Wisdom: Where to Find It

When I reflect on the individuals with whom I sought to be when I was in turmoil, I realize that these are people who, by biblical standards, were wise. They are people for whom I had, and still do have, great respect; I wanted to be these people. Rarely were they successful and influential by the world's standards, they weren't famous, but in God's economy, they were rich and were people who made significant difference in lives for all eternity.

The Queen of Sheba found herself seeking wisdom (I Kings 10:1-13). She'd heard about Solomon and even doubted he was "all that," but after trekking a great distance with an impressive entourage, the Queen discovered wisdom as a result of spending time with Solomon. What she heard and saw convinced her that wisdom is worth seeking. Proverbs 8:10-11 tells us that wisdom is what we should seek rather than the riches of precious metals and stones.

In James 3:17, the author tells us that God's wisdom is pure and that purity leads us to be peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, full of good fruits, impartial, and sincere. As a parent, or anyone living in this world, this kind of wisdom, yielding these results is certainly worth seeking. James 1:5 tells us to ask God for wisdom and that He will give it to us with abundance; yet we will only learn to be wise by depending upon God (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As the Queen of Sheba observed, the results of Solomon's God-given wisdom was a life of peace among his people and with his neighboring nations, a happy and prosperous people, and a recognition of his God.

Many of us attempt to navigate this life and parenting in our own wisdom. Rarely does this lead to the outcomes we most desire. Proverbs 14:12 puts into context what happens when we persist in "having it our own way": "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Those are very strong words; yet I can attest to the fact that when I have insisted in using my own wise thinking, I have always experienced some kind of "death."

We want the best for our children; many of us have the resources to purchase anything our children desire, including the "best" schools, the newest technology, the finest neighborhoods. Nothing is wrong with ensuring that our children are treated well, but as we seek to parent with God's wisdom, let's determine to focus on those things that will provide eternal good. As we learn to rely on God's direction and seek and obey His wisdom, we will experience the attributes of wisdom in our lives and in the lives of our children.

Just as the Queen of Sheba went to great lengths to find wisdom, we too must trust and rely daily on God for His direction, we must be faithful to apply His wisdom in all parts of our lives, and we must teach our children to seek God's wisdom. When we do these things, we and our families will know God's peace, provision, blessings, and favor.

Wisdom doesn't arrive on our doorstep, delivered by the UPS guy; it comes through daily experiences. Our Heavenly Father will give us the direction we need to make the right decisions and stand firm with peace that goes beyond our understanding (Phil. 4:7).

Heavenly Father, thank you for your wisdom. Thank you for going to great lengths to teach us to seek wisdom and to be wise according to your leading in our lives.

We pray for the desire to operate in your wisdom, to pray for wisdom daily, and to be obedient as you lead. Remind us, through your Holy Spirit, to lean on your understanding and not our own.

Thank you for being the One we can trust as we parent our children.





Source: The IVP New Testament Commentary Series