How do I become wise?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7
Psalm 1:7 is the theme for the entire book of Proverbs.
Wisdom in the Bible is the ability to practically live out God’s truths in a way that brings health you, your family, and your community.
Biblical wisdom always manifests itself in action. Joshua’s wisdom empowered him to lead the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 34:9), Ezra’s wisdom enabled him to administrate a community (Ezra 7:25). By wisdom, Daniel lived ethically in exile among enemies (Daniel 1:4).
Fear is not the opposite of love. Fear and love are frequently lodged in the same verse (Psalm 103:13; 33:18; 103:11). The crucial question is what we should do when we fear someone. The biblical answer is to obey (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10).
As with wisdom, fear of the LORD brings practical and spiritual benefits: Friendship of the LORD (Psalm 25:14); Fearlessness (Deuteronomy 3:22); Comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31); Holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1); Health (Proverbs 10:27; 14:27); Praise for God (Psalm 22:23, 25; 40:3; Revelation 19:5; Psalm 34:7-9).
Solomon, the author of Proverbs, was the wisest man to ever live. Jesus was wisdom itself.
