those without good judgment, she says, 5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise.” Isn’t that what we need for 2009? Shouldn’t it be to leave our foolish ways behind and learn to be wise with the knowledge we have. Knowledge is education, it is knowing about things, but wisdom is knowing when, where to act and speak on the knowledge we have. Knowledge without wisdom can cause great prideful attitudes. Knowledge without wisdom can only lead to destruction. In Proverbs chapter 8, it tells of wisdom’s companions, which are: prudence, knowledge, discretion, counsel, sound judgment, understanding and power. Prudence means the provident care in the management of resources or caution with practical matters. This is a trait all of us could use more of in this new year ahead. When we seek wisdom, Godly wisdom, we have a promise in Proverbs 8:17 we will find her. Along with wisdom you will obtain her companions of discretion, counsel, sound judgment and the ability to manage life. Isn’t that what it is all about, learning with God’s help to manage our life? Our daily life as well as our relationships and finances, and businesses are where we need God’s wisdom. We have God’s promise also in Jeremiah chapter 33 says, 2 “Thus says the LORD who made heavens and earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ What an awesome thing to know that if we call on the Creator of all things, he will hear us and answer and tell us what we need to know. This is a listening prayer, a time in prayer when we need to be still and know that He is God and to allow time for Him to lead us by His still small voice. Proverbs chapter 8 also tells us what Wisdom hates. These are things we need to avoid or recognize in our lives and change our ways. The things wisdom hates are pride, arrogance, deception, corruption and perverted speech. As I look at wisdom and her companions in the Proverbs, it draws me to look to the New Testament when Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians. Galatians 5:22 says “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.” When we see this fruit and wisdom’s companions in our lives, we can then know we are operating in the Wisdom of God. Today, we have the Holy Spirit leading us when we submit to God in our lives. As we walk in his ways, we will have His fruit in our lives. This fruit can also be seen as fruit of wisdom. There needs to be a place we lay aside the evil deeds of the natural man, things like coarse jesting, lying, drinking and sexual sins. These are the enemies of God and His wisdom, blessings and fruit can not abide with them. Proverbs 8:11says, “Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” So as you begin the New Year, remember to seek God’s wisdom in the decisions and choices you make. Karen McMullin Abundant Life Fellowship Church 1900 Hamman Road Bay City, Texas



  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •