Wisdom

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:10-11

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Proverbs 8:33

Do you understand every single verse in the Bible? If you do, that's great, but I must confess that I do not. By faith, I believe every word is true. By faith, I believe that in the beginning was God. By faith, I believe He created everything. By faith, I believe that because man sinned, God gave His only begotten son Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins. By faith, I believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died, rose again, and is returning. By faith, I believe I have a home in Heaven because of the salvation so lovingly given to me by Christ when I asked Him to save me. By faith, I believe that God parted the Red Sea and Moses and the children of Israel crossed on dry ground. By faith, I believe the three Hebrew children didn't burn when thrown into the fiery furnace. I cannot explain all of these things, but with all my heart, I believe.

There is so much that I don't understand, but just because I don't understand it doesn't make it any less true. I don't understand how all the organs of my body work, but I believe they do. I don't understand how car motors work, but I'll crank my van without any thought, believing the motor does work.

There are enough verses that I do understand to keep me busy. I understand that I must be saved to go to Heaven, I am to live a holy life, I am to love my neighbor as myself, I am to love the Lord my God with all my heart, I am to study to show myself approved, I am to pray to God believing that he hears me, I am to introduce the lost to my friend Jesus, I am to depart from evil, forgive, and be kind. Just the things I've mentioned that I do understand is enough to keep me on my toes every single day of my life. We need to study to learn more about God's Word, but we should not let the things we don't understand hinder our walk with God. We need to keep studying and praying. If we lack wisdom, we are to ask God for it. (James 1:5) We should also put forth more effort to do the things we know to do and to not do the things we know not to do. Just putting the wisdom we do have into action would make a world of difference in our lives. Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. I know to pray. I know to carry my every need to God. I know the Bible tells me to be anxious for nothing. I know that God says His grace is sufficient for my every need. SO... why do I worry and fret? Doesn't make a lick of sense to worry, does it? I need to put into practice everything I know and I believe I would have a much more productive Christian life, my light would burn brighter, my testimony would be more influential, and my sleep would even be sweeter.

What about the verses in the Bible that we read or perhaps our pastor points out, but yet in order to apply those verses to our lives, we would have to make some changes? If it goes against our grain, does that make the verse less true? No indeed. We are responsible for the things we know and we are responsible to study to try to know more about what God wants to tell us.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

If I get to the point that I do not want to learn more of God's Word, or to the point that I believe I do know it all, I honestly believe I would be a useless vessel for Christ.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:9-10

This is my prayer: Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Psalm 119:33-35