“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6
Think about the last time you found yourself in a tough situation. You were faced with multiple options, and you just wished someone could come alongside you and decide for you.
I bet you probably see where I’m going with this…
But the truth is when we desperately need wisdom, we often don’t turn to God first. We turn to Him more as a last resort than our first response. We waste time trying to figure it out on our own, finally lay down our pride, and come to Him.
I don’t think this will be new information for you…but when was the last time you thought about the fact that God knows EVERYTHING?
That’s right. Everything.
Nothing surprises Him. Matthew 10:29-30 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
He not only knows about everything around you, but He knows everything about you. He knows how many hairs you.
Why would we ever trust our limited understanding when we can trust the unlimited understanding of God?
He gives wisdom. It doesn’t have to be earned. James 1:5 reminds us, “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.”
When we don’t approach God for His wisdom in our lives, it’s like stumbling around in a dark room when we have a flashlight in our pocket.
As we’re memorizing this week, let’s reflect on the differences between the words in the passage. It can seem like knowledge, understanding, and wisdom could be used interchangeably, but here are the quick differences:
Knowledge – Facts, Information, Memory
Understanding – Meaning, Principles, Reason
Wisdom – What to Do Next, Application, Action
With that in mind, let’s expand this verse:
“For the Lord gives us wisdom [what to do next, application and action steps]. From His mouth comes knowledge [facts, information, and memory] and understanding [meaning, principles and reason].”
So when our thoughts disagree with His, we must remember how much greater His wisdom bank is than ours. What He says goes. The sooner we learn that, the better off we’ll be.
God, thank you for the gift of your wisdom that You freely give. Help us turn to you first, realizing how limited our knowledge is in comparison to Yours. Help us seek Your Word to fill our minds with Your wise counsel. Help us to prioritize time in prayer. Give us the patience to listen and wait for not only Your will, but Your timing. We love you. Amen.
