“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 uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.” Proverbs 2:6-8, NKJV
Do you ever reflect on the wrong decisions you’ve made? I do. In retrospect, I re-evaluate my personal decision-making process. Then, I annoyingly retort, “If only I had sought the Lord more before deciding.”
Regrettably, when assessing life’s decisions through a rearview mirror – hindsight is twenty/twenty. How can we overcome the ritual and remorse of unwise decisions and obtain the foresight to make wiser choices?
In today’s complex, tumultuous, and multicultural social environment, many people defer to conventional wisdom for direction and decision-making. However, in Proverbs, Solomon assures us that the Lord is the all-sufficient, accessible source of sound wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Jesus, the personification of wisdom, reiterates that man is to live by every word that “proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Paul warns that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:9). Solomon says that God stores wisdom for the upright. James, perhaps alluding to Solomon’s timely insight, reminds us to ask God for His stored up wisdom (James 1:5). God will provide generously – without reproach.
Do you aspire to make wiser choices? Regrettably, many believers defer to conventional wisdom. In today’s perplexed world, God’s wisdom conflicts with worldly wisdom. Therefore, believers cannot allow conventional wisdom to influence their decisions. We need God’s counter-cultural common sense. When you solicit sound wisdom for a dilemma, consider the source. Ask God for wisdom and He will shield you from error, clothe you with knowledge and understanding, and preserve your integrity as one of His Saint.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have sound wisdom stored up for me. Help me to consider You as the primary source of council for life’s decisions. Clothe me with knowledge and understanding and protect me from the wisdom of the world, amen.
