GROWTH IN WISDOM

 

 

Wisdom is available all around us and to all comers:

 

·       “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” (Proverbs 1:20-23)

 

Our problem isn’t the lack of availability of wisdom. Our problem is that we prefer other things over wisdom and are unwilling to pay the price for wisdom - the “reproof” or the training of wisdom.

 

The road to wisdom is a painful one. It demands everything and must be first in our lives along with God who demands that we love Him by loving His Word and wisdom. (John 14:21-24). Therefore, to love God is to love His Word, even above our own understanding:

 

·       “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

 

As God must be first in our lives (Matthew 10:37), so too must we pursue the gift of His wisdom:

 

·       “yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,” (Proverbs 2:3-7)

 

To grow in the trust of God, for first have to despair of ourselves (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).

 

What must we do to obtain His wisdom? First, it must head our wish list. Secondly, we must be willing to examine ourselves:

 

·       “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15)

 

Self-examination is not easy. It requires us to examine the painful thoughts we have suppressed:

 

·       “A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.” (Proverbs 21:29)

 

We cannot consider our ways unless we face them, but this requires us to dig deeply into our septic tank:

 

·       “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:5-6)

 

If we examine ourselves accurately, we will find that we are not as faithful as we had once thought we were. This makes us feel utterly unworthy of God. It strips us of our self-righteous confidence, and we despair. Later we discover that this becomes the pathway to a greater love and trust in our Savior, and we enter a greater understanding of the Cross and the extent of His love for His unworthy people. This understanding humbles us as it should:

 

·       “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33)

 

To learn to despair of ourselves is too painful for us to take this journey on our own. Why? God must refine us as fire and melting process is required to refine gold:

·       In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6–7)

 

Naturally, we are disgusted to see our impure thoughts and desires rise to the surface during the melting process. However, this grieving process is necessary. It leads us to judge ourselves and to confess and repent of our sins:

 

·       But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32)

 

As painful as this might be, it leads to a greater appreciation, knowledge, and conformity to Jesus:

·       …always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:10–11; 1 Peter 4:17)

 

As we grow in the assurance of His overwhelming love for us that we can endure this process and even give thanks for it:

 

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (Psalm 119:71–72)