Wisdom
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Wisdom is an invaluable quality to ask GOD to imbue you with, to apply in your own life and to help and bless others.
Total respect for, knowledge of, and having an open heart for GOD, opens the door and creates the path for true wisdom and understanding.
Human beings can be relatively wise, but true and absolute wisdom is only from GOD. Without this, human wisdom and reasoning can be a prison of limited dimension.
Jesus showed true wisdom in His teaching, and when giving examples, reasoning with people, and answering their questions on various subjects which were aimed at trying to trap Him, trip Him up and catch Him out. HE would answer with another question which perfectly offset their question; or by giving examples based on nature and natural situations with which there was no room for contradiction or argument.
Ask GOD for wisdom. HIS wisdom enables you to reason wisely, make wise choices and decisions, which enables you to live in righteousness, love, and GOD-liness.
Job 28:28 ‘And GOD said to the human race, “The fear of the LORD; that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
Job 32:8 ‘It is the spirit in a person, the breath of the ALMIGHTY, that gives understanding.’
Psalm 37:30-31 ‘The mouth of the righteous person utters wisdom, and their tongue speaks what is just. The law of GOD is in their heart; their feet do not slip.’
Psalm 111:10 ‘The fear (respectful awe) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.’
Proverbs 1:5 ‘Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.’
Proverbs 1:7 ‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.’
Proverbs 2:1-12 ‘MY son, if you accept MY words and store up MY commands within you, turning you ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from HIS mouth come knowledge and understanding. HE holds victory in store for the upright, HE is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for HE guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair; every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.’
Proverbs 3:5-8 ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.’
Proverbs 3:13-14 ‘Blessed is the person who finds wisdom, the person who gains understanding, for she (wisdom) is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.’
Proverbs 3:19 ‘By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding HE set the heavens in place.’
Proverbs 4:5 ‘Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget My words or swerve from them.’
Proverbs 4:7-9 ‘Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendour.’
Proverbs chapters 1 - 4. All discuss wisdom.
Proverbs 5:1-2 ‘My child, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.’
Proverbs 8:1 ‘Does not wisdom call out.? Does not understanding raise her voice?’
Proverbs 8:11-12 ‘For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her (wisdom). I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence: I possess knowledge and discretion.’
Proverbs 8:17-19 ‘I (wisdom) love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honour, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.’
Proverbs 8:32-36 “Now then MY children, listen to ME; blessed are those who keep MY ways. Listen to MY instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to ME, watching daily at MY doors, waiting at MY doorway. For whoever finds me finds life (eternal) and receives favour from the LORD. But those who fail to find ME harm themselves; all who hate ME love death.’
Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear (respect & awe) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the HOLY ONE is understanding.”
For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. ‘If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.’
Proverbs 10:13-14 & 23 ‘Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of the person who lacks judgement. A wise person stores up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.’
‘A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.’
Proverbs 12:1 ‘Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.’
Proverbs 12:15, 16, 18 ‘The way of a fool seems right to them, but a wise person listens to advice.’
‘Fools shows their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.’
‘The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.’
‘Proverbs 13:13 ‘Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.’
Proverbs 13:18 ‘Whoever ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honoured.’
Proverbs 14:8 ‘The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.’
Proverbs 14:10 ‘There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.’
Proverbs 14:16 ‘The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hot-headed and yet feels secure.’
Proverbs 14:33 ‘Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.’
Proverbs 15:20 ‘A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.’
Proverbs 15:24 ‘The path of life leads upward for the wise (prudent) to keep them from going down to the grave (the realm of the dead.)
Proverbs 15:31-33 ‘Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honour.’
Proverbs 14:35 ‘A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.’
Proverbs 16:1 ‘To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.’
Proverbs 16:13 ‘Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.’
Proverbs 16:16 ‘How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver.’
Proverbs 18:2 ‘A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing their own opinions.’
Proverbs 19:8 ‘The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.’
Proverbs 29:11 ‘Fools give vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.’
Proverbs 19:20 ‘Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.’
Proverbs 23:9 ‘Do not speak to a fool, for they will scorn the wisdom of your words.’
Proverbs 24:3, 5, 7 ‘By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.’ ‘A wise person has great power, and a person of knowledge increases strength.’ ‘Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate they have nothing to say.’
Proverbs 24:14 ‘Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.’
Proverbs 29:15 ‘The rod of correction (discipline) imparts wisdom, but a child left to themselves disgraces their mother.’
Proverbs 29:18 ‘ Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.’
Ecclesiastes 1:18 ‘With much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.’ This is because wisdom and knowledge have allowed us to see clearly the compromises and shortcomings of this world; and its being so much less than the perfect Earth GOD created it to be.
Ecclesiastes 2:26a ‘To the person who pleases GOD, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness.’
Ecclesiastes 7:10-12 ‘Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.’
‘Wisdom, like an inheritance is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.’ ‘Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.’
Ecclesiastes 7:19 ‘Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.’
Ecclesiastes 10:12 ‘Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.’
Isaiah 5:21 ‘Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.’
Isaiah 29:13-14 ‘The LORD says: “These people come near to ME with their mouth and honour ME with their lips, but their hearts are far from ME. Their worship of ME is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” This scripture emphasizes the point that we need to be in genuine, loving, ‘heart’ relationship with GOD; not just going through religious processes and the self-righteous appearance of being right with GOD, which will only achieve rejection.
Isaiah 43:18-19 ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24a ‘This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise person boast of their wisdom, or the strong person boast of their strength, or the rich person boast of their riches, but let the person who boasts, boast about this: that they understand and know ME.”
Matthew 10:16 ‘Jesus said to the disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Luke 9:62 ‘Jesus replied, “No one who puts their hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of GOD.”
1 Corinthians 1:20-31 “Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not GOD made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of GOD the world through its wisdom did not know Him, GOD was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom GOD has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD. For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than man’s strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But GOD chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; GOD chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. HE chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before HIM. It is because of HIM that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from GOD – that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 2:4-7 ‘My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on GOD’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of GOD’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.’
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 ‘Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks they are wise by the standards of this age, they should become a fool so that they may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in GOD’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness;” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
Ephesians 5:15 ‘Be very careful, then, how you live; not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.’
Hebrews 11:6 ‘And without faith it is impossible to please GOD, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.’
James 1:2-8 ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask GOD, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because whoever doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not think they will receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded person, and unstable in all they do.’
James 3:17 ‘The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
Example of wisdom applied to our natural environment.
Interference with esplanade beach-front sand dunes and 'natural coastline' should be avoided. It has been proven repetitively that in all coastal areas, human interference has led to spoilage, erosion, and other regretful and usually irreversible damage. Without natural coastline, tides usually drag the coastal sand away, which then has to be replenished by trucking it in or bulldozing it from elsewhere. If high tide waves crash against a wall, their natural reaction is to drag the sand away.
Un-natural interference referred to as 'management,' usually results in un-natural outcomes, which defeat the purpose.
Humankind cannot truly master nature. Nature is an unstoppable influence which finds its own balance, levels, and survival. We have to work with it, within its natural action and influence, and not against it by trying to change it. Sometimes, in some ways, we can re-direct its behaviour, but we cannot change it.
Wisdom is in not trying to be the master, when such action plainly shows an absence of wisdom. Wisdom is usually co-operating with nature's flow, like a wise navigator or captain, who is not trying to fight against conditions, or a situation, or to dominate them, with a hot-headed, ‘one-eyed’ attitude; but to intelligently manage them with the best strategy, as he or she sees suitable as the best option.
Tunnel vision excludes wisdom. Wisdom is coping with the natural ways and state of things, not going against them, after considering all factors.