Wise up!

A (very) brief summary of Proverbs 4: wisdom is the best. Without it, we're like someone who tears their house down (Proverbs 4:1), will 'believe anything' (Proverbs 4:15), and has no qualms about making rash decisions that don't honour God (Proverbs 4:16). Sounds like wisdom might be useful. As well as the big-scale relationship/financial/life changes decisions we make, we are faced with hundreds of 'smaller' courses of action every day: whether it's that link we shouldn't click, that impulse buy we didn't need, that drinking game our flatmates are playing. It's wisdom that gives us insight into what will help us build God-honouring and meaningful lives. Essentially, wisdom helps us to keep putting God (and then others) first, creating a solid foundation in life.

Is wisdom something we're left alone to learn ourselves? Do we have to make a few terrible decisions first before eventually narrowing down what we should do? Thankfully, this doesn't have to be the case. For Solomon, a pretty wise guy, wisdom was about admitting that handling life's situations is best done with God at the reins (1 Kings 3:9).

When we humble ourselves and admit we don't always know what's best, God will give us his wisdom to know which way to go.



So what now? In your journal, on a blank page, make two lists: one of what you want to learn and improve in yourself, and the other the people you'd really like to benefit from the wise choices you make.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you.' Proverbs 4:6 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

Gal 4-6, Matt 19:1-14, Ps 119:113-120 , Pro 18:10-12