What is wisdom? I define godly wisdom as…
The combination of knowledge, understanding, and skill required to get God’s desired results in my life.
In other words, it is skill for living. It’s the ability to make the right choices and do the right thing at the right time and in the right way to achieve God-ordained goals in my life. When it comes to living a spiritually and practically productive life, the importance of having and applying godly wisdom can’t be overstated.
Proverbs 4:7-8 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
To be wise is not just to learn precepts – it is to apply them appropriately and consistently in your life. That is what is entailed in “Exalt her and she will promote you.” And of course it is the gap between knowledge and application that most often trips us up!
I learn the precepts of wisdom as I study the Word of God.
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.
Proverbs 4:20-21 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.
Over and over Scripture urges me to give heed, pay attention, keep the wisdom I am learning ever before my eyes and in my thoughts. One way to do that is to focus on one particular precept of wisdom every day and keep it repeatedly before my eyes throughout the day.
But it’s not enough to learn what the Scripture teaches about wisdom. I must follow through by taking definite steps to be sure I am actually applying God’s wisdom, and not just my own thoughts and feelings, as I face the issues of my daily life.
Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
That’s it! Ponder my path. Everything I do – all my plans for the day – prayerfully think them through in light of the wisdom principles I learn as I study God’s Word. That’s exalting wisdom in my life. It’s when I consistently put into practice what the Word of God teaches me that His wisdom can promote me and bring me honor.
Ron Franklin
