What if I told you there was something you could acquire that would help you make decisions?
A lot of people describe being stuck when they come to making decisions. Maybe it’s as simple as “Where do you want to eat?” Or it could be as complicated as a major life decision like a job or adopting a child.
But would you be interested in something you could acquire that would help you? I mean, really help you in making decisions?
Would that interest you?
Check this out in Proverbs 1:1-2
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
Proverbs 1:1-2
New International Version
Did you see the purpose statement for the Proverbs in our Bibles? They are “for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight.”
The language King Solomon, the wisest man in the whole earth (1 Kings 4:29-31) was writing in was Hebrew. The Hebrew word translated in English as “wisdom” refers to the combination of Biblical knowledge with human experience to produce success. The term carries the overtones of being favored by God because one possesses it.
Doesn’t that sound like something that will help in life?
Wisdom isn’t just knowledge. Wisdom isn’t just Bible knowledge. Wisdom isn’t just human experience. Wisdom is the fusion of all of that to produce an appropriate spiritual behavior.
Whether or not the decision you’re facing feels “spiritual”, remember: for a Christian, we don’t have a “secular” life. Everything we do is “sacred.” Our lives as disciples of Jesus are entirely an act of worship to the Master.
I don’t think we need to pray to the Lord to ask what color shirt we should wear that day. But wisdom would teach us there are certain things that are appropriate to wear in one setting that are not appropriate to wear in another.
It’s been said, “Knowledge is knowing there’s a snake in the grass. Wisdom is staying out of the grass.” It’s true, but I want to look at that little ditty from a deeper perspective.
Knowledge of a snake in the grass came from somewhere. Perhaps we previously learned what snakes were or someone told us. Perhaps someone’s experience—or our own—proved to us that snakes can bite and might be poisonous. The information coupled with the experience produces the wisdom of avoiding the snake because of the consequences.
Whatever decision you’re facing, spend time in the Word of God. Learn His wisdom and way of thinking. Couple that with the counsel of others and your own experience. Pray to Him. Seek Him. You will find Him.
And then we will “gain wisdom and instruction.”
Life Meets Theology 