There’s a whole book in the bible that speaks of wisdom. That’s how important this topic is. We need wisdom in life to make the right decisions.
Can you imagine the number of mistakes we’d make if we didn’t use discernment? These bible verses on wisdom will teach you how to apply and use wisdom in your everyday life.
Have you ever heard of the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)?
To break it down – ten virgins are waiting for the bridegroom to arrive at a wedding feast. Five of the virgins are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and don’t bring extra. When the bridegroom arrives late at night, the foolish virgins run out of oil and miss the celebration.
We sure don’t want to be like the foolish virgins. So let’s get wisdom!
What is Wisdom In The Bible?
What comes to your mind when you think of wisdom? In the Bible, wisdom is depicted as a gift from God that brings understanding, discernment, and the ability to make sound judgments.
When you look in the book of Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a woman who calls out to people, offering her teachings and insights to those who seek her.
Wisdom is more valuable than riches and those who possess it are blessed. So where do we begin to receive this wisdom?
The word of God said, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This kind of fear isn’t one of terror but more of reverence and obedience to God in pursuit of true understanding.
The Bible shows wisdom as a guiding force that leads us to righteousness, knowledge, and a fulfilling life by following God’s will.
Benefits of Having Godly Wisdom
1. You’ll make better decisions
Wisdom and discernment go hand-in-hand. With these two, you’ll be able to analyze every situation, weigh your choices, and then choose the best course of action.
2. You’ll have a prosperous life
In the Word of God, you’ll see how wisdom is closely related to living a prosperous life. And that entails your health, relationship, and purpose in life!
3. You’ll get better at communicating
When it comes to a healthy relationship, good communication is essential. Wisdom enables you to express yourself with confidence, and empathy and provides you with the ability to navigate conflict constructively.
4. Peace in making decisions
There’s peace when you know you’re being guided in the right direction and avoiding making foolish choices. And when you have peace, it comes with freedom from worry.
5. We receive God’s favor
When we seek wisdom from God, it brings him joy. And when you’re in His will, the favor of God and man will be with you.
6. Protection from harm
I can’t count how much time I have been saved! From danger, bad influences, and negative consequences because I choose the wisdom of God.
7. More knowledge and understanding
The pursuit of wisdom is a lifelong journey that leads to a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the world and God’s ways.
8. You Become Influential
What makes people influential and sought after? I am talking about those whose influences are good. When you are full of wisdom, you’ll gain the respect and trust of others.
Types of Wisdom In The Bible
Many times, people confuse the wisdom of God with other kinds of wisdom. But they are completely different. It’s like someone who has never raised a kid, advising a mother of 4.
Where did this person get their wisdom about raising children? Maybe from a book or a movie 😂. On the other hand, the mother of 4 had hands-on experiences. But again, the mother of four can give wisdom based on her experiences and not from the Word.
So not every word of advice is a word from God. If it’s not coming from the Word of God then we should judge that word.
Scripture reference: James 3:15-16
Earthly Wisdom
This kind of wisdom relies on our human understanding, secular principles, and cultural norms. This type of wisdom is driven by selfish ambition and lacks any true guidance. Going by this kind of wisdom will lead to evil practices and disorders.
Intellectual Wisdom
Intellectual wisdom is valuable and sought after in our world. This wisdom includes education, information on a particular topic, and competence. Though it’s necessary, it’s not inherently godly. However, true wisdom goes way beyond your intellect.
Devilish Wisdom
As the name suggests; it is devilish. Its only purpose is to deceive and lead the children of God away from the truth. How do you identify this kind of wisdom? It opposes God and everything about it is evil.
Wisdom from Above
This is the wisdom we need to have! A heavenly wisdom that originates with God and aligns with His Word. This kind of wisdom is the very representation of God!
Bible Verses To Read On Wisdom
Proverbs 1:7 – Having Reverence for God is the foundation of true wisdom
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
James 1:5 – Wisdom is a gift from God readily available
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Proverbs 2:6 – With wisdom comes knowledge and understanding
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 3:13-18 – Wisdom brings blessings of a prosperous life
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and none of the things you desire can compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Proverbs 4:7 – The pursuit of wisdom is worth the sacrifice
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Proverbs 16:16: The wisdom of God is greater than having worldly riches without peace
“Better to have little with the fear of the Lord than to have great wealth with turmoil.” – Wisdom combined with faith is preferable to worldly riches without peace.
Proverbs 9:10 – A characteristic of wisdom is having the fear of God
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
James 3:17 – Godly wisdom involves peace, purity, kindness, fairness, and sincerity
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Proverbs 18:15 – Always be in search of wisdom
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Proverbs 13:20 – Surround yourself with wise people
“He who walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Proverbs 18:15 – If we want more wisdom interact with others who already walk in wisdom
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Proverbs 2:1-5 – To attain more wisdom, you have to listen to wise counsel and safeguard your heart
“My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. Let them sink down into your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Proverbs 3:16-17 – Wisdom leads to a long, prosperous life filled with peace and satisfaction.
“Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Proverbs 11:14: – Wisdom in leadership brings success and prosperity
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won by many advisers.”
Proverbs 1:22-23 – Rejection of wisdom leads to foolishness and a closed mind
“Fools hate knowledge but do not love sound judgment. Listen to my rebuke and be wise. I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make known my wisdom to you.”
Proverbs 14:8 – A foolish person lacks discernment and sound judgment
“The heart of fools is foolish, but the heart of the wise is discerning.”
Proverbs 10:4 – Working hard is a wise choice that leads to a good life
“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Proverbs 15:1 – Being kind is a wise choice
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 17:27 – When you think before you speak it shows self-control and wisdom
“Whoever restrains his words is knowledgeable, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
Proverbs 20:1 – Avoiding harmful substances is a wise decision for your wellbeing
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
Proverbs 27:14 – It’s important to be mindful and use tactics when interacting with others
“Whoever greets his neighbor with loud good mornings—it will be seen as a curse rather than a blessing.”
Proverbs 2:10-11 – With wisdom comes discernment and guidance to help you avoid evil paths
“For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you, keeping you from the evil way…”
Proverbs 15:22 – Getting advice from credible sources leads to better outcomes
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Examples of Characters Who Exhibit Wisdom In The Bible
Solomon – 1 Kings 3:16-28
When we think of wisdom, Solomon is the first Bible character that comes to mind.
We see how Solomon showed wisdom through his judgment in the well-known story of two women who claimed to be the mother of the same baby. What would you do in this situation?
Solomon came up with a plan to know who the real mother is – a bit harsh but it works.
He offered to split the baby in two and give each woman half, but the real mother was revealed when she pleaded not to harm the child and instead urged Solomon to give the baby to the other woman.
Solomon was then able to know who was the true mother, as her love for the child was evident in her willingness to give him up to save his life.
This wise decision demonstrated Solomon’s discernment and understanding of human nature, making him a just and wise ruler.
Joseph
On more than one occasion Joseph displayed wisdom in the Bible. One popular one is when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams about the impending famine in Egypt. Not only that, Joseph went on to advise him to store up grain during the seven years of plenty.
Because of Joseph’s foresight and wise counsel, Egypt survives the famine. This also led to Joseph being appointed as a high-ranking official in the kingdom.
That’s the power of the wisdom that comes from God!
Additionally, Joseph showed wisdom in his relationship with his brothers. When he could have turned his back on them because of their betrayal, Joseph decides to show forgiveness and compassion.
We can learn so much from Joseph on wisdom in the Bible. From interpreting dreams to making wise decisions!
Ways To Seek and Apply Wisdom
The Bible gives us a roadmap to acquire wisdom. To begin, the Bible emphasizes the importance of connecting with God through prayer, acknowledging our reliance on Him.
Secondly, immerse yourself in the Word by studying, reflecting, and meditating on scriptures.
Understand that wisdom surpasses mere knowledge; it involves living a godly life and showing love toward others.
There will be times when we may need to seek guidance from wise mentors like our spiritual/church leaders in this journey.
Additionally, learning from past experiences whether good or bad allows us to make wiser choices.
Lastly, be open to correction or rebuke, as genuine wisdom stems from placing our trust in God’s guidance.
By following these steps, we can now start walking in wisdom. Use these bible verses in wisdom to guide and teach you!
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