This is the last instalment of this three-part series on wisdom. Tomorrow I will offer a contest based on this series where you can win five shares of . I hope you can participate in it!
Wisdom is one of my favourite topics and a treasure that I have been pursuing most of my life. This was by no means an attempt to say everything that can be said about wisdom and I hope to write here about it again. That said, I enjoyed your responses to my prompts. And I hope this piece will also evoke some interesting comments.
I want to share with you three ways to get wisdom or grow in wisdom but let's start with this point.
Wisdom is not a thing of the head, but of the heart.
Take look at these scriptures:
Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart; wisdom is not found among fools.
Pro 14:33 NLT
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.
Pro 2:10 NLT
You will always try to find wisdom through knowledge, intellect, study or experience while you think wisdom is a capacity of your brain. However, it is a capacity of your heart. According to the Bible, wisdom resides in your heart! Once you accept this, you will understand the three ways to get wisdom or grow in wisdom. Here they are.
1. Humility
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Pro 11:2 NLT
Humility will help you grow in wisdom. Someone filled with pride is decidedly unwise. Always! If you want wisdom, be humble. Wisdom is born and grows in a humble heart.
2. An eternal perspective on life
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Psa 90:12 NLT
The vast majority of the foolish or unwise choices we make comes from a lack of perspective on our lives. We would live our lives differently or with greater wisdom if we remembered how brief it is.
3. Wisdom is a gift
This is the most important point. I hope you will never forget this one! Wisdom is a gift in God's hand!
For the LORD grants wisdom! ...
Pro 2:6 NLT
And He wants to give it to you!
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Jas 1:5 NLT
I know you want more wisdom. We all do. It is my immense privilege to remind you that our primary source of wisdom is God. And that you should ask Him!
My definition
There are three words that seem to always be associated with any discussion of wisdom, in the Bible and elsewhere.
I would like to define wisdom in the following way.
Wisdom is the understanding and insight that helps you to see inside of knowledge and experience to apply it correctly.
or
Wisdom is your heart's ability to guide your intellect, your knowledge and your experience.
I pray that you will live with great wisdom. And that you will seek wisdom all your life, holding it dear like a treasure when you find it. Above all, I pray that you will not try to find wisdom in people or books or intelligence but that you will ask for and receive wisdom from God.
One last promise about wisdom before I let you go.
Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
Pro 9:11 NLT