Growing in Wisdom
For long, we have celebrated Proverbs 4:7 - “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” However, you must also understand that to enjoy God’s divine guidance and lifting, we must GROW IN WISDOM! Jesus became great and did great works because He kept increasing in wisdom by depending on God for direction [Mark 6:2, John 5:30]. Great works is the product of Great Wisdom!
What is Wisdom? Wisdom is the correct application of God’s word. The ability to use our experiences and the knowledge we have gained to make righteous decisions and perform the right actions. True wisdom can only come from God. “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). There are many ways to grow in wisdom, below are just five of them.
1. Have reverence for the Lord.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Wisdom and understanding is very important; but even good wisdom that is void of God’s leading can become a snare. To grow in wisdom; we need to humble ourselves; acknowledging that the Creator of the Universe is a lot smarter than we are and avoid relying only on our own knowledge and understanding.
2. Seek wisdom.
“For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” Ecclesiastes 7:12
Wisdom isn’t just for those super smart and highly gifted people. No. God makes it available for all of His children who desire and pursue it! Your wisdom level will determine your standing, success, security, and status in life. Spend your time learning about what truly matters…Remember; yesterday’s excellence is today’s mediocrity and today’s excellence is tomorrow‘s mediocrity. God’s plan for you is that you should be an eternal excellence and the joy of many generations. This will require that you never stay stagnant in your quest for wisdom. Proverbs 2:2-6
3. Read Your Bible.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
We can gain incredible wisdom from daily Bible reading. The word of God gives us direct access into the mind of God. We shouldn’t take this source of wisdom for granted but daily ask God to open our hearts and minds to the rich storehouse of knowledge that He created for us. When we neglect the manual for Life, then it’s easy for us to lose our bearing. The word of God is full of directions.
4. Learn from your trials.
“My son; do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction. For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.” Proverbs 3:11-13
We also grow in wisdom through the experiences we go through in life. In order to grow in wisdom, we must know and understand the importance discipline. When we’re chastened, God is refining us and helping us to follow Him and walk in His ways. Trials, tribulations, mistakes and discipline can sometimes be painful; but it will be of more gain to us if we learn fast from it and not repeat it again, because learning from our mistakes is equivalent to wisdom. Hebrews 12:11
5. Just Ask!
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:9-10
To grow in wisdom; we’ve got to grow in knowledge, and not just any knowledge but the knowledge of God and spiritual understanding. God is not looking to hold back anything from us, so ask (pray) that God will open your spiritual eyes and ears, and fill you with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom.