Tag: wisdom

The Wise Small Ones

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Proverbs 30:24

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:” …

The Bible doesn’t describe these things in Proverbs 30 as wise alone, but rather as extremely wise. This means they exceed the average level of wisdom, possessing good judgment and sense, and applying their knowledge and experience to achieve good results.

Ants: They are “creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer” (Proverbs 30:25). The Bible also highlights their wisdom in Proverbs 6:6-8. It speaks of how their ways are to be considered–how they have no overseer, but they store food in the winter and gather it at harvest.

They can carry 10 to 50 times their own body weight, and they have no ears, but detect vibrations in the ground using a sensory organ below their knee. Not only that, they communicate by releasing chemical signals called pheromones that act as alarm signals, food trails, or indicators of death.

As tiny as they are, ants have two stomachs, one for their own consumption and the other for storing food to share with other ants in the colony.

Remarkably, they’ve been around for 130 million years, having survived an extinction that killed the dinosaurs. A more in-depth study of these individuals reveals how wonderfully they are crafted. To us, they may seem a nuisance, but what I’ve gathered of them recently reminds me of how fascinating they actually are.

Hyraxes: They “are creatures of little power, but make their homes in crags” (Proverbs 30:26). Crags are steep, rugged masses of rock that project upward or outward from larger rocky masses, cliffs, or mountains. Hyraxes have rubbery, suction-cup-like feet for climbing, have tusk-like incisors, and live in colonies. Though they look like rodents, they are closest to the elephant family. Hyraxes are also mentioned in Psalm 104:18, where crags are described as a refuge for them.

Locusts: They “have no king, yet they advance together in ranks” (Proverbs 30:27). The Bible mentions locusts as a tool of God’s wrath and judgment, a devastating force, multiple times, particularly in the plague of locusts in Exodus 10, and the prophetic descriptions in the books of  Joel and Revelation.

Lizards: Interestingly, these creatures “can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces” (Proverbs 30:28). In the Bible, this indicates how they are easily captured, yet found in high places, symbolizing the power of perseverance and ability to overcome limitations and achieve great things, even in high-status environments. 

Moreover, lizards have shown how the seemingly weak or humble can demonstrate great wisdom and resilience, finding their way into positions of influence through shrewdness and an unwavering spirit. 

These are just a few amazing creatures, among others, that apparently God thought interesting enough to mention in His wonderful book. They are just small masterpieces that God has so graciously given them unique qualities, and He counts them as wise. Though small, they are great at their jobs. Upon further study, you may find various other amusing things that they are all known for.

Successful Planning

by Ms. Rita's Minute

“Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance” (Proverbs 20:18).

Have you made any plans lately? If so, perhaps they relate to your family, friends, jobs, homes, ministries, health, and finances—all important to most of us.

Planning can actually be fun and at the same time stressful. It forces us to think about all that we really want or need in a particular area of our lives. It moves us to be specific about the steps we need to take to reach our desired outcomes and requires our time and effort to develop.

Thankfully, Proverbs 20:18 provides us with a means to successful planning: advice. Counsel or guidance is an important part of wisdom in planning. Sources of direction may come through a parent, close friend, church leader, therapist, or another person of wisdom. Hence, our source should be one of sufficient trustworthiness and reliance.

In any case, when developing our plans, the first mode of counsel should be communication with God through prayer and the Bible. We should faithfully ask the Lord for wisdom with biblical reference of confirmation. Sometimes, in providing those, He may even highlight or send a person to provide insight on the very thing for which we are praying.

In any event, seeking the Lord’s perspective on any plans we make, is the chief reliable way toward a successful outcome. The Bible gives us some helpful verses concerning our plans:

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3). The Hebrew word for commit here is galal which means to roll or trust. Therefore we should roll onto, dedicate, or devote our plans to God. Kuwn is the Hebrew word for establish, meaning, set up or erect, which indicates he will put into place those plans for us.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it” (Luke 14:28)? This is a very important verse. Sometimes, in our excitement and impatience, we are tempted to rush our plans toward action.

At times we just want our own way and immediately. However, this attitude can cause a lot of wasted time and frustration as we reap the mistakes of not thinking thoroughly through our plans and determining the price required to finish them.

Yet in submitting our plans to the Lord, even when we aren’t sure how or when all will work out after we’ve prayed, researched, written our ideas, and sought advice, we can rest in the Apostle Paul’s message: “… whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

As such, our plans should bring God glory—that is, doxa in the Greek language—honor, splendor, and majesty.

Moreover, though they may appear to be our plans, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain” (Psalm 127:1). So, we humble ourselves, consult the Lord in all things, and wait on Him as He instructs us on how to proceed.

May God help us all to be faithful in this endeavor.

When Wisdom Calls

by Ms. Rita's Minute

I’m thankful for the Lord’s grace in providing us with His teachings on wisdom and the blessings and consequences of accepting or rejecting them. We see in the book of Proverbs many references to wisdom and its effect on those who evade, or walk, in it.

One reference stands out to me: “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” (Proverbs 1:32-33) I remind myself that I actually believe these verses of scripture, or I don’t.

I’m imagining those times when a parent may tell their little one not to do something. Yet at their child’s own desire, they proceed to do the very opposite only to find the results to be painful. Most parents, of course, then feel some measure of sadness but are quick to remind their children “I told you so.”

When Proverbs 1:32-33 talks about waywardness in Hebrew, it is defined as away, as in going away or backsliding. Complacency is described as tranquility, all is good (when it really isn’t), no concern for harm, and carelessness.

Sometimes, offense, grief, the lust of our eyes, or the pride of life may cause us to act out in unhealthy ways to appease our own selfish cravings. Not stoking the fires of our passions toward the Lord’s will for us can cause us to lean more toward carnality and worldly desires.

We must seek the Lord’s help in prayer, and welcome encouragement from the Body of Christ, a huge help for us.

Moreover, safety is defined as security, peace, quiet, comfort, and confidence, while harm is defined as damage, injury, and loss. Most of us would welcome the former over the latter results. So, this passage provides a clear explanation of the outcome of embracing or ignoring wisdom.

At certain points in our lives, we all experience wisdom’s call in navigating various circumstances. Nevertheless, sometimes we refuse to listen and disregard the advice given. The Bible tells us the results can be disaster, calamity, distress, and just plain trouble. This is described scripturally as hating knowledge and choosing not to fear the Lord. Ignoring the Lord’s advice, which is His help, we incur the fruit of our own wrong choices.

As the Lord makes His teachings available to us, and we decide to disregard His instructions, we are admonished to pay attention, and repent, and He will pour out His thoughts to us (Proverbs 1:23).

Chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Proverbs provide the benefits and well-being of receiving and living in God’s wisdom: success, protection, understanding, health, peace, prosperity, and long life.

It is to our great advantage to keep wisdom, understanding, sound judgment, and discretion before us. These things are important because they are life for us. When we are wise, we inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

More reading: Psalm 25:12; Psalm 112:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-31

True Happiness

by Ms. Rita's Minute

People seek happiness or “the good life” in many things. However, according to God’s wisdom, only a few things are required to achieve it.

If we truly desire a full life of peace, success, favor, and good health, here within three bible passages, is God’s prescription:

1. Proverbs 3:1-2/NIV
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.

    2. Proverbs 3:3-4/NIV
    Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

    3. Proverbs 3:7-8/NIV
    Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

    To practice God’s wisdom in obtaining happiness in life, we must first know:

    1. God’s commands;

    2. God’s definitions of love and faithfulness;

    3. what it means to fear the Lord; and

    4. how to identify evil, and avoid it.

    We learn God’s commands by availing ourselves of His resources (i.e., the Bible; the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; and other Holy Spirit-led, wise counselors).

    Godly love and faithfulness entail traits such as compassion, kindness, humility, steadfastness, honor, empathy, sacrifice, forgiveness, and patience.

    Fearing the Lord denotes reverencing and holding Him in high regard; appreciating and acknowledging Him; placing Him first in our lives; and showing Him the utmost respect He deserves.

    Discerning good and evil is accomplished by the study of God’s Bible and the indwelling of His Spirit within us. Right and wrong are clearly established in His word, as well as the laws of our society that can be traced back to the Bible. In addition, hopefully, wise training in good and evil is also provided by one’s parents or guardians.

    The length of time and maturity in applying these things will prove different for every believer. However, we are blessed beyond measure to have God’s grace and wisdom during our growth.

    Staying Faithful in Focus

    by Ms. Rita's Minute

    Whether we’re male or female, we can learn a great deal from the life of Solomon in 1 Kings 1:28-11:43 of the Bible. He was the son of King David and Bathsheba and was the wisest and wealthiest king in the world. Nevertheless, this wisdom did not stop him from making some very poor decisions that caused some unfortunate circumstances in history, something we all can do. It is possible to gain godly wisdom but err in exercising it in our lives. We’ve been given the freedom to choose to focus on godly priorities or those carnal desires of our own that pale in comparison.

    As King David was about to pass away, his instructions to Solomon were to act like a man and observe and walk in obedience to whatever God required, according to the Law of Moses. He said that in doing so, the Lord would prosper him wherever he went in all that he did. It would also mean that the Lord’s promises to David would be kept if his descendants watched how they lived and walked wholeheartedly and faithfully before God. Then, David would never fail to have a successor on Israel’s throne.

    The Bible says that Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions of his father, King David, except he offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places. David had also married the daughter of Pharaoh (King of Egypt) through an alliance with the king, taking her to the City of David, until he finished building the temple and his palace. The people were still sacrificing at the high places because a temple had not yet been built for the Lord.

    God appeared to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask Him for whatever he wanted. Solomon replied that he wanted a discerning heart to govern His people and to distinguish between right and wrong. The Lord was pleased with that request and told him that He would give him a wise and discerning heart as well as what he hadn’t asked for–wealth and honor. Further, if he walked in obedience to God and kept His decrees and commands, He would give him a long life.

    Later, Solomon succeeded in building the Lord’s temple as well as his palace and is known as one to whom God gave wisdom and great insight, “greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. …From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” (1 Kings 4:30-34) Yet, how in the world did such a great man of wisdom and prominence, end up doing such a dishonorable thing, by marrying many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter, against God’s instructions?

    God had told the Israelites that they weren’t to intermarry with the foreigners (not because of their skin color) but because they would turn their hearts after their gods. Yet the Bible says, “… Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines and his wives led him astray.” (1 Kings 11:2-3) Can you imagine relating to one thousand women on that level? How is that humanly possible? I imagined, viewing the following photo, that this amount of women would be a drop in the bucket compared to Solomon’s household. Mind-boggling.

    It’s interesting but sad to read what Solomon did in appeasing his wives that made God “angry”, though He had appeared to Solomon twice, and also forbade him from following other gods. As a result, the kingdom would be torn from him and given to one of his subordinates. However, for his father’s sake, he wouldn’t do this in Solomon’s lifetime but would tear it out of the hand of his son, though still allowing his son one tribe. I love how merciful, yet just God is.

    I believe these events show us the power of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. These things come from the world and not from God. These are the things we as humans, still on earth, struggle with and have to kill. It gives more insight into the importance of Romans 8:12-13, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” Thank God for His Holy Spirit, whereby we can live according to God’s will for our lives. We who live under God’s new covenant have now received this grace and ability not to live after our own lusts. Yet we will always have a choice in the decisions we make; the option to do what’s right or wrong. God will not take that privilege away from us.

    So we must keep our laser-like focus on the priorities God gives to us for our lives–those people He’s placed in our lives to love; the places we are to live and worship; and the ministries for which he’s provided our gifts. Thankfully, God lavishly provides access directly to Him through prayer, as well as His Bible, and gifts to the church via apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helping, guidance, and different kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28).

    The Safety of Wise Choices

    by Ms. Rita's Minute

    It’s interesting how with all the wisdom the Bible provides regarding trusting the Lord for protection, it instructs us in the practical ways to live safely.

    There’s a passage in Proverbs 2 that teaches us that wise choices will watch over us and understanding will keep us safe. This means we should seriously consider and pray about our options regarding any decisions we make in life. What might be the outcome and what are the related costs? Having a good understanding of all of the elements involved and their effect on our lives, along with seeking God’s will in each case, will provide protection from unnecessary, future distress.

    This passage also teaches us that wisdom will save us from people who don’t mean us well and who use words that are unhealthy or distorted. Further, it indicates that these people turned from a right path onto a wrong one which leads to darkness and corruption. These are people who enjoy doing wrong and the perverted ways of wickedness. These are people who only bring problems to your life and should be avoided.

    In this new year, we should make it our aim to gain wisdom and understanding for making godly choices in all areas of our lives. The Bible has more than enough information to help us gain all the wisdom and understanding we need. We just need to apply ourselves by taking some time during the day to read and pray. This needn’t be a lengthy amount of time, but just a consistency of time, so that we are successful in acclimating ourselves to God’s character and principles.

    In this age of information technology, there are so many convenient resources available to us. Not to mention the traditional ways of learning via counsel from people personally, or through books or other forms of media.

    Doesn’t it feel good to know you can be safe, avoiding unnecessary trouble and deception through wise decision-making? I’m so glad God has given us His very own word for assistance.

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    Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. ~Proverbs 2:11-14/NLT