Today’s Reading, Proverbs 1-3
Focal Scripture: Proverbs 3:13 “Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding,”
We all should be in a pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom is not just knowledge it is understanding. It is the ability to know what is right and how to apply that truth in ways that make sense. I have to say I have had several men in my life that were not just smart but wise. They knew what to do and how to do it in ways that often left me in awe. For instance one pastor I worked with could correct people and they thanked him for the correction, even when he had to be very upfront with them. He knew what to say and how to say it and that only comes from wisdom.
In today’s reading we see that a person is happy when they have wisdom. However, wisdom is not the final destination it should lead to happiness and understanding. It should lead to a way on how to apply that wisdom. The writer here is making it clear that you can have all the smarts you want but if it’s not grounded and understood it’s pointless. Wisdom that just benefits you is selfish and shows a lack of understanding.
I know personally I am trying to become wise. I fail more often than I succeed. I am on a pursuit of knowledge that can help me but ultimately help others know God better. My hearts desire is to be wise so I can clearly and effectively communicate God’s word to adults and teenagers. To do that means I have to constantly be a learner and open to being teachable.
In my pursuit of knowledge I have had many supporters. I have also had a few detractors. There is one person in my life that makes comments about my education and my pursuit of knowledge. They get annoyed sometimes in conversation because I bring up statistics or biblical depth I have acquired. They have even said to me “Teenagers don’t need all of that, they just need basics.”
On one hand I understand where they are coming from. Christianity shouldn’t be complicated. However, if we don’t go deep with our teenagers someone will. Whether it be sports, school, or the world. Teenagers desire and long for depth. We have seen decades of simple church and the effects it has had on church culture. Now students are starving for depth and nobody wants to give it to them.
So my challenge for everyone today is to become wise but also become practical in that wisdom. Don’t let people distract you from pursuing wisdom. Be passionate about truth and desire understanding. It makes a world of difference in depth of relationships. Be wise and know how to explain it to others.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Proverbs 4-6
