Scripture: Proverbs 4:7-15; 9:9-10; 2:1-6; 1 Corinthians 1:20-25; 2:10-16; James 1:5-7; Proverbs 19:1-3, 20; 11:2-3; Ephesians 5:1-17; James 3:13-18; Matthew 7:13-27

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme-- so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding… 11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. 14 Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. 15 Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.

Proverbs 9:9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will learn more. 10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; 3 furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD (which is the beginning of wisdom) and discover the knowledge of God (which is understanding). 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God's wisdom, the world did not know God through (their own earthly ) wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness (of the world) of the message preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called (by God’s Spirit to believe in His Word), both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God's power and God's wisdom, 25 because God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

1 Corinthians 2:10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11b … no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God's Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. 15a The spiritual person, however, can evaluate (it) ... 16b … we have the mind of Christ.

James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:1 Better a poor man who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool. 2 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins. 3 A man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD… 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. 2a And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, … 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light-- 9 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth-- 10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord… 15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk-- not as unwise people but as wise--… 17 So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

James 3:13 Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness… 16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17a But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant (to the laws and commands of God), full of mercy and good fruits, … 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace (which builds fellowship, unity and Christian community).

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it… 16a You'll recognize them by their fruit… 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord! ' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven… 24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible (wise) man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"