Get wisdom

 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. Proverbs 4:5-6

Anyone who knows me knows that I talk, teach, and preach about the availability of wisdom to all who seek it and ask for it.  

According to the Oxford Dictionary, wisdom has to do with the soundness of an action or decision. Makes sense, right? Wisdom is when you make good choices, and I imagine that most of us could do a little more of that.  

But where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God because He is the author of all that is. He made it all, so He knows how everything that concerns us is supposed to work. Okay, but how do we get wisdom?

Here are three practical ways to get the wisdom that God says will preserve our life.

First, listen to God. God is the source of all wisdom. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. . .” Listening for the Lord’s wisdom happens when we spend time in His Word and quiet ourselves so we can hear the Holy Spirit. Leaning on our own wisdom will lead us astray but listening to God brings life. Can you imagine what jewels of wisdom we could receive this week by quieting ourself in His presence? 

Next, listen to wise people. When I think about the people I know in my life, there are several I consider to be wise. These people are gracious in their speech, thoughtful in their interactions with others, shrewd in how they handle difficult personal situations, calm in crisis, mature in their financial choices, loving, trustworthy, and they have a genuine relationship with Jesus. 

One wise man mentored me when I was in my twenties, and I learned from him just by spending time with him. Do you know someone who is wise? Reach out to them and ask them to spend time with you so you can learn from them, too. 

Listen to your circumstances. When I think about the past, I am grateful for what I have learned, not in spite of my failures, but because of them. My failure has been a good teacher to create greater wisdom in me. Without many painful experiences, I wouldn’t have grown, although I still have a lot to learn. 

That said, it’s not guaranteed that difficult circumstances will create wisdom in us. Instead, it’s listening to our difficult circumstances that create wisdom. Without looking back, our failures can produce little fruit. But when we reflect on what happened, they can prevent us from making the same mistakes again.  The person who does not learn is the person who is bound to repeat the same errors. But when we learn from the past, we can become more like Christ. 

Finally, do what you heard. Once you have listened to God, listened to wise people, and listened to your circumstances, it’s time to put into practice what you learned. When knowledge becomes action, that’s true wisdom. 

Maybe as you look back at your life, you see where you could have made some better, wiser choices. In closing, let me encourage you, wisdom is something we receive and grow into. It’s not something we have when we are born. 

Even Christ grew in wisdom. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” If you’re beating yourself up for “not getting it right the first time,” give yourself grace. Wisdom is something God wants to give His children and it’s something they grow in, just like Christ. 

Since God became man and felt the limitations of being human, He knows what it’s like to grow in wisdom too. 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).