No one can dispute the need for wisdom in today’s world. Who doesn’t need it? Needing wisdom, however, isn’t new to our generation or to the times in which we now live. God provided an entire book of the Bible, Proverbs, written for the purpose of “gaining wisdom and understanding” which begins with a process for acquiring the wisdom we so desperately need.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance … (Prov. 1:1-5)
Process for Acquiring the Wisdom Needed
Take a closer look at Proverbs 1:1-5 and you’ll find a process for acquiring wisdom that we would do well to follow.
1) Instruction: to know
We will not know how to walk in wisdom without instruction.
2) Insight: to discern
We must get to the root of issues, looking beyond the obvious.
3) Implication: to be prudent
We must go beyond mental discernment, however, to seeing the practical use of truth in our daily life situations and relations.
4) Implementation: to be disciplined
We must actually plan how to realistically apply this good judgment to situations with which we must deal in life.
5) Intake: to add to your learning
We must realize that we will never stop learning, that there is always something new to take in.
Knowing what to do is usually the easy part. Figuring out how to apply it to specific situations and then doing it is where wisdom really comes in.
Starting Point in Our Acquisition of Wisdom
The wisdom we need must begin with God. Otherwise we’ll simply have human wisdom which so often fails us.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Prov. 1:7)
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Prov. 2:6)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
If we don’t start on the right foundation, we might build a structure that seems to make sense but won’t be able to withstand the strong winds of adversity (Matt. 7:24-27).
The Walk the Walk in Wisdom Devotional Study Guide pulls on verses from the book of Proverbs, using the first four “I’s of Wisdom” as a pattern in each of the 30 devotions. It comes with the prayer that you will then continue to add to your learning (the fifth “I”, intake) to keep growing in your walk as a result.