Bible Thoughts

August 18, 2002

The creation is a marvelous work of the Almighty God. Only a Divine Being could have brought into existence our universe. He had only to speak, for the power of creating something from nothing could only come from someone greater than man. The wisdom of God is seen in how our earth functions(in spite of some efforts of men to disrupt it). When the sun shines and the rain comes and the flowers bloom, the evidence of God's wisdom is seen in our world.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..."(Psalm 111:10).

The first element in acquiring the proper kind of wisdom, is to respect the Creator of all mankind. We fear him because he is God. This fear is not the type that one has when scared of someone or something. It is a reverential respect for the Lord and His ways. When the seeker of truth has this fear, he is acquiring knowledge. Or, as the Psalmist pointed out, "fear of the Lord" is where one starts to acquire the proper wisdom.

"For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her"(Proverbs 8:11).

Men tend to value those material items in this life. To acquire jewels and other treasures, great sacrifices are made by a host of those who live upon the earth. Men have searched throughout their lives, some even giving up their lives, in order to accumulate the wealth of this world. Solomon had everything that men could obtain in the terms of treasures this life offers, but he knew that such pursuits were "vanity." The most valuable pursuit of any human is to seek the truth through the wisdom of God that is revealed in the Word of God. Far greater is the knowledge that comes from the Bible than all of the books written by men. While the scriptures do not claim to teach one about many material pursuits, the instructions include how we are to value the things of this life. Jesus emphasized that one is to "seek first His kingdom and his righteousness"(Matthew 6:33).

"How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding"(Proverbs 3:13).

The word blessed can also be translated happy. The writer is pointing out that wisdom that comes from God can make one happy. Further, that which comes from the Lord assists one in gaining "understanding." As one becomes wise in the ways of God, he has an understanding of his responsibilities to the Almighty and will be blessed by the Lord not only in this life, but will receive the happiness of a life in Heaven. Those who refuse His will and neglect the commandments of wisdom therein, will be rejecting the blessedness that comes from the Creator of mankind.

"The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice"(Psalm 37:30).

The speech of the individual identifies the interests and the personality of the one who is speaking. Words and ideas that encourage and assist others come forth from the mouths of those who please Jehovah. The same mouth will speak about justice in the treatment of others. Do you want to know how one is to speak? Listen to the words of those who are living a life of righteousness. Their speech builds up; it does not tear down. Integrity and fairness are appropriate words to describe "the mouth of the righteous."

"...there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man" (Ecclesiastes 9:15).

The world honors the rich and famous. God recognizes those who contribute to the welfare of mankind. The poor man was wise and used his wisdom to save the city. Yet, his name is not given and he is not honored by the sages of this world. The simple acts that are performed by Christians may not be recognized by this generation, but God knows about them. He is aware of the wisdom of a disciple of Christ and will give due recognition to such a one in the day of judgment. What you are doing for the cause of Christ may not be acknowledged by others, even close friends, but God is aware of the caring life of a disciple of the Master. This is what counts!

"...Wisdom is better than strength...Wisdom is better than weapons of war"(Ecclesiastes 9:16, 18).

How different are the ways of men from the ways of God. The Lord offers wisdom that is better than the strength found in this life. He offers wisdom that is better than fighting and conflict. When one has used his strength and it is no longer present in the body, what has been accomplished? When men hurt and kill each other, what has been accomplished? When men use the mental capabilities given to them by Jehovah, in a sincere heart, problems will be solved without the many conflicts that arise among men. Why do they refuse to listen?

"...and behold, a greater than Solomon is here"(Luke 11:31).

In all of his wisdom, Solomon could not begin to measure up to the wisdom of Jesus Christ. Solomon was a man; Jesus was God come in the flesh. His wisdom would offer salvation to those who are willing to accept His truth and obey His will. Solomon's knowledge was great, but it was not infallible(except when he was inspired by God). Solomon made mistakes; Jesus did not! The Christian recognizes that the knowledge of Solomon can be profitable in understanding the experiences of this life. The Lord offers knowledge that will save one in eternity. Solomon had the Law of Moses; those who live today have the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth"(Proverbs 4:5).

God made it possible for Solomon to be the wisest of mortals. His life was not perfect for he made some serious mistakes. The experiences of this king can encourage each of us to acquire and apply the wisdom of Jehovah to our lives, our habits, our speech, our dealings with men, and most of all, our respect for the Lord and His way. While we are seeking the wisdom of this world in order to succeed in this life, do not forget that there is a next life. This life offers the opportunities to acquire the wisdom from God that will save us in eternity. What kind of wisdom are you seeking?