Gaining Wisdom, Step 3: Learn the Fear of the Lord

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Think of learning math. You must learn to count as well as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division before you can go on to learning ‘advanced’ math. Once you have learned these ‘basics’, you have learned math, although there is still much more to learn. However, by learning theses basics, you are now in a position to learn more advanced math. The advanced math will make sense to you now because you have the basics.

 The relationship between wisdom and the fear of the Lord is similar. Before you can have ‘advanced’ wisdom, you must learn the ‘basics,’ which happens to be the fear of the Lord. Once you have learned the fear of the Lord, you have learned wisdom, although there is still much more to learn. However, by learning the fear of the Lord, you are in a position to understand more wisdom because you have learned the basics, the rudiments of wisdom.

Unfortunately, few Christians today understand what the fear of the Lord is, much less practice it. This has led to a shortage of wise Christians is the church today, which is minimizing the impact the church has. So exactly what is the fear of the Lord?

A simple definition is “a continual awareness of the presence of God.” To understand the impact of this, think back to a time when you were doing something that your father would not have approved of. If your father was present, would you have done it? Probably not. Well, our Heavenly Father is always present. Proverbs 5:21 states “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.”

Being aware that God is present with you at all times, watching all you do, will change your behavior, especially in light of the fact that we will one day stand before Him. What you say to other, how you behave when you think you are alone, how you spend your time, and many other things would most likely be different if you pictured Jesus standing beside you every moment of every day. You would take His commands seriously and obey all that you know He expects you to do. You would suddenly begin to make wise choices. This is part of the reason why the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 

Gaining Wisdom, Step 2: Study & Observe God’s Law

Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ Deuteronomy 4:6

Wisdom and understanding were highly prized in the ancient Near East, both in the social and political areas. In Deuteronomy 4:1-6, Moses instructs the people of Israel to study and observe God’s Law. If the people did so, the nation of Israel would be known as a great nation because its people had wisdom and understanding.

A person who takes the time to study God’s law, learn from it, and obey it will be known as a wise person. James echoes the connection between learning and observing God’s law with the exhortation to “be doers of the Word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). James continues, saying the person who “is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (1:25). 

Gaining Wisdom, Step 1: Ask God

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

The first step in gaining wisdom is to ask God for it. James is dealing with tests and trials believers face. While enduring the trial, the Christian is exhorted to ask God for wisdom, knowing that God will give it. “Ask” is in the present tense, which means that we should ask for it not only once, but repeatedly. If God gives wisdom, why ask repeatedly? Each trial, test, and experience requires different aspects of wisdom. By asking God for wisdom and instruction in each situation He brings into our lives, we show our dependence on God and acknowledge His authority over us.

Wisdom is the Principal Thing

"Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom: and in all your getting, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)

Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom. Since wisdom is the principal thing, wisdom should be obtained before anything else. Wisdom should be my first priority. I should gain wisdom before I try to learn all the prophecies, theologies, histories, and mysteries of the Bible. Wisdom should be obtained before gold, silver, jewels, and riches. Wisdom is the principle thing. In fact, all of these things – gold, silver, jewels, and riches – should be expended in the pursuit of gaining wisdom, because it is more valuable than these things. No price is too high to be paid for her, no sacrifice too great.

1. It is more valuable than gold - "My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver" (Proverbs 8:19).
2. It is more precious than jewels - "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things one may desire cannot be compared to her" (Proverbs 8:11).
3. It is more valuable than riches - "Riches and honor are with me; enduring riches and righteousness" (Proverbs 8:18).

So, what is wisdom? Wisdom is seeing the hand of God in every experience of life. (From “The Power for True Success: How to Build Character in Your Life,” p. 187)

Based on this definition, it is important to take the time to relate my experiences to God working in my life and to apply Scripture to those experiences. By doing this, I will grow in my understanding of how God works in my life and learn what He is trying to teach me.

In the next few blogs, I will discuss a Biblical plan to develop wisdom.

Proverbs 14:2 "Do You Really Love God?"

“He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.”

How easy it is to say we love God! It is even easy to fool others into thinking we are 'good Christians.' Read this verse carefully. If you walk in uprightness, if you obey the commands of God, you fear Him. If not, if you are perverse, following your own desires, your own passions, your own 'god', then you despise the true God. What you do in secret will be exposed publicly. You may pretend devotion, but if you are not obedient to God's commands, you will be reckoned with as a despiser of God Himself.

Do you even know God's commands as laid out in the New Testament? Commit this day to search the Scriptures, find them, make a list of them, and obey them. Matthew 5-7 is an excellent place to start.
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Related Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 12:13; Romans 2:4-5; 2 Timothy 3:2-3

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“For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.” - Mark 4:22

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Adding Up God's Direction”

(5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Verses 5-6 present one of the most beautiful truths in the Word of God: that God will guide you through life. God is a personal God and very interested in your life. But before we get there, let’s look at the three parts to having God’s guidance.

These two verses could be written as a mathematical formula: (Trust in the Lord with all your heart + lean not on your own understanding) + in all your ways acknowledge Him = He shall direct your paths.

The couplet in verse 5 shows the importance of not relying on worldly wisdom. God’s ways are much different than our ways. If we do not trust Him completely, forsaking our own understanding, we will not be able to see His guiding. Instead, we will walk down the path of our own choosing, and it would most certainly not be the path that God would have us walk.

To make sure we trust God with all our heart, we are exhorted to acknowledge God in all our ways. This brings the important principle of seeing God at work in all areas of our lives. We may not understand what God is doing, but we should be aware that God is acting and acknowledge that it is indeed God who is at work. This is very important when trials come our way. When life is difficult, we frequently want to complain. However, instead of grumbling or complaining, we should thank God for acting in our lives, remembering that God is sovereign and will always do what is best for us.

The word “acknowledge” comes from the Hebrew word YADA and the word primarily means “to know relationally or experientially.” In all our ways we are “to know Him relationally.” We are to maintain a relationship with God through all circumstances, trusting Him, following Him. As we maintain our relationship with God through Bible study, prayer, and meditation, we will know His direction for our life.

 

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Related Scriptures: Mat. 6:33; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17

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“Can a mortal ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Quite easily, I should think. All nonsense questions are unanswerable. How many hours are there in a mile? Is yellow square or round? Probably half the questions we ask--half our great theological and metaphysical problems--are like that.” ~ C. S. Lewis - A Grief Observed

Proverbs 3:1-4 “Faithfulness to the Father’s Teaching”

(1) My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; (2) for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

(3) Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, (4) and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

Chapter 3 begins with the 3^rd appeal by the father to his son, which covers verses 1-12. This appeal includes six sets of instructions. The first two sets (v. 1-4) is an exhortation to remain faithful to the father’s teaching. The last four sets (v. 5-12) is an exhortation to remain faithful to the Lord.

In the first of instructions (v. 1-2), the father urges his son not only to remember his teaching, but to put into practice the wisdom that has been taught. By living according to wise principles, the son will reap three benefits.

1. Length of days – This phrase speaks of a life lived in and satisfied only in the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:20). This life is given to those who walk in obedience (Psalm 91:16; Proverbs 3:2) and wisdom (Proverbs 3:16).
2. Long life – This includes both a life with many years and a life worth living.
3. Peace – Even though your life will be long, it will not be burdensome. You will have inward tranquility. Indeed, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind.

In the second set of instructions, the wise father appeals to his son not to forsake mercy and truth. Mercy and truth are to be applied externally (“bind them around your neck”) and internally (“write them on the tablet of your heart”).

The external application of mercy is performing good and charitable acts to others. The internal application is development the Godly character of mercy, of lovingkindness. This is given to those who keep His covenants and His testimonies. (Psalm 25:10)

The external application of truth is faithfulness, obedience to God by walking in His commands. The internal application is the rejection of all falsehood and hypocrisy of character.

As mercy and truth increase in your life, you will reap benefits in your relationship with both God and man. A wise man desires and seeks the favor of God and also wishes to have the favor man. These were characteristic of our Lord (Luke 2:52).

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Related Scriptures: Mat. 23:23; 1 Peter 3:3-4

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“Being all fashioned of the self-same dust, let us be merciful as well as just.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow