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Wisdom goes beyond knowledge, beyond the mere accumulation of information.  Wisdom is the effective application of knowledge.  Wisdom is knowing which actions, at the right time and place, will produce the desired result. (1) It is the opposite of folly, arrogance, recklessness, aimlessness, and triviality.

Jesus is full of wisdom, able to understand the deepest mysteries, and see the essential nature of whatever situation He finds Himself in.  Read Luke 10:25-37; Jesus masterfully and lovingly responds to a slick lawyer who is trying to find a loophole in God’s law.

Godly Wisdom is love deciding between that which hinders it and that which helps it. (2) God’s Wisdom has no limit. (3) Just as Jesus grew in Wisdom, so to, we can grow increasingly wise, (4) because the Wisdom of Jesus is made available to us. (5) Wisdom includes discernment, humility, purpose, forethought, and consideration.

Discernment - knowing the difference between similar things, and being able to see to the heart of an issue or situation. (6)

Humility - knowing one’s proper place relative to God, to the world, and to others. (7)

Purpose - knowing one’s vocation and identity. (8)

Forethought - knowing how actions in the present will affect the future. (9)

Consideration - knowing how one’s actions affect others. (10)

Wisdom: Receiving from God

The wisdom of Jesus, His ability to know and do what was good and powerful, was received directly from God. (11) Will we receive wisdom from God? (12)

Wisdom: Considering Others

Jesus understood how to interact with other people in ways that brought about good results; He knew their motivations and desires, fears and frustrations, weaknesses and strengths; He knew how to speak and act in order to bring about God’s will for others.  (13) Am I aware of the people around me, and how I can interact with them to serve God and bless them? (14)

Wisdom: My Purpose and Vocation

Jesus had a clear sense of direction in His life that was the result of hearing God’s voice calling Him into ministry. (15) Does my purpose in life align with God’s purpose for me? (16)

Wisdom: Effective Stewardship

Jesus knew how to do good and powerful deeds that produced abundant life for the individuals and communities He interacted with. (17) Do I know how to accomplish good deeds that add to the flourishing of the world? (18)

Disciplines focused on Wisdom:

Study

Meditation

Listening Prayer

Submission