Tag: Wisdom

Devotionals

Early Riser           

Loring Schultz

Read: Proverbs 8:12-36 KJV – I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find – Bible Gateway

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Proverbs 8:17 KJV

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Are you an early riser? You may ask, ‘well, it depends on what you mean by early.’ I get it. So, this is not to persuade you to get up before or at the crack of dawn. (Although I think that is best) It is for you to reserve your best, full alert, attentive, concentrated, quiet time for God whatever the time of day.

For Jesus, His best time to pray to His Father was in the pre-dawn hours. Observing the busy days Jesus had during the course of His ministry it is easy to see His best time was when no one else was around. This should be our goal as well. Whenever that time is convenient is when and where we should be looking to seek after God. Proverbs is a book of wisdom and wisdom is personalized and is speaking in Proverbs 8:17 when it says, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (kjv) Can we apply this verse to seeking after God? I think we can!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Pr.1:7 kjv) True wisdom comes when seeking after God with reverential fear or ‘awe’ of who He is. God Almighty is the source of wisdom. Wisdom says, “The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.” (Pr.8:22-23 nlt) The Lord God is the creator of everything. Wisdom comes through His mighty sovereign hands.

So, again my purpose is for each of us to find that secluded place which is the best uninterrupted time to seek after God through devoted prayer and time in His Word. You may also be surprised that a little bit of wisdom comes with it.

Devotionals

Repetitiveness of Proverbs       

Loring Schultz

“For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.” Proverbs 3:14 NLT

“My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!” Proverbs 8:19 NLT

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Did you ever wonder why so many verses in the book of Proverbs are often repeated. I have. My first thought was, obviously they’re important enough to be repeated. Along with that, some people don’t get it the first time, yours truly included, therefore the repetition. The book of Proverbs is an Old Testament book all about wisdom. Many subjects are repeated more than once indicating their importance. One such subject among the repetitive verses speak of the value of wisdom over money.

In Proverbs chapter 8, ‘wisdom’ is personified, a poetic device used to help us understand and relate, especially in contrasting ‘wisdom’ and ‘folly.’ Wisdom says that her gifts or fruit are better than gold. She produces higher wages than we can ever earn from a Fortune 500 company. It is true that wisdom helps and guides us into a position to make a nice living, but that is not the point here. The point here is simple, to have wisdom is to enjoy all the fruit, benefits, and wages it produces in our lives. It is more profitable than sliver and gold as described in Proverbs 3:14 above.

If you seek wisdom from its foundation in the “Fear of the LORD” (Pr.9:10 nlt) and follow its leading you will have all you need to function in life. Your assets no matter how much or how little will be better than gold along with the wisdom you have obtained from the Lord.

One final thought from ‘wisdom’, “Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.” (Pr.8:10-11 nlt)

A Christian Perspective

Wisdom for the asking    

Loring Schultz

Read: Proverbs 8:12-21 NLT – “I, Wisdom, live together with good – Bible Gateway

“Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. Proverbs 8:15-16 NLT

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We end our week of devotions from the wisdom book of Proverbs with ‘A Christian Perspective’ concerning the world’s leaders. Scripture is clear in more than a few verses that God does raises up the leaders of the world for His purposes. We may or may not agree with God’s choices depending where we find our home on this earth, but then we are disagreeing with God. We may not want to do that. So, what should we do? Pray for your leaders, and pray they ask for wisdom. It is there for the asking.

Throughout this week it was stressed that true wisdom is from God. It was also noted, “The fear (reverence) of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Pr.1:7 niv) This wisdom and knowledge is available to every President, Prime Minster, King, even a dictator if they truly desire it wanting to rule well, if they ask for it. Why then is there so much chaos in the world today? Obviously because most leaders don’t ask for God’s wisdom and why is that? The second half of Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” We would agree that there must be plenty of foolish leaders in the world today to be in the mess we are in. But it doesn’t need to be that way.

Our scripture verse today says, “Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. (Pr.8:15-16 nlt) By wisdom leaders rule and make just decisions for the laws in their countries. They have the help of God’s wisdom to judge justly in every circumstance. Our world needs God’s wisdom working through each world leader today to rule righteously and with justice. It is readily available. All they need to do is ask. It’s there for the asking.

Devotionals

Get Wisdom         

Loring Schultz

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 NIV

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The most important thing you can receive in this life is not wisdom; it is the Lord God. Having a relationship with God and accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as your personal savior is the only real thing that matters in this life. What you do you with Jesus in this life will determine your destiny after this life is over. It is vital, and it is urgent, because we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

So, where does wisdom place on the top ten list of most important things to receive in this life. I believe it’s number two. First, you can’t achieved wisdom without God. The wisdom book of Proverbs starts in chapter 1 by saying, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” (Pr.1:7 niv) The word ‘fear’ is not one of fright or terror, but a reverential awe of the Lord God Almighty. We recognize who He is as creator of the universe, who created us with a mind, soul, and spirit to have a relationship with Him, and we stand in awe. Any wisdom we obtain comes from God.

The Lord God has given all mankind the ability to think and reason as we are made in the image of a personal God. But wisdom and understanding are vastly different from the natural abilities that God has given everyone. All of us are born with a sin nature clouding our perspective and reasoning, especially accessing right from wrong. Some of the most brilliant educators, scientists, doctors, financers, mathematicians, poets, and all who have done great work in their fields of expertise lack true wisdom and knowledge that is only available in God. True wisdom and knowledge are only available when one knows God and is in awe of Him.

So, how do we get wisdom? ‘The fear of LORD is the beginning of knowledge.’

Devotionals

The Pathway to Life

Loring Schultz

“People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.” Proverbs 10:17 NLT

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So far this week our devotions have been taken from the wisdom of King Solomon in the book of Proverbs. The sayings of Solomon provide insight into the simple everyday things in life through the wisdom God instilled in him. Adhering to them when we come across his words will save us a lot of trouble. In fact, we may say his entire wisdom collection would be the pathway to life, and we would be correct. However, I would like to focus on one verse in particular today, Proverbs 10:17, “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.” (nlt)

Solomon is instructing us on the importance of discipline. In this verse he is not referring to the correction or discipline of children as in, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Pr.22:6 esv) Although their discipline is important, Solomon here has everyone in mind, young and old. We are never too old or too young to learn when reprimanded. Most of us have heard the saying, ‘learn from your mistakes.’ Those who do are better off for it. The same is true when rebuked by God for going after the things of this world and not His righteousness. Some of us when confronted, even though we know we are guilty, refuse to accept it and continue to go our own way. Solomon says ignoring correction will continually lead us down a road away from God and all that is right.

The pathway to life is found in the Bible, God’s Word. The pithy sayings from Solomon is a good place to start viewing life from the perspective of the wisest men who ever lived. One of the many things he said was, ‘People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life.’ Let’s take him up on that, I’m sure he’s right.

Devotionals

Wisdom, Righteousness, and Devotion to God

Loring Schultz

Read: Titus 2:11-14 NLT – For the grace of God has been revealed, – Bible Gateway

“We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.” Titus 2:12 NLT

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The greatest news of all to the world today is that God’s grace brought salvation to all people. Salvation is not restricted to a certain class of people, but is available to every person regardless of race, gender, ethnic group, age, or social class. Satan uses his influence in our fallen world to divide people, while God through the Holy Spirit unites people together and to Himself. Living the Christian life in a fallen broken world is not easy, but the Lord gives us instructions on how to live in today’s world as we look forward to that future day of the Lord.

The first thing Christians are to do is to throw off our old ways we engaged in before we accepted Christ. Admittedly this is not always easy, but it is necessary. God refers to them as ungodly living and sinful pleasures. Scripture also says Christians are a new creation in Christ with the old ways gone and new ways beginning. (2Cor.5:17) The apostle Paul writing to Titus says, “We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.” (Titus 2:12 nlt) All three things Paul instructs us to do are doable through the Holy Spirit we received as a new creation in Christ.

The fact that we live in an evil world is even more reason to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us. The Spirit will help us remember the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Pr.1:7) We can only live in righteousness (doing right on a consistent basis) through the Holy Spirit. And when our lives are totally devoted to God it will keep our focus where it needs to be and not on the pleasures of this world.

The evil one does not give up in his attempts to influence us or divide us once we have committed our lives to Christ but will ramp up his efforts. But if we’re living with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God we can live free from his tactics.

Devotionals

Right and Wrong

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Kings 3:5-14 NLT – That night the LORD appeared to Solomon – Bible Gateway

“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong.” 1 Kings 3:9 NLT

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For everything we do in life there is the right way and a wrong way, well almost everything. I say ‘almost’ because there are some things that fall under the category ‘it doesn’t matter,’ or ‘good enough’, or as is said, ‘close enough for government work.’ Knowing the difference between the right and wrong way will save us time, money, and less embarrassment in a failed project. I’ve been embarrassed a few times in my life. Not knowing the right way from the wrong way when in a leadership position will result in more than a failed project but a confused company of people going their own way.

When young Solomon became King at age twenty God appeared to him in a dream and asked, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” (1Kg.3:5 nlt) Solomon asked for wisdom in governing the people. In other words, he asked to know the difference between right and wrong. The desire to do things the right things and not fail in leading Israel was a show of humility. Solomon could have asked for anything he wanted but chose to know the difference right and wrong.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the Lord asked us what we wanted, and He will give it to us? I wonder what we would ask for. Would we ask to know the difference between right and wrong above everything else? The fact is having the wisdom to know right from wrong is the most important thing you can ask for outside of asking Christ to save you and forgive your sins. We are living in a fallen world under Satan’s influence that only knows the wrong way. For us to live biblical godly lives it is vital for us to have the wisdom to know right from wrong in all things. It is one request God will surely grant. Make sure we ask Him.

Devotionals

Mr. Know It All

Loring Schultz

“When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, ‘I know,’ he cannot discover.” Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 NASB

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I’m sure all of us at one time or another have met someone who thinks they know it all. A Mr. Know It All! If you haven’t met that person, I should hope it’s not you. Please take no offense, but the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, said, “Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.” (Ec.8:17b nlt)

King Solomon was granted wisdom from the Lord surpassing every person who ever lived before him and every person who will live after him. The Lord was pleased with Solomon that he asked for wisdom in leading God’s people as king and did not ask anything for himself. Solomon’s wisdom has been unmatched ever since that eventful day 3,000 years ago.

Solomon made an exhaustive study on the work of God. Day and night examining all of God’s creations, His magnificent wonders, understanding them and applying them in the many proverbs he wrote. He soon realized he could never discover all of God’s works. “I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun……though the wise man should say, ‘I Know.’ He cannot discover.” (Ec.8:17 nasb)

Christians are blessed having the Holy Spirit in their lives. Many times, the Lord has given me wisdom through His spirit in handling difficult situations. Sometimes I amaze myself with what seems like profound wisdom coming from my lips. But then I remember, it’s not me, or my wisdom, its God’s wisdom working through me. God doesn’t need any ‘know it all’s in His kingdom. Even Solomon realized in all his wisdom that he was not a Mr. Know It All! That title belongs to the Lord God of heaven.

Devotionals

The Wisdom of the Wise

Loring Schultz

“Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NLT

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The world has been blessed by those gifted with intelligence. Inventions throughout the centuries have enriched our way of life. Educators have instructed us to learn from the past and prepare for the future (if we chose to listen and learn.) Advances in modern day technology have simplified the complicated. The medical field along with the world of science have made life-changing discoveries in recent years. Truly we are blessed with such intelligence. Intelligence that comes from our creator, the Lord God.

Although for some intellectuals their intellect becomes their own demise. They rely totally on what is sound, reasonable, and trustworthy according to their own findings. Leaving out any possibility for God in the study of the earth, the universe, medical procedures, and human nature. Their scientific approach leaves them totally depended on their own minds. The results are based solely on man’s knowledge and ability. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual matters concerning the God of universe and His plan for salvation. There is no knowledge of God, or His love, His holy word, or His judgments. Heaven and hell is considered a myth, and there is no recognition of His continual work of sustaining the earth and the universe. It appears as foolishness to those who consider themselves wise or intelligent.  

But notice what Paul writes to the Corinthian church, “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” (1Cor.1:27 nlt) Salvation is a gift of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It most likely sounds unrealistic, childish, and yes even foolish to those who pride themselves as being ever informed and constantly seeking to better themselves and society at large. Assuredly it is neither unrealistic nor foolish, but it is the truth about God and His love for us. 

“Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.” (1Cor.1:21 nlt) If you are one of the wise who need the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ listen to the foolish preaching of those God has chosen. If you are one of the foolish and powerless, be encouraged that you are being used by God bringing the wise to salvation.

Read: 1 corinthians 1 NLT – Greetings from Paul – This letter is – Bible Gateway

A Christian Perspective

God’s Wisdom; this world’s only hope

Loring Schultz

“I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!” Proverbs 8:30-31 NLT

“Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1a NLT

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This world has been in trouble for ages. It has been in a downward spiral and continues to pick speed heading into destruction. Evil and corruption has made its way onto every branch of our world. We live in a fallen world due to sin and human beings’ sin nature. But God created this world in a perfect state by His wisdom and even though we are in a fallen state, the world can be less chaotic if we acknowledge Him and follow His Word and His Wisdom.

The Old Testament book of Proverbs is one the wisdom books in the Bible. Included in chapter 8 is the origin of wisdom. “Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.” (Pr.8:23 esv) Wisdom is personified as it is God’s Wisdom, it is eternal, it assisted in creation as the architect, and rejoiced in the world God created. The eternal God who with His wisdom created the earth and maintains it, who created mankind and provided us with a book in how to do life is still there with wisdom to help us govern our affairs.

Our society today sees no need for God, in fact He gets in the way of our plans, so we are better off without Him. God is called upon in emergencies but is quickly forgotten once the crisis is past. Scripture says those who say there is no God are fools. They determine their own wisdom is enough and will suffice, but we have seen the results. “Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” (Ro.1:22 nlt) The only chance for hope and peace in this world until Jesus Christ returns is for God’s Wisdom to be applied. Until then, the good news is the Lord Jesus Christ is going to return and reign on the earth with perfect wisdom which will not be rejected.

Read: Proverbs 8:22-31 NLT – “The LORD formed me from the – Bible Gateway