5 Reasons You Need Wisdom In Your Life
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The book of Proverbs is a compilation of truths that tell us what wisdom is, why we need wisdom, and how to live a life that applies wisdom.
It is written to the children of God and offers practical ways to apply the spiritual principles and laws that God has established for His children. Most of the book is credited to Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived because he prayed and asked God to give him wisdom more than anything else.
The wise woman turns to Scripture. She reads it, prays about it, ponders, and lives it. And when she does this, she flourishes in all she does (read THIS POST about flourishing because of time in the Word).
When you take the time to read the Word of God, pray about how to apply it to your life, and intentionally begin to walk it out, you will reap the many blessings that are for the wise woman.
Proverbs 3 lays out a great path for this.
Related: 11 Benefits That Come From Reading The Bible
3 Places to Find Wisdom
First, let’s check out what Proverbs 3 says about what wisdom is. It starts out by sharing the truth that all wisdom comes from God. Job shared that, as well as David in the Psalms. And fear of the Lord (reverence for Him) is the beginning of all wisdom.
Related: What is Wisdom?
Wisdom is built on godly teaching
According to Proverbs 3:1-4, sound teaching is foundational to wisdom. When you apply yourself to learning what the Bible teaches and obeying God’s commands, you find long life and peace (v. 2) as well as favor and success (v. 4).
You can’t build a life of peace and success on foolish choices and impulsive decisions. While that seems obvious, much of the world does this.
Wisdom is rooted in trust in God
Proverbs 3:5-6 are pretty well-known verses and for good reason. You are challenged here to withhold nothing from God as you trust Him, but instead to trust Him with everything you.
You’re also challenged to trust God so completely that you are not leaning on your own logic at all. Maybe I’m the only one, but I find that hard!
Related: How Do Find the Balance Between Faith & Logic
Next, you are challenged acknowledge God in all your ways and follow His directions. Whew, another challenging one! Acknowledging God in the way I relax (watch TV, ahem) can be hard.
Wisdom rewards obedience with blessing
In Proverbs 3:7-12 the blessings of applying wisdom are outlined. When you obey God (which is the wise thing to do), blessings follow.
Let’s pause for a moment and recognize that blessings are not the same as “good things that make you happy” much of the time.
For instance, when I make wise choices my family is fed better, our home is cleaner, and our children are more content. Wisdom as a homemaker often means being frugal, not wasting, and parenting consistently.
The mom in a third world nation who is unable to work also needs to meet the needs of her family, but her version of blessed is going to be vastly different than mine.
That is because we often equate God’s blessing with physical excess and comfort. What a lie from our enemy! How dare we reduce God and His goodness to that.
The blessings of God often involve provision, favor, and peace. But we do need to be aware of how we define those things and not limit them.
Related: Blessings Follow Obedience
5 Reasons You Need Wisdom From God
You Need Wisdom For A Long Life of Peace
For length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you. (Prov 3:2, ESV)
You Need Wisdom To Find Favor With God & Man
So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man. (Prov 3:4, ESV)
You Need Wisdom For Your Health
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones. (Prov 3:8, ESV)
You Need Wisdom To Discipline You
My son, do not despise the Lord‘s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov 3:11-12, ESV)
You Need Wisdom To Make Good Choices
Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble. (Prov 3:23, ESV)
Why We Need Wisdom Day to Day
Have you ever thought of wisdom as abstract? As if it’s something to reach for, but you’re not really sure what or how? Let’s break down the times in our daily lives we need wisdom.
Being a godly wife
Being a wife that is a blessing to her husband isn’t always easy. Wisdom helps you know what to say to your husband when he is sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, or just plain busy. Wisdom also helps you know when to not say anything.
In Proverbs, there are many verses that tell men to choose a wife with wisdom because she will either be a blessing or a curse.
It is wisdom and obedience to God that helps you be the blessing for your man.
Being a godly mom
Motherhood requires a lot of wisdom!
Whether you are handling a toddler tantrum or juggling teenage hormones, motherhood can feel like a minefield. But God’s wisdom will make navigating it easier.
Just today I’ve prayed for wisdom in handling tears over math, two little ones fighting over blocks, and charting the course for a desired career.
Being a good friend
Wisdom helps you build steady relationships. It equips you to be a friend who offers godly counsel and influence.
Wisdom helps you know what to say and when to say it, and when to participate or bow out of situations.
Day to day choices
Wisdom extends to how to respond when someone cuts you off on the road, making wise choices to stay inside your budget when out shopping, and the conversation you have with the lady in front of you while you wait in line.
Wisdom isn’t just for the big things; wisdom is for every part of life. After all, it’s all the little things that add up that make our life what it is.
Wisdom Will Honor You
The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace. (Prov 3:35, ESV)
When you read Proverbs 3 in its entirety, it becomes incredibly apparent that you need wisdom to live well. If you want to flourish and live a life of intentional purpose, wisdom is essential.
And my sweet friend, it is definitely God’s plan for you to flourish (take a peek at Psalm 1!) and to live a life of beautifully intentional purpose.
So I challenge you today: seek out the truths of the Word and apply them to your life. Let God fill you with the desire for wisdom, to put these things to work in your heart, mind, home, and family as you flourish in your faith.
