We are living in the time now when everybody wants wisdom, but we find that most of us want wisdom that is right and wise in our own eyes.

However, that is not the real wisdom that God desires us to have. According to Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Principals are very important or the “chief” of a thing. So, with wisdom being the principal thing in our lives, will we then be wise enough to demonstrate it in our actions?

I am reminded of the wise men in the book of St. Matthew 2:2 that when they saw the star, the sign that the baby Jesus was born, how they demonstrated wisdom by taking heed unto the sign that led them to Jesus.

If they had not acted with wisdom and paid any attention to the sign, they would not have found the Christ child. But, by taking heed to the sign, they were able to find Jesus.

Today, if we were to heed unto the signs and demonstrate valuable wisdom, we would also be able to find that same Jesus. Job 28:28 says, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. So let us act out real wisdom.”

So, if we depart from evil, seek him while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

What I really like about the wise men when they acted with wisdom and found Jesus was that they were warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod. They departed into their own country another way (Matthew 2:12). So, when we act with wisdom and seek Jesus while he may be found, we are warned of God not to return to the ways that we were. According to Galatians 4:9: “But now, after ye have known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”

So if we demonstrate valuable wisdom, we will not return unto bondage being warned of God not to return unto the ways we were. Proverbs 3:13 says, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

Also remember that Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-25, “Therefore, whoesoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.

 

Annie Shepherd is a Natchez resident.