Excerpt from “Accelerator,” Accelerated Christian Education, Nov-Dec 2016, pg 15.
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Wisdom is observable Biblical character and Biblical principles in action in the life of an individual.
- “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous….” Proverbs 2:7
- “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom….” Proverbs 3:13
- “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom….” Proverbs 4:7
- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom….” Proverbs 9:10
- “…with the lowly is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2
- “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding….” Proverbs 14:33
- “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul….” Proverbs 19:8
- “The rod and the reproof give wisdom….” Proverbs 29:15
- “Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father….” Proverbs 29:3
One of the newly added character traits to the A.C.E. curriculum is WISE or WISDOM. The ninety character traits of Jesus Christ are traits to be incorporated into our lives as Believers. A.C.E. gives the definition for wise as: Setting my heart, life, and goals to know God and His Word, recognizing that true wisdom comes from Him.
God wants believers to be wise. One of the purposes for writing Proverbs was “To know wisdom… To receive the instruction of wisdom…” (Proverbs 1:2, 3). “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5) As Solomon became king over Israel in I Kings 3:1-13, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” Solomon did not ask for wealth and honor but asked Him, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad…” The LORD was pleased and said, “I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart.” In addition, He gave Solomon riches and honor.
Matthew 7:24 is the New Testament verse for this trait. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” Notice the word DOETH. the Bible is full of references teaching us that wisdom is not just knowing but DOING. Notice verse 26, “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.” The one who DOETH is a wise man who builds on a solid rock, but one who DOETH THEM NOT is a foolish man who builds on the sand. One will last; the other will crumble when the storms of life come.
At the end of Moses’ life, he called the Israelites together to give a final charge. He told them they were responsible to teach their children to “…observe to DO, all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 32:46) At the end of Joshua’s life, he also called the Israelites together for a final charge. “…but take diligent heed TO DO the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you…” (Joshua 22:5) Again in Joshua 23:6, Joshua says, “Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and TO DO all that is written in the book of the law of Moses…”
James records, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…” He follows it up in the same chapter with the words, “But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” He gives the negative of that in the following verses, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and NOT A DOER, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. but whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a DOER of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1: 5, 22-25) Wisdom is not just knowing and understanding God’s Word and will, it is ACTING UPON IT and DOING what God says to do.
Notice Daniel 12:3. “And they that be WISE shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Do you truly want to be WISE? Seek to win people to Jesus Christ–that is wisdom in action, DOING what God tells us to do.