In my Bible in a Year reading, I have been going through proverbs and the sayings of King Solomon, supposedly the wisest man who ever lived. Wisdom literature is a big part of many ancient cultures and is seemingly one of the things that has been abandoned in our postmodern, post-truth relativistic society.
Yet wisdom is so important and ultimately comes from God. When we ignore it and live by our own rules or intelligence then we can run into trouble very quickly. Here are some of the profound statements that have stood out to me in my readings.
The Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
The person of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Wealth is worthless in the day of judgement, but righteousness delivers from death.
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Like one who seizes a stray dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
As twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.
To gain wisdom spend time in God’s word, reflect on your heart attitudes and guard your heart and your lips. No one else can guard your heart, only you can do that. And no one else can teach you wisdom and the fear of the Lord unless you are open to learn and obey.
Even Solomon in his old age acted foolishly and neglected the very wisdom he wrote down. He didn’t guard his heart and he loved his foreign wives and their gods more than the Lord, though supposedly he was the wisest man on the earth. That should be a warning to us who feel secure; wisdom can be gained but our hearts can always be turned away from God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning and end of all wisdom.
Grace and Peace - Garry
