The Word of God teaches us Wisdom

God’s Word Brings Wisdom

The Scriptures tell us that genuine wisdom is one of the greatest treasures we could have.

“Profit that comes from wisdom is better than silver and even the finest gold. Wisdom is worth more than fine jewels. Nothing you desire has more value.”

(Proverb 3:14,15 ERV)

The benefits of wisdom are numerous, but the kind of wisdom that is the most important for us personally is mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:15

“You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were a child. These Scriptures are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. “

There is wisdom in yielding to God’s Fatherly counsel which comes to us in various forms in life, including through the Scriptures, through conscience, through our parents and instructors, and others. There is wisdom in respecting the LORD, the Creator and Judge. There is wisdom in trusting God and not ourselves for salvation. God’s Word is able to make us wise.

However God will not always make us wise against our will. People can hold onto their foolishness if they wish. That is why although the book of Proverbs teaches line after line of very wise principles for life, even the author of much of Proverbs, Solomon, did some very foolish things later in life by turning to idolatry. He himself forgot the principle of the fear of the Lord, which is both the beginning of wisdom and the path of wisdom. The Word of God invites us to look for wisdom, to assume that we need it, and that we don’t have it independently. But the degree to which the Word will produce wisdom in us depends also on what kind of heart response and attitude we take to the Word. To the extent that we are proud, rebellious or hard-hearted, to that extent we will reject true wisdom which is offered to us. If we take to heart the warnings and promises of Scripture, we will humble ourselves and receive wisdom. As the Proverbs say:

“When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.”
(Proverbs 11:2)

The Book of Proverbs teaches us again and again to seek relevant knowledge and wisdom, to control our tongue, to accept correction, to work hard and to be generous to the poor.

The wisdom that leads to salvation is that wisdom which leads us not to trust in our own righteousness, nor to be indifferent to our own state, but to cry out to the Lord Jesus who alone can save from the power, curse and guilt of sin. If you are not sure if you have done that yet, I urge you to do it right now, and then tell someone you did!

Keep listening to the Word of God. If you listen with an open heart you will increase in wisdom.

God’s Word Keeps Us from Sin

I mentioned earlier the verse in Psalm 119:11

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

Memorising and meditating on God’s Word is a powerful protection against the allurements of sin. In verse 9 it says:

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”

The Word both cleanses us and keeps us from the power of sin.

God’s Word Reveals God’s Character

Jesus said to the apostle Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” in John 14:9, and so the revelation the Scripture gives us of the nature of Jesus Christ is a perfect revelation of the nature of God the Father.

We see in Jesus that God is a God of love, a God concerned for the poor, a God of both justice and mercy, a faithful God, a healing God, a forgiving God. We see so much of God’s character in Jesus, in the writings of Moses and the Prophets, in the history of Israel – in fact, in every part of the Bible.

The revelation of the character of God is one of the greatest and valuable treasures we can carry in our hearts. It is our greatest source of comfort and security if we are in Christ.

It is so important if we are worshiping God that we worship in Spirit and Truth. It is God’s Word which enables us to know whom we worship, and to worship in truth.