Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Got Wisdom? II

We can learn much about wisdom not just in Proverbs but throughout the entire Bible. Each page, from Genesis through Revelation, is filled with wisdom, examples of those who were wise and those who were not. There is much for us to learn from those who did not walk in the way of wisdom and from those who were wise but failed to continue to put it all into practice and walk in obedience to God.

Solomon. The wisest man who ever lived. God blessed him with so much more than wisdom. In Second Chronicles 1:12 God says, "...And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." It is very sad however to read further on about King Solomon. Yes, he possessed great wisdom but somehow he failed to practice what he preached and that brought him to a very low state in his later years. King Solomon allowed the other blessings God showered on him to go to his head and lead him astray.

Ecclesiastes 1:16-17 "I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who had ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge. Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly..."

Ecclesiastes 2:10 "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure...everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind..."

There it is, Solomon seemed to have left wisdom behind and caved into any and all desires of the flesh that he could find. This is heartbreaking, the man that God blessed in abundance with wisdom, knowledge, riches, and power took his eyes off the One who gave it to him and chose the desires of the flesh which are meaningless and only temporary in satisfaction.

There is much for us to glean from the life of Solomon. We are truly blessed to have Solomon's book of wisdom, the Proverbs, but we have to remember the example of his life as well. If you and I possess wisdom and understanding but fail to daily walk in obedience, we will also fall into seeking temporary pleasures of the flesh that will lead to our downfall.

After all was said and done in Solomon's life, after all his pleasure seeking, he concluded:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil."

My prayer for you and for me is that we will seek wisdom.

James 1:5 "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."

But also that we would always put it into practice and never take our eyes off the One who gives it.

Matthew 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Hosea 14:9 "Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."

Mary Ann

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 35 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of two grandsons. She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

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