Discovering WisdomSample

DAY NINE: The Eternal Quest for Wisdom 

The definitions of wisdom range from "good sense" to the "ability to discern inner qualities and relationships" — to "a wise attitude, belief, or course of action."All of us aspire to have wisdom, but a central question remains: what is the source of our beliefs and how do those perspectives impact our attitudes and actions?

Proverbs 9 makes it clear that God is the ultimate source of truth and wisdom and that He, alone, is the baseline for wisdom and knowledge.

Sadly, culture sings a totally different tune, though, and many of us are so distracted by what we're taking in and by our own emotional whims that we totally forget or ignore this reality. 

Wisdom becomes a fluid concept rather than a bedrock — and we end up lost.

But that's not how it's supposed to work. Proverbs 9:1-6 frames "wisdom" in a truly fascinating and easy-to-discern way. In the text, Solomon encourages people to leave their own simple ways and to, instead, seek God's holy wisdom:

"'Let all who are simple come to my house!' To those who have no sense she says, 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.'"

As the chapter moves on, Solomon makes the roots and realities of wisdom even clearer. In verse 10 he writes, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Wisdom, Solomon writes, allows peoples' days "to be many," with rewards flowing from it. In the end, it's a simple concept: the best way to live is God's way; the best morals to follow flow from God. Good choices yield the best possible life; bad choices can usher in chaos. 

From does your wisdom flow?