What Wisdom Looks Like

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Whatever else you get, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7 margin NIV) The writers of the “Wisdom Books” in the Scripture describe some of the ways wisdom is seen in daily life:

Serving God first and foremost. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”(1) “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”(2)

Watching what God does. “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”(3)

Recognizing the brevity of life. “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”(4)

Working! “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”(5) “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”(6)

Choosing your companions with care. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."(7)

Realizing that not even you are immune to moral failure. ”A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident.”(8)

Avoiding addictions of every kind, practicing temperance in everything. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”(9)

Refraining from speaking everything you think or feel. ”Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.”(10) “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”(11)

Considering advice, and accepting correction. “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.”(12) “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”(13)

Refusing to be quarrelsome. “He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace.”(14)

I, for one, am all in favor of having wisdom. I just wish getting it didn’t hurt so much!

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotation marked NIV is from the New Internation Bible, used by permission.
Scripture quotation marked NLT is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved
Scripture quotation marked NASB is from the New American Standard Bible, used by permission.

1 Proverbs 9:10 2 Proverbs 19:7 3Psalm 107:43 4Psalm 90:12
5 Proverbs 6:6-8 NLT 6 Ecclesiastes 9:10 7Proverbs 13:20
8 Proverbs 14:16 9 Proverbs 20:1 10Proverbs 17:28, 29:11
11Proverbs 10:19 12 Proverbs 19:20 NASB 13 Proverbs 1:5
14Proverbs 11:12