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“In light of my past experience, my current circumstances and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do?”

Proverbs 1:1-6 (The Purpose of Proverbs)
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Wisdom is the best way to experience your best life.

Why is wisdom so important?

Some Benefits of Getting Wisdom:
· Proverbs 24:14 (TEV) “Wisdom is good for the soul. Get wisdom and you’ll have a bright future.”
· Proverbs 19:8 (NCV) “Those who get wisdom do themselves a favor, and those who love learning will succeed.”
· Proverbs 8:4 (NCV) “Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great, hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.”
· Proverbs 9:11 (NLT) “Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.” (I don’t have enough time to get everything done in my life.) That’s a wisdom problem.
· Proverbs 24:5 (NCV) “Wise people have great power.”
· Proverbs 3:35 “Wise people will gain an honorable reputation.”
· Proverbs 15:24 (NCV) “Wise people’s lives get better and better.”
· Proverbs 3:16-18 (TEV) 7 major benefits: “Wisdom offers you long life, as well as wealth and honor. It will make your life pleasant and lead you safely through it. Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life.”
· Proverbs 4:12 (TEV) “Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run.”

Wisdom is good for your soul and will give you a bright future. Wisdom will give you favor and will cause you to succeed. When you treasure wisdom, it will make you great and bring you honor. It will multiply your days and add years to your life. Wisdom will give you great power and gain you an honorable reputation and when you have wisdom, you will just get better and better. You will experience, long life, wealth, honor, safety, pleasantness, happiness and a full and fulfilled life. When you walk in wisdom, nothing will stand in your way or cause you to stumble when you run.

What is wisdom? One Bible scholar defined wisdom as, “Seeing things from God’s point of view.”

Before I give you a definition for wisdom, I need to restate one of my favorite definitions for faith. Faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it, no matter how I feel, because God promises a good result.

One Bible Scholar put it this way: Wisdom simplifies religion by describing faith as born out of decisions that are either wise or foolish. There are two ways a person may take, and the choices one makes determine one's direction.

While “fear” can describe terror or dread, the Old Testament use of “fear” often indicates awe or reverence.

To fear God is to express loyalty to Him and faithfulness to His Word. Those who fear God exhibit trust in Him and obedience to His commandments. According to the Old Testament, those who fear God obtain God’s protection, wisdom, and blessing. (Faithlife Study Bible)

Fear in this context is to Revere and honor God. To bow our will to His will. To place His Word above our feelings and His desires above our own.

Submission to God simply means, that our mission for our lives should be “Sub” or “lower” in priority to God’s mission for our lives. When we revere God in this way, it’s the beginning of wisdom.

Wisdom is believing the Word of God and acting on it, no matter how I feel, because God promises a good result.

How Do I Get Wisdom?
1. Start with God

2. Listen and apply what you learn from Godly Mentors: Godly mentors are people who help you to build a foundation of wisdom in your life.

3. Surround yourself with Godly Friends: Godly friends are people who help you stay connected to Christ and encourage you to pursue the path of wisdom.

What happens when we don’t pursue Wisdom? Well, the Bible says, “We become fools.” Proverbs 1:7b “Only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.”

Second, You miss out on God’s best for your life, His plan, His protection, His provision and His promise.

So why should we pursue wisdom?
· Because Wisdom is the best way to experience your best life.
· Because pursuing wisdom is the wisest thing for you to do.
· Wisdom is the principal thing.
· It’s the thing that will make you or break you.