The Best: Part 1Uzorak

Prayer: Lord help me to see where I need to grow in my understanding in how to navigate the complexities of life. Help me grow to be wise so I can honor you with my life. 

We Need Wisdom!

Several years ago I was walking with a friend into an office building. The large urban city was full of skyscrapers and many buildings with automatic sliding glass doors. As we were talking, I did not notice that the doors in front of me failed to open. I walked full speed into the glass and fell to the ground. I hit the glass so hard with my face that the door shook and came off its tracks. To add insult to injury, many people stopped and looked on as I picked myself off the floor and re-entered the building. 

Unfortunately, that was not the last glass wall my face has had the displeasure of meeting. In fact, the older I get, the more glass I discover. Life brings endless complexities in the form of glass walls. We encounter complexities in relationships, friendships, work, finances, and more. Into the complexities of life I often find myself wondering, “how do I navigate these situations well and avoid a smashed face?” 

In life’s dilemmas we need more than information; we need wisdom. The Old Testament actually provides a curated collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs gives skill in how to navigate the complexities of life. Proverbs provides truisms, but not promises. It gives guidance in how to live, even though it does not guarantee results. However, if we listen and learn how to apply the wisdom of Proverbs, we can know how to navigate life more effectively according to God’s design. In effect, we can hit fewer glass walls and ultimately live a life that honors God with each step. 

Questions to ask yourself:

1. What glass walls have I run into recently? Am I having bad relational run-ins, financial frustrations or work regrets?
2. Are these difficulties caused by my inability to respond wisely to complex situations? Why or why not?
3. Does God provide any wisdom to help me navigate these situations better?

What’s next?

1. Write out the areas of life you would like to have more wisdom in how to navigate. Are these the areas where God desires you to have more wisdom? 
2. Read the following passages and see where God would like us to start in our search for Wisdom.