Due Process

Reading For Today: Proverb Chapter 17

Gold Nugget

Verse 24a: “Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,”

Commentary

There is an appropriate sequence to attaining wisdom. Just as sure as the leg bone is connected to the knee bone, and the knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone, and the thigh bone's connected to the hip bone… the knowledge bone’s connected to the understanding bone, and the understanding bone’s connected to the wisdom bone… These are tied together in sequence and breaking this sequence has been the folly of many a poor fool. We all want wisdom, but are not all willing to allow the due process of attaining it. Not that I have attained it, but the scriptures really do lay out the formula, so to speak. We must first gain knowledge. As kids we learned 2+2 =4, even when we didn't necessarily “understand” why. After we memorized 2+2 = 4, our teachers proposed the word questions. If Billy had two apples and then he was given two more apples, how many apples does Billy have? The word question was introduced because it was important to move beyond knowledge and on to understanding.

Just as we can have knowledge without understanding, we can have knowledge and understanding and not yet have wisdom. Being patient enough to allow knowledge to grow into understanding and understanding to grow into wisdom is too long a process for many of us. The sooner we accept the process, the sooner we will be on the path to wisdom. Understanding is seeing the application of knowledge; wisdom is knowing how to properly apply that knowledge and understanding. The knowledge we are seeking here is knowledge that can only be obtained from exposure to His Word. The understanding of His Word comes from the “Word problems” (life situation, scenario or application) testing your understanding of the knowledge you gained.

Prayer

Lord, when I fail to commit to your Word, I shouldn't feel confident in my knowledge, understanding or wisdom. Help me to make daily exposure of your Word a consistent part of my journey towards wisdom. Amen

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