““The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”Proverbs 9:10 NKJV
The Key to Real Wisdom
Would you ever build a house without blueprints? Or assemble an airplane without instructions? Or conduct open-heart surgery without training?
Hopefully your answer is “no.”
If we want to know how something works, we should look to the expert for insight. In a similar way, if we want to know how the world works, we should look to God.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
Proverbs 9:10 ESV
God made the world and everything in it. He knows how life works best.
But too often, we look to ourselves or even to others to tell us who we are, what to think, and to explain to us how life works. The good news is:
Wisdom doesn’t begin with us—the created.
Wisdom begins with God—the Creator.
Are you interested in real wisdom? Genuine insight? True understanding? Look to God, study His ways, and consider His character. Examine Him closely and find what you’re searching for.
Real wisdom starts with a God-centered foundation. Everything else is built on that rock.
But as we do that, we must first honestly ask ourselves some hard questions: Do I want to learn from God, or would I rather do my own thing? Do I want godly wisdom, or would I rather be my own god?
Satan fell from heaven because he wanted more power than God. Adam and Eve struggled in the garden because they weren’t sure if they could trust God. And ever since, every human has been faced with a choice: to seek God, or seek life without Him. No one can make the decision for you, but—
If you want to be truly wise, you must choose God.
So right now, be real with yourself: Are you willing to surrender your way of thinking and genuinely look to God, or would you rather just do your own thing? If you feel a wall of pride going up within you, ask God to help you knock it down. Brick by brick, He can reestablish your foundation.
Be encouraged: God made the world and everything in it. So if you want true wisdom, you must look to Him.
Share your faith: When a friend asks for advice, you can lovingly point them to the timeless wisdom in God’s Word.
Prayer: God, when I think about who You are and all that You’ve done, it overwhelms me. I am filled with awe and wonder at how powerful yet merciful You are. Deepen my knowledge of Your love and faithfulness. Fill me with wisdom that only comes with knowing You. Be the foundation of my life—so that my life is a reflection of Your heart. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Note after sharing the devotional: the prayer that the devotional video’s speaker provided was also good, and as such I will share it here:
With my toes wrapped in sand, and my face enveloped by the rising sun, I stared at the ocean. I looked at God. I saw His greatness in comparison to my small stature. I felt overwhelmed yet at peace, scared yet safe. I encountered the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 says, “fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” At the water’s edge, I didn’t say, “great! I experienced the fear of the Lord! I bet the foundation for wisdom has been laid.” But in God’s presence, something happens that we may not be aware of. Wisdom can result. Order can result. Now, all our lives turn a little sideways at times. But if we seek to know the Holy One by reading God’s word, good judgment will result. Disorder can be restored to order. If you want to grow in wisdom or good judgment, go outside. Look up. See God. He will make things new. Invite God to help you appropriately fear Him with [a] reverent awe and respect. Now the word “fear” can evoke negative emotions if you’ve suffered under someone who's been abusive. But if that’s you, ask God to help you see what perfect fear of God looks like. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Lord, help us pursue pure wisdom. Amen.