by David Scott Robertson
So you want to be a wise guy, huh? So do I. Who in their right mind doesn’t want to think clearly, speak well, and act with wisdom?
OK, then, how do we become wise? As I see it, there are at least seven basic and elementary facets of wisdom that we would do well to consider…
BUILDING BLOCK #1. FEAR GOD
(Prov 2:5 NIV) “then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”
Got it! Fear God. Then what? Next, add to fearing God…
BUILDING BLOCK #2. OBEY GOD
Solomon, whom the Bible plainly identifies as the wisest natural born man who ever lived,
Summed up his life experiences by concluding:
(Eccl 12:13 NIV) “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
OK, fear and obey God. What next? Thirdly, you’ll need to implement…
BUILDING BLOCK #3. GET INTO GOD’S WORD AND ALLOW GOD’S WORD TO GET INTO YOU
The great mentor and apostle Paul told his protégé Timothy:
(2 Tim 3:15 NIV) “and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Another important ingredient for you becoming a wise person is…
BUILDING BLOCK #4. LIVE BY RIGHT PRIORITIES
This is what I call “living life in the right order.” Jesus taught us…
(Mat 6:33 NIV) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
To add to your wisdom, you must apply…
BUILDING BLOCK #5. DISCOVER HOW TO GIVE AND RECEIVE TRUE LOVE
(1 Cor 13:2 NIV) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
(Luke 10:27 NIV) He [Jesus] answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
The truth here is so plain it is startling! Without love, we are nothing and anything we accomplish apart from love is worthless. And unless we are loving God and loving one another, we are living foolish, misguided lives.
Another elementary but foundational building block in your wisdom is…
BUILDING BLOCK #6. SIMPLY ASK GOD FOR WISDOM
Our Holy Spirit Owner’s Manual, the Bible, plainly teaches…
(James 1:5 NIV) “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Well, aspiring wise man or wise woman, there you have it - the six building blocks of wisdom. A prescription for being biblically wise instead of worldly smart.
1. Fear God.
2. Obey His commandments.
3. Study His Word, the Bible.
4. Seek His face, first.
5. Love Him, love His people.
6. Ask for wisdom.
What a minute. The title of this thought is “The Seven Building Blocks of Wisdom.” I guess I need to include one more. Oh yeah, no foundation of wisdom would be complete without…
BUILDING BLOCK #7. LEARN TO TAKE A REBUKE WITHOUT GETTING OFFENDED
(Psa 141:5 NIV) “Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it….”
That’s right - take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. Get corrected and not leave the church. Get chastised by a leader and not quit your ministry. Realize that wisdom won’t die with you. Understand that you don’t have a monopoly on doing things right. Considering that it is possible that your way might actually be the wrong way. Concentrate on remaining teachable, trainable, moldable, and shapeable.
To be a wise person, you must accept the fact that God can and will speak through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, friends, neighbors, ushers, greeters, and (you can fill-in-the-blank) to teach, rebuke, correct, and train you in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). This last step is of major importance because so many fail to obtain godly wisdom by omitting this important component.
Some mistakenly think that by filling their minds with Bible facts and knowledge that this somehow qualifies them for biblical wisdom. Not necessarily. For as Paul told the church at Corinth:
“…We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
Remember the Bible text I submitted to you for this point?
(Psa 141:5 NIV) “Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it….”
It is very important that we learn to accept a rebuke with the greatest of ease; to gracefully allow correction to become our valued ally.
Did you know that all your opinions aren’t right? Were you aware that just because you think it is so doesn’t necessarily make it so?
Sometimes we really are on the wrong course and we need somebody to love us enough to confront us, and correct us and serve as a roadblock on our pathway to failure that they can see and we cannot – or will not.
(Prov 27:6 NIV) “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
True friends will tell you the truth, friend. And never forget that “…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:24 NIV). And our friendly Savior chastises and disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:12).
(Prov 4:7 KJV) “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” But please understand this…
(Psa 84:11 KJV) “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
And sometimes the “good thing,” the best thing, is to be struck, disciplined, or punished by a righteous man.
I’ll quote it one more time for emphasis:
(Psa 141:5 NIV) “Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it…”
DSR
2/10/03