A Prayer to Grow in Godly Wisdom - Your Daily Prayer - March 11
A Prayer to Grow in Godly Wisdom
By Sophia Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? … And he said to the human race, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (Job 28:20, 28, NIV).
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“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is generally true. There are plenty of delightful stories hidden within old raggedy books and beneath odd cover art. On the other hand, there are many wonderfully designed books with exquisite illustrations that decorate poor plots or half-truths. A good book deserves a beautiful cover, but the outside cover does not always match what is inside.
The old idiom also applies to knowledge. The philosophies and teachings of the world are often packaged in ways that seem appealing and, at times, virtuous. For example, the Roman Empire that the early Christians found themselves in had much that was good. Paul even used quotes from Greek philosophers and poets, whose teachings shaped Roman society, to connect with his audience and point people to faith in Christ (see Acts 17:28 and Titus 1:12-13).
Yet, we must acknowledge that not every area of knowledge is equal. The wisdom that brought about art and aqueducts is the same one that created horrific spectacles in the arena, including the killing of believers for their faith. Individuals today recognize the great architectural feat of the Roman Colosseum but must also wrestle with its darker history. For example, the construction of this wonder of the world was funded by the loot taken from the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and built with slave labor, including enslaved Jews. And what happened inside the finished Colosseum did not usually match the majesty of the building.
Satan was the first one who packaged a lie as a truth, hiding worldly knowledge under beautiful wrappings. When Eve heard what the serpent said about the forbidden fruit, she did not revel in the evilness of the choice. Instead, Eve believed her decision to sin was good: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6, NIV). We, too, often succumb to the lie that a sinful choice is good and that worldly knowledge equals wisdom.
Since sin appeals to our flesh, we can sometimes struggle to recognize the beauty of God’s ways and commands. The worldly system contributes to this misidentification as it enjoys casting virtue and righteousness as marks of a stuffy, uninteresting person. We are told that those who engage in sinful actions are the ones who have the most fun and are lauded as trendsetters. God’s wisdom often appears foolish to the world.
But godly wisdom is not based upon appearance or flowery words. Instead, as Scripture teaches us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10, NIV). The wise choice is to obey the Lord God and reverence His commands. Job recognized this truth long before Solomon crafted the book of Proverbs. Humans mine and dig for precious metals, but true wisdom can only be found in God (see Job 28:1-13). We waste our time by searching for wealth and power–for godly wisdom is the great treasure we can have if we cultivate a holy fear of the Lord.
Let us diligently study Scripture, ask God for wisdom, read books that support a robust faith, and walk with the wise. But let us not skip over the most vital part of wisdom: reverencing our great Lord and Savior. For that is where wisdom begins, and from which we can discern godly wisdom from the knowledge of the world.
Let’s Pray:
Lord, there is no one wiser than You. By Your great power and knowledge, You formed the heavens and the earth. You made the planets and stars, but also intricately crafted humans in Your image. How foolish I am for trying to turn to the world’s philosophies and teachings to grow in knowledge. True wisdom is found only in knowing and fearing You.
Help me to cultivate this godly wisdom in my life, learning from Your Word and implementing its truth in my life. May I follow You even when doing so seems like folly in the eyes of the world. For I would rather be considered a fool for trusting You, Jesus, than follow the worthless path of lies, regardless of how appealing it may seem.
Teach me to be wise, O Wisdom of God. Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
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