The Way of the Wise

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it costs you all you have, get understanding," Living a righteous life requires attaining wisdom and discernment to be able to distinguish right from wrong and the good from the best. Though becoming wise involves sacrifice and commitment to an often difficult and narrow path, it leads to a worthwhile destination full of blessings, peace, and prosperity.

In the Word of God, the Lord details the course of action you must take in order to become wise. The first step necessary in this pursuit is learning to fear the Lord. Proverbs 1:7 states that the "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Fearing God is hating what He hates and loving what He loves. Titus 2:11-12 says that the grace of God . . ."Teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." The fear of God involves a recognition that you are accountable to a just and holy God for
your every thought, word, and action.

Another important aspect of gaining wisdom is developing the ability to listen both to God and to the wise counsel of the individuals He has placed in your life. Proverbs 1:5 says, "Let the wise listen and add to their learning." Zeno of Citium, a 3rd century B.C. Greek philosopher, once wrote, "We have been given two
ears and one mouth so that we may listen more and talk less." Wendell Johnson later said, "Filling our ears with all we have learned to say, we are deaf to what we have yet to hear."

James 1:19 says that "Everyone should be quick to listen . . ." Though God is always speaking, people seldom listen to Him. Your first priority when spending time with the Lord in prayer and meditation on His Word should be to hear
what He has to say to you. He certainly wants you to share your concerns with Him, but God already knows what you desire even before you ask Him. He has so many wonderful truths to teach you, but He needs your focused attention and receptive heart to be able to communicate His Word to you

Developing right relationships is also a crucial part of becoming a wise follower of Christ. Proverbs 13:4 says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise." And Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:33, "Bad company corrupts good character." You eventually become like the people you spend the majority of your time with, so it
is important to surround yourself with godly people who will lead you closer to the
Lord. Someone once said, "Show me your friends, and I will show you your future."

Becoming a wise servant of the Lord truly has its rewards. Ecclesiastes 8:1 says that "Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes his hard appearance." Solomon also wrote that "Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten
rulers in a city." Not only does God promise that wisdom will bring you a cheerful
countenance and strength to face the challenges ahead, but He also says that wisdom leads to a long and fruitful life. Proverbs 3:13, 16-17 states, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom . . . long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace."

Ask the Lord today to impart His wisdom to you, and continue to fill yourself up with the truth of His Word so that you can channel it into the lives of others. Head knowledge about God's truth does not become wisdom until it is applied to everyday life, so make it your ambition to be both a hearer and a doer of His word. Then rest assured that as you walk with the Lord, you will discover the destiny He has planned for you because the way of the wise will always lead you into the perfect will of God.

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All Bible verse quotations on this page are from the New International version.

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