Proverbs 18:15
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
In the KJV the word 'prudent' is used, which means, (according to Strong's No. 995): intelligent, discern, gain understanding of, diligently consider, pay close attention, investigate. Plus a few more definitive words given, but we'll start with these in this study.
Understanding what words mean is a one of the steps in being able to explain what the Bible tells us. The other is a saved and filled heart: saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and filled with God's Holy Spirit, who is described as the Spirit of God, or Wisdom personified. Godly Wisdom comes from God.
GODLY UNDERSTANDING
Daniel 1:17
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
2 Chronicles 26:5 (referring to King Uzziah)
And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
Godly Understanding comes from seeking God's Wisdom with fear, a reverence, of God. Fearing God is more advantageous to one's soul and life than fearing anything that people may do to us. It is not a fear of consequences, but a loving respectful fear.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
GODLY WISDOM IS GOD'S GIFT & INVALUABLE
Job 28:12-28
(12) But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
(13) Man knows not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
(14) The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
(15) It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
(16) It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
(17) The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
(18) No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
(19) The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
(20) From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
(21) Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
(22) Destruction (Hades) and death (those who have died without godly wisdom) say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. (heard a rumor, a report of [it, wisdom])
(23) But God understands its way, and He knows its place.
(24) For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
(25) When He gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,
(26) when He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
(27) then He saw it and declared it; He established it, and searched it out.
(28) And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Are we discerning Christians? Do we seek out, look for, the fear of the Lord that He may impart to us His Wisdom? Or are we too lazy, content to be barely saved, saved enough to attend church and/or become involved in church activities?
Do we understand the times in which we live? If it came to choosing life in Christ or life without Christ, would we be able to choose Christ knowing that this choice means death? This is Wisdom: making an informed decision to follow Jesus Christ all the way to the cross, into the garden?
John 8:28, 29 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
- Jesus lives His life in the Love of God in service to His Father.
- Jesus speaks to us what His Father speaks to Him.
- Jesus does what pleases God
ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
Proverbs 15:31
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
So just how do we acquire, get, this Godly Knowledge?
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Psalm 119:105
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Job 23:11
My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.
Psalm 119:157
Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil in the Lord is not in vain. (KJV)
The ESV reads like this: So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Are you smiling yet? I am. I have joy inside me and it is overflowing to the outside of me. I am being poured into and the Spirit is pouring out of me.
GODLY WISDOM
To acquire knowledge is to hear what the Lord God says to us in His Word through His Spirit. We must be willing to seek out God's face and submit to God's will, surrendering every aspect of our lives to His purpose. This is honoring God, this is blessing God. More than lip service or acts of kindness: it is a whole-hearted, God-fearing lifestyle. This is Godly Wisdom, too.
Godly Wisdom is given to the heart of the born-again believer, not the brain. It is with the heart that we believe. It is in the heart that Jesus Christ, The WORD of God, takes up residence. It is from the heart that Wisdom speaks. It is the heart that makes the decisions, so the heart must be filled with The WORD in order to make wise decisions.
The heart of the born-again believer makes sound decisions, but the heart of the foolish makes unwise decisions. God has given each of us the ability to choose. And He wants us to choose wisely, but we know that doesn't always happen. While we are in this world, we are tempted on every side to make wrong, unwise, decisions. But we don't have to stay in the consequences of those decisions, we can choose to make a decision to leave the unwise decision and seek out God's wisdom for our lives.
Lord, help me. Help me to lead a life that is pleasing to You. Help me to hear Your voice more clearly. Help me to see You in every decision I make and follow through in the doing of that decision. Lord, be my strength as I follow You. Give me Your wisdom that I may make decisions based on Your Word. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.
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