A New Year, A New Month, A New Study: Flourishing in Wisdom

    I did not receive any suggestions for topics/Bible books/questions* to study in this new year, so I came up with a couple of my own; the first one being a topic I have long been interested in and one that I think will be beneficial for us to explore together: wisdom.

 *Note: If you have any topics/ Bible books/questions you would like to study at any point, please email me at any time throughout the year.

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding, for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.” (Proverbs 3:13-14 NKJV)

    Wisdom is attainable, all we have to do is ask of God (James 1:5), who gives to all liberally and without reproach - He will not scold or punish you, He is glad that you seek it and ask Him for it -  God knows what we have need of (Matthew 6:8), and He wants us to trust Him, seek His provision, and make our requests known to Him (Matthew 7:7-11, Philippians 4:6-7). I believe that is why the psalmist states that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10); we need to seek Him (Acts 17:26-27), we need to understand who He is and who we are before Him, and then we will know that His wisdom is the only wisdom worth seeking (Proverbs 2:1-6).  

    To prepare our minds for this study, I compiled two lists: Who Will Obtain Wisdom and The Benefits of Proper Wisdom (proper = wisdom that is from above, James 3:17). Please take the time to look at them and look up each of the Bible references.

Who Will Obtain Wisdom:

• The simple who hear/obey the testimony of the LORD (Psalm 19:7)
• The righteous (Psalm 36:39-31)
• Those who learn to number their days (understand the frailty/shortness of life in comparison to eternity, Psalm 90:12)
• Those who fear the LORD and do His commandments (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 15:33)
• Those who seek it and search for it as for hidden treasures (Proverbs 2:1-4)
• The upright (Proverbs 2:7-9)
• The humble (Proverbs 11:2)
• The one who walks with wise men (Proverbs 13:20)
• Those who have understanding (Proverbs 17:24)
• Those who love their souls (Proverbs 19:8)
• Those who listen to counsel and receive instruction (Proverbs 19:20)
• Those who are properly disciplined and rebuked (Proverbs 29:15)
• It is given by God to those who are good in His sight (Ecclesiastes 2:26), and to the wise and understanding (Daniel 2:20-21, Romans 11:33)
• Those who learn from the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15)
• Those who ask God for it in faith, without doubting (James 1:5-8)

Benefits of Proper Wisdom:

• The law of God is in your heart, and none of your steps will slide (Psalm 36:30-31)
• You will gain a good understanding (Psalm 111:10)
• You will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:1-6)
• Discretion will preserve you, understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil (Proverbs 2:10-12)
• Happiness (blessedness, inner joy/contentment from living in accord to God's will), when you find wisdom and retain it (Proverbs 3:13, 18)
• Its proceeds are better than the profits of silver and its gain is better than fine gold. More precious than rubies; all that you desire cannot compare to it (Proverbs 3:13-15)
• Length of days, and riches and honour (Proverbs 3:16)
• Ways of pleasantness and paths of peace (Proverbs 3:17)
• It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it (Proverbs 3:18)
• Keeping sound wisdom and discretion will be life to your soul and grace to your neck (Proverbs 3:21-22)
• You will walk in safety in your way, and your foot will not stumble (Proverbs 3:23)
• When you lie down you will not be afraid and your sleep will be sweet. You will not be afraid of trouble from the wicked because the LORD is your confidence; He will keep your foot from being caught (Proverbs 3:24-26)
• You will inherit glory (Proverbs 3:35)
• Wisdom will preserve you, keep you, promote you, bring you honour, place an ornament of grace on your head, and deliver you a crown of glory (Proverbs 4:5-9)
• When you walk you will not be hindered, when you run you will not stumble (Proverbs 4:10-12)
• You can preserve discretion and keep knowledge (Proverbs 5:1-2)
• If you are wise, you will be still wiser (Proverbs 9:9)
• You will store up knowledge (Proverbs 10:14)
• You will be commended for it (Proverbs 12:8)
• The way of life winds upwards, that you may turn away from hell below (Proverbs 15:24)
• It is better to get than gold (Proverbs 16:16)
• You will be called prudent (Proverbs 16:21)
• You will find good (Proverbs 19:8)
• A house is built through wisdom, it is established, and its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches (Proverbs 24:3)
• Knowledge and wisdom will be like honey and honeycomb to your soul; if you have found it there is prospect and your hope will not be out off (Proverbs 24:13-14)
• Wisdom excels folly (Ecclesiastes 2:13)
• Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers of a city (Ecclesiastes 7:19)
• Wisdom makes your face shine (Ecclesiates 8:1)
• Wisdom is better than strength and better than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)
• Wisdom brings success (Ecclesiastes 10:10)
• Your words are gracious (Ecclesiastes 10:12, Colossians 4:5-6)
• Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of your salvation (Isaiah 33:6)
• The word of Christ dwells in you richly, and prepared you for teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 3:16)
• Salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15)
• You will receive liberal amounts without reproach from God (James 1:5)
• Your good conduct will show that your work is done in the meekness of wisdom (James 3:13)

Note: If there are any additions that need to be made to the list, please add them in the comment section on my blog (link at bottom of post), or email me (address at bottom of post). I would very much like to dig into this topic together.

    Every day is a brand new opportunity to reassess ourselves and work toward gaining new depths of knowledge of God and His will. I hope you will see that you too can gain more wisdom, and that the benefits found in attaining it, and holding onto it, far outweigh any other earthly pursuit! Wisdom is the tree of life to those who take hold of it (Proverbs 3:18) – are you ready to take hold of it? Me too!

You can do it! So can I!!