My husband and I played a game called Wisdom of Solomon last night. The rules state that the wisest player is to go first. Since it may not be wise to debate who is the wisest between you and your spouse, I opted to roll a die instead. But, this has me thinking, what makes one wise? Let's take a lesson from the wisest man in history and the inspiration for our game, King Solomon.
The word "wise" appears 66 times in the book of Proverbs, the word "wisdom" another 54 times. I'm not going to talk about all of those, but we are going to glean from them some key insights as to what we should do to cultivate wisdom in ourselves.
1. Listen before you speak
This might be the most obvious, but Proverbs has a lot to say about the wisdom of listening before we voice our thoughts. How many arguments could we avoid if we would really listen to what the other person is saying and take the time to understand their point of view before jumping to conclusions? When we do speak, we should speak from a place of love and understanding where the other person is coming from .
Key verses:
Pro 10:19 - In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Pro 12:18 - There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Pro 14:3 - In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Pro 15:2 - The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Pro 17:28 - Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Pro 29:11 - A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
2. Be correctable
It can be a battle to keep our pride in check and receive correction and instruction, but the fact is, sometimes we are wrong, or sometimes we just don't know the answer. It is wise to know when to admit that, accept it, and adjust accordingly.
Key verses:
Pro 8:33 - Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 9:9 - Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Pro 10:8 - The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Pro 10:14 - Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Pro 13:1 - A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Pro 15:31 - The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
Pro 19:20 - Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Pro 21:11 - When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Pro 22:17 - Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
3. Be diligent
Giving up is so easy, but according to Proverbs the wise will persevere. If we are to be successful in life, we're going to need to stick with some things and see them through.
Key verses:
Pro 6:6 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Pro 10:5 - He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Pro 14:1 - Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
4. Seek the best for others
Wisdom isn't a hoarder. Share the joy you have in Christ with others, not out of pride or a need to be right, but out of love and a desire for their greatest good.
Pro 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Pro 25:12 - As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Pro 29:8 - Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
5. Seek counsel
If we shut the counsel of others out we are in danger of creating our own doctrine within our own four walls. Without checks and balances it is very easy to be wise in our own eyes. The fact is, sometimes we are the last ones to see our own faults, let alone know how to correct them. The wise will seek counsel from those they respect and can trust to give a hard but honest opinion. Without this, we will not grow.
Pro 1:5 - A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Pro 13:20 - He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Pro 15:12 - A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Pro 18:15 - The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Pro 24:6 - For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Pro 26:12 - Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
As I was doing this study it occurred to me that all of these attributes of the wise have one thing in common: humility. Pride is the enemy of the wise and we need to keep a sharp eye out for it, because it is a subtle enemy indeed. I don't pretend to be the wisest of all- well, okay, sometimes I do pretend to be, but I don't presume to be. Sometimes my wisdom falls short, and at such times I'm grateful for the manifold wisdom of the proverbs.
I hope you found this week's 5 list encouraging as well. Until next time, have a blessed week.
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