Wisdom Starts

Proverbs 4:7-8 

7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

Teacher’s Day

Last Week, many individuals remembered and greeted their teachers, “Happy Teacher’s Day!” Some teachers wrote articles how their teachers inspired them to pursue a career as teachers. Others specifically mentioned names of teachers they wanted to greet. If you have completed all requirements and graduated in Bachelor of Education, but work as fisherman do you consider yourself as teacher or fisherman?

Head knowledge is useful but collecting certificates is not the end of it; if you apply what you’ve learned and be productive, that is when wisdom is functional. Just like many people say, “Action speaks louder than word.” Practically, wisdom produces tangible results.  Wisdom revealed in productive action is far better than uttered words.

Pertaining to Jesus Christ, it says John 1:1-3, 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Apostle Paul reiterated about Christ in Colossians 1:16, 16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Jesus Christ our creator is God the Word in the human form. God the Word is powerful wisdom; whatever he says happens accordingly. Can you accept that?

How do you personally interpret what it also declares in 1 Corinthians 1:24 & 30? 24To those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God… 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Reflect and be prayerful: When Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God created all things in heaven and on earth, it practically exhibited and proved what he can do beyond human imagination. Have you personally proven that Christ Jesus the power of God has become for us wisdom from God? It’s by faith, right?

Jesus Christ the wisdom of God functions productively in us when we prioritize him.

1.  Prioritize

7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Other respected Bible version states that wisdom is supreme, principal or chief.

The immediate perception when it commanded us to get wisdom is to prioritize wisdom; that is, if we accept that wisdom is supreme and first of all things. What is this supreme wisdom that we should prioritize? Have you interpreted that to prioritize this supreme wisdom, we prioritize Christ the wisdom of God as Lord in all aspect of our life?

When it commanded, “Though it cost all you have, get understanding,” wisdom is far more valuable than all everything we have, including our wealth, health and our life. If wisdom costs all we have, just to get understanding, we need great faith to believe it.

Truly, if it’s godly command that requires godly effort, faith shouldn’t be absent.

Faith in God and wisdom from God are always together. Faith in God is practically proven when we obey him. We obey him because Christ the wisdom of God inspires us.

Rush Hour

During rush hours, traffic flow is slower than designated maximum speed limits. If maximum speed limit is 60kph but traffic flow is slower or the vehicle ahead of you is moving slower than the assigned maximum speed limit, it is foolishness to insist on driving at 60kph. Slow traffic flow during rush hours practically proves lack of wisdom.

If you drive on the same road going to your work, and you avoid rush hours driving, you’ve got wisdom.

How do you personally interpret what Isaiah 53:4-6 says? 4Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

When drivers know that they get caught in traffic jam but still insist on driving to work during rush hours, [that] is a limitation of human mindset. Human limitation is substandard when compared to the glorious standards of godly righteousness.

This is when faith in Christ comes in: faith expressed in wisdom is not idle; it is productive. If we cherish wisdom and embrace her, she’ll honor, exalt and promote us.

2.  Promote

8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

Wisdom is described as “she” or feminine. Wisdom reproduces productively and not idle. To cherish wisdom is to love and prioritize wisdom, and she will exalt you. The term “exalt” is also interpreted as “promote.” To be exalted is to be promoted to a level higher than the current status. Wisdom transforms us better than we expected.

Wisdom results to productivity; productivity is fair basis for promotion. In school, commendations, citations and honors are given to deserving students with high grades.

Valedictorian

There was a TV show that featured an exceptional child. He was very excited and told his parents that he is the Valedictorian in their class. At the graduation rite, the child was called to give his valedictory address. His parents were so proud. After his speech, another valedictorian was called to say something; then another valedictorian was called to give his speech. Actually, all students were honored as valedictorians.

It was a comedy show but, it is also a mockery of the real meaning of the word “Valedictorian.” Originally, the term “Valedictorian” was an honor given to deserving student with highest rank academically. The TV show was practical example that human standard is very flexible, and that there’s no fix or permanent set of human standards. Word meaning has been changed according to interpretation of different generation.

In comparison, God and his glorious standard will never change. It is by faith that we adhere and acknowledge what it says in Romans 3:10ff, 10There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one… 23All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

How could humanity not sin against God when it describes in Galatians 5:19-21, 19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

With human effort, we’ll never reach the glorious standard of God. By his grace, we recognize our limitation that causes us to sin; Christ the wisdom of God transforms us, and we repent of our sins. When God forgives us, he honors, exalts and promotes us from human level of wickedness to godly and glorious standard of his righteousness.

How do you interpret Galatians 5:22-23? 22The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

It’s favorable for us when the Holy Spirit of God is actively performing in our life. So, we love him. Love for God is practically displayed when we obey him. We obey God with joyful peace not grudgingly. Patiently, we show goodness, kindness and gentleness to others as faithful service to God. And when situation don’t agree with our personal expectation, we have self-control, and so, we won’t complain when difficulties arise.

Therefore, to get wisdom and understanding at all cost, we need stronger faith to accept that wisdom is supreme. Without faith, wisdom is ignored. Prioritizing wisdom is just the beginning of wisdom. If wisdom is not prioritized, foolishness prevails. Productive faith causes us to cherish and embrace wisdom; and, she’ll promote, exalt and honor us.

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