Wisdom – Not For Everyone

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 ESV

Knowledge begins with respect for God. When Solomon uses the term ‘fear of the Lord,’ he’s not talking about knee-knocking terror but reverential awe of God’s might and holiness. He is the very source of wisdom.

The Message translates this verse, “Start with God – the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.”

Let me give you an example. Lately, our mower has been giving us problems. My husband, bless his heart, has spent a lot of time trying to get it to work properly. Last Sunday, we were speaking with a man who used to be a mechanic. When I asked about the mower, he pulled out pen and paper and began to draw diagrams of our mower’s carburetor and how it feeds fuel to the engine.

Imagine if I had gone to a child psychologist and asked her about our mower. Yeah, she would have looked at me like I was short a brain cell or two. Now imagine if that mechanic we spoke with told us he had invented that particular model. There’s no doubt he could have told us exactly what was wrong and how to fix it (maybe even replaced our mower!)

When it comes to life, we have a creator who fashioned every part of our being. If anyone knows how we operate and what our purpose is, God does. So why do we tend to go looking for answers elsewhere? Why do we fool ourselves into believing we have the knowledge, the skill, the resources, and the means to fix life’s problems?

Wisdom – true wisdom – is only found in God. He is the designer and maker of our particular model and He is available 24/7. James 1:5 promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Ask boldly, without hesitation or fear, and He will provide the wisdom you need at the moment you need it.

Prayer: Today I come to you, Lord, with a wisdom that is inadequate to meet today’s struggles. Speak to my heart and mind, Holy Spirit, and meet my lack. For when there is less of me, there is room for more of you. Amen.

Thought: “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” – Abraham Lincoln