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Day 6

Pastor Jane Cummings

Topic: Wisdom

Scripture Reference: Proverbs 8:22–29

Devotional:

Wisdom. What a gift that God has given to us. Wisdom is the kind of gift that God encourages us to ask Him for, that we might know Him better and walk in His ways. Wisdom is more than knowledge, for knowledge can puff us up and give us a false sense of independence from God. In fact, in the very beginning of creation, it was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that tempted Adam and Eve to choose a life of independence from God in their decision making. Knowledge only means that we accumulate information and then process it through the filter of our own experience and desires. But in our fallen, sinful state, knowledge can deceive us, just as it did in the garden.

The apostle Paul states that, “. . .’all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV). We live in a world that has more knowledge available to us than ever before. In fact, most of the world’s knowledge is available to us, literally at our fingertips through the internet and our smartphones. Yet, look at the world and how broken it is. Look at our lives and take stock of what knowledge alone has done to us.

But wisdom is different. Wisdom is higher than mere knowledge alone. Where knowledge concerns itself with facts, wisdom is rooted in truth and purpose. It was wisdom that the writer of Proverbs highlights in our reading today as present with God when He created the world we live in.

Wisdom is walking in understanding that comes as a gift from God to hungry people whose hearts are set on knowing Him and drawing closer to Him than mere facts or knowledge will allow. Proverbs 8:1–6 says,

Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. (NLT)

We can hear the passionate invitation of God to pursue His gift of wisdom that He gives in an all-out pursuit of Him through His Word and Spirit. It makes me think of the lengths we will go to at the invitation to meet someone famous. We would take the whole day off, plan out what we would wear, cancel all other plans and probably show up early, looking for the arrival of the celebrity or someone we hold in high regard. It would not be at all how we treat the mundane and familiar.

Are we treating the invitation to gain wisdom with the zeal that we should? If we do, God promises that the pursuit of wisdom will result in finding more of Him.

God, today, I want to go after all that You have waiting for me. I choose to embrace the building blocks of a life of purpose and truth. I want to know You and grow in wisdom.