Cultivating wisdom

  Wisdom is "more precious than rubies," according to Proverbs 3:15. "Nothing you desire can compare with her." Wisdom is also compared to "a tree of life (3:18)," protection, and a guard (4:6). "Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do..." (4:7). But wisdom does not come with our genes like intelligence or personality. We aren't predisposed to be wise. It's not the same as book knowledge. Wisdom must be pursued.

  A gardener knows that to harvest root crops, such as potatoes, you must dig a little. Sometimes you need to get down on your knees and sift through a lot of dirt to find these jewels. It's the same with wisdom. You must search for it like you search for a precious treasure. And once you find it, there's work to do. You must live it out in the choices you make each day.

  God promises wisdom to those who search for it. Proverbs 3:6 says "Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." With wisdom as your guide, you know that "...the Lord is your security..." (3:26) whatever happens. "You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. You need not be afraid ..." (3:24).

  Wisdom is found in God's word. So is the way to wisdom. King Solomon warns us in the book of Ecclesiastes that "apart from God" life is meaningless. Solomon knows from experience. He was the wisest and the richest man who ever lived-"the man who truly had everything."

  But toward the end of King Solomon's life, he realized that the relationships he formed without God were a mess. He saw that the work he did apart from God brought no fulfillment. The profitable vineyards and elaborate gardens he built meant absolutely nothing to him unless he viewed them as a gift from the Creator.

  When Solomon finally realized that without God life was meaningless, he came back to what mattered: a relationship with God. Solomon also tells us that living wisely is not always pain-free. "For the greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow" (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

  Investigate the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament to learn more. The New Living Translation is an excellent resource that is easy to read and understand.

Verses and quotes on wisdom

Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.
--Ecclesiastes 7:4

Whoever finds me (wisdom), finds life and wins approval from the Lord.
--Ecclesiastes 8:35

Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.... Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don't' get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
--Ecclesiastes 4:25-27

THE SECOND TEN COMMANDMENTS
Author unknown
Submitted by Judy in Canada

• You shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

• You shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

• You shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.

• You shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.

• You shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.

• You shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you can.

• You shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill; it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now.

• You shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do.

• You shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.

• You shall count your blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one.