Proverbs 4.5-7
“Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
A central theme in scripture is that life in focus requires wisdom. Indeed, wisdom is necessary to apply E+R=O and respond effectively to the situations and challenges of life. And not just any kind of wisdom, but the kind of wisdom that comes from God.
As we learned in our study of Proverbs, the Hebrew word for wisdom is hokma. It refers to the skill of living well in the midst of the many different situations and challenges of life. In the Old Testament, hokma often refers to the practical, operational skill of craftsmen, singers and musicians, sailors, counselors, military leaders, farmers, and others.
Wisdom is the ability to manage your R Factor skillfully. It isn’t just know what; it is also know how. In other words, wisdom is the ability to “live skillfully” according to God’s standards.
This is an enormously important truth for the followers of Christ in the 21st century. Wisdom is a learned skill. The Holy Spirit plays an indispensable and powerful role in a Christian gaining wisdom, but scripture is clear that wisdom is not simply granted or bestowed. It isn’t mystical or magical. Like any skill, wisdom is learned.
According to the book of Proverbs, the key to a wise and skillful life is the recognition that God has created moral and practical principles that govern his universe. I call this “the physics” of God’s creation. It is the architecture of reality.
Wisdom is three-dimensional, which corresponds to the three-part nature of the image of God in man:
1) Moral wisdom. Instruction on God’s standards of ethical behavior. How to be wise and skillful in ethics and morals. This is about character. “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1.15-16)
2) Functional wisdom. Practical insights for how to go about your daily work. How to be skillful in the mechanics of your job. This is about competence. “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22.29)
3) Relational wisdom. Instruction on how to interact with other people. How to be wise and skillful in personal and professional relationships. This is about connection. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13.35)
Life in focus means understanding and following the Creator’s moral, functional, and relational principles. It is the way of wisdom. It is the on-path life. Scripture (especially Proverbs) repeatedly emphasizes that failure to understand and follow God’s wisdom is the way of a fool. It is the off-path life.
Your fruitfulness and impact on the people in your life (and society) is determined by how wisely you Respond to situations and people. Your impact as an agent of the kingdom of God is determined by your wisdom/skill in all three dimensions: moral, functional, and relational.
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:9-10)
More tomorrow …
