Episode #22: Wisdom, the Dangers of Digital Wandering and an Invitation to Connect by Email

The Word of the Week is wisdom and following is the corresponding devotional -- the text version of the podcast segment. Mentioned resources and links from the Desk to Desk audio only segment are at the end of the devotional.

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Wisdom.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

The Bible minces no words -- it's clear that wisdom is of utmost importance and we’re supposed to get it.

And lest we wonder for too long exactly how we’re supposed to do that  the Bible wins the day again and gives us everything we need to know. 

Not too long after we read Proverbs 4:7 and start thinking about how we can get wisdom and understanding, Proverbs 9:10 gives us more answers. 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

When we begin to fear the Lord, we begin to become wise. 

Now remember, 1 John  4:18 tells us that  perfect love casts out all fear so when we’re in a loving relationship with the Lord, we’re not afraid in the traditional sense. When the Bible talks about the fear of the Lord, based on the whole counsel of Scripture, we can assume that this is more of a holy reverent type of fear. This is an awe-inspiring sense that the Lord is near and that He is with us. David prays in Psalm 139:

You have searched me, Lord,  and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me  too lofty for me to attain.

Contrast David’s attitude with that of our pre-salvation attitude. Before Christ saves us––when we're still outside a loving relationship with the Lord, the thought of God knowing everything––all our thoughts and what we do every moment -- well, that’s terrifying. Because we know we deserve judgment and we really have no hope because we fall short of God’s glory. That’s fear in the traditional sense. It’s an unpleasant fear and that’s an understatement I know. 

 But when we know the Lord personally like David did and have been already saved by His grace, then that fear turns more into a holy reverence that opens up into wisdom. Because from the moment of salvation on, we can live under the banner of His presence which motivates us and inspires us and encourages us to do what is right and to always be making our decisions with the awe-inspiring awareness that God is watching. 

This is what wisdom looks like. 

Let’s look at Proverbs 9:10 again, now turning our attention to the last part -- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy one is understanding. 

The more we understand God (he’s the Holy one), the more we understand. 

When we understand He is holy, we see our sin more clearly and desire to repent more deeply. 

When we understand He loves us the less we strive to be people pleasers.

The more we understand His power, the more we pray. 

The more we understand His heart, the more our heart becomes like His heart. 

And while we’ll never understand the depths of His wisdom, we can understand enough to make wiser decisions ourselves -- in all aspects of our life --in our relationships, in our ministry, in our work, in our finances and in our businesses.  

My heart for you this week is for you to seek and get more wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

And for you to do this by living in the fear of the Lord -- the awareness of His presence -- and by learning more about Him through His word and through your personal relationship with Him. 

And of course I would be remiss if I didn't’ mention God’s promise to us in the book of James.  Not only do we get wisdom by living in the fear of the Lord and learning more about Him, we get it by simply asking in faith. James 5:1-6.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting.

Let’s pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for wisdom and for teaching us so clearly how we can get it for ourselves. We need wisdom so desperately as we go through life on earth -- we make so many decisions daily. May we please have it? Please give it to us just as you have promised -- generously and without reproach. 

Help us to seek wisdom with all of our hearts and our minds by living in the awareness of your presence -- when we wake up, you’re there. When we go about our day and sit at our computer and meet with clients and talk to our friends and take care of our families, you are there. And when we put our heads on our pillows at night, you’re there, too. And that’s a good thing. It’s comforting and motivating and helps us make wise decisions. Help us to get to know you even more so we can be like you even more. So we can be wiser. 

In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Desk to Desk Links & Resources:

1. Feedback, questions and comments are always welcome by email.

2. Here's the article I referred to when talking about the dangers of digital wandering: Social Algorithms Are Today's Lady Folly

3. Here's an example of my own "Link In Profile" page: workingupward.com/linkinprofile 

4. I would like to feature your work at home business in the podcast. To apply just click the first button on the top of my podcast page.