What Can We Learn from One of the Wisest Men on Earth?

To seek and acquire wisdom seems to be a lost art in our technology-laden world. Why spend the time, seeking, gathering, learning, absorbing, internalizing and applying wisdom when you can simply Google it and be told what something means? Why invest time and effort into trying to become a “wise person” when most of your friends and family are likely to disagree with such “wisdom” anyway? Face it, acquiring “godly wisdom” spells social media disaster! While this may be true, we need to step back for a moment and consider some things. While social media may rule the day, godly wisdom is timeless. It never changes, never diminishes and never loses its potency. It is always right and inevitably brings, supports and enhances life. Our first “words of wisdom” for today are: choose that which is eternal! What an amazing gift from God! The Bible tells us that King Solomon prayed for wisdom and that God answered his prayer. The way in which God answered that prayer is what gets our attention. 1 Kings 4:29 tells us, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.” This is impressive. For Solomon to be given wisdom tells us he perceived and understood the deep things of life. To be given discernment speaks to his ability to apply that which he perceived. And to be given “breadth of mind like the sand of the seashore” shows us that his wisdom was not confined to certain specialty areas of life. What an amazing gift from God! Equally amazing is what Solomon did with this gift. He shared it. He made it clear that no matter who you are or what stage of life you are in, the wisdom that comes from reverencing God can and will change your life - if you let it. The book of Proverbs is a collection of many of his writings. It begins by welcoming any and all to listen to and apply the power of godly wisdom. It specifies that even if you are young and naïve, wisdom can and will change your life if you allow it to. Proverbs Chapters 1-9 The first nine chapter of Proverbs are a practical and orderly treatise on the "what," "why" and "how" of wisdom. Many of these chapters begin with Solomon tenderly beckoning his son to listen to and remember his words of wisdom. He pleads with his son to wear the virtues of wisdom wherever he goes, and thereby be protected from the many temptations of life. Check out our August 29, 2022 podcast, “What Can We Learn From One of the Wisest Men on Earth?” for more. We overview these first nine chapters and draw out many pearls of wisdom. We observe Solomon’s descriptions of how and where wisdom shows itself. Wisdom can keep us from many kinds of sins, and we delve into many blunt examples. Don’t miss this breathtaking, profound and mind-altering snapshot of the wisdom of Solomon!