" Godly Wisdom "

We all like to believe that we are Wise, and we somehow believe that what we have experienced is good for another. Wisdom is the ability to see life from God's perspective and then to know the best course of action to take. Now I believe that most folks would agree that Wisdom is a valuable asset, but how can we acquire it? Proverbs 9:10 teaches that the fear of the Lord (Respect and Honor) is the beginning of Wisdom. I'm of the belief that Wisdom comes from knowing and trusting God; it is not merely the way to find God. Knowing God will lead to understanding and then to sharing this knowledge with others. Now in this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot it is a basic attitude that affects an aspect of life. The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord - to Honor and Respect God, to live in awe of his power, and to obey his word. Faith in God should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. Trust in God - he will make you truly Wise. LAST POINT: Do you consider the knowledge and experience of those elderly, those older and Wiser as a resource for Wisdom? I'm reminded of Simeon and Anna who were very old. They never lost their hope of seeing the Messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit, they were among the first to bear witness to Jesus. Now in the Jewish culture, elders were respected, so because of Simeon's and Anna's age their prophecies carried extra weight. Our society, however, values youthfulness over wisdom and potential contributions by the elderly are often ignored. Now, as Christians, we should reverse those values whenever we can. I once shared that we should encourage older folks to share their wisdom and experience. Listen carefully when they speak. Offer them your friendship and help them find ways to continue to serve God. Until Next Time... Jim,