Proverbs: The Art of Wise LivingSample

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.— Proverbs 24:3–4

Reflection: Do you ever feel like wisdom just sits in the back of your head, unused like that old piece of furniture in your attic? How is it useful in the heat of the moment, when you’re in a confrontation with your spouse, when your child is rebelling, or when you’re in a conflict-heavy meeting at work?

There are different steps to gaining and using wisdom — knowledge comes before understanding, and understanding comes before application. And it can feel like a long — and maybe impossible — process taking a principle from your head to your heart to your actions.

So how do you do it? There are many ways to gain knowledge, the starting place of wisdom: reading the Bible, praying, consulting with a pastor or mentor, or accumulating more life experience.

When you learn something, think about how you can put it into practice. Maybe you learn how to show kindness in a difficult situation — write those things down and continue to recall them as you go throughout your days and weeks. That’s how you can build the house.

Next, think about how you can use that wisdom in smaller ways — then when it comes to that big argument and tricky family situation, you’ll remember the principle that you practiced. That’s how the house is established.

As you continue practicing and sharing that piece of wisdom, you’ll expand your knowledge, therefore filling your rooms with “rare and beautiful treasures.”

It’s like a path that gets slowly beaten down over time: the more it’s in your head, the more it’s engrained in your mind and can be reflected in your actions.

Prayer: Lord, I come to You wanting to learn. I hunger and thirst for Your teachings. Guide me in the ways of wisdom and remind me in those key moments when I need it most. Thank You for the instructions given in Your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.