Devotions

Rev Gav

Wisdom

Proverbs 8.4–11

‘To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.

O simple ones, learn prudence;
acquire intelligence, you who lack it.

Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right;

for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

They are all straight to one who understands
and right to those who find knowledge.

Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold;

for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Reflect

In the first nine chapters of Proverbs we encounter ‘Lady wisdom’, the female personification of God’s wisdom, and in today’s Bible Reading she calls us to listen to her, but more than that, she calls us to put listening to her before the acquisition of worldly things such as wealth. ‘All that you desire cannot compare with her!’

Our lives are full of uncertainty and each day we are faced with a multitude of decisions to make. Some of these decisions are small and some are large — what we call ‘life decisions’. If I am honest, I spend a great deal of time feeling anxious about decisions, whether I am making the right decision or not, and when I look at my past I can see how those decisions played out. I can reflect on the times when I listened to God and the times I closed my ears and pressed on, doing my own thing. The results speak for themselves! Today’s reading is a salient reminder that the source of all wisdom comes from God.

Lady Wisdom, as she has been called, has been related to the Holy Spirit, who ‘teaches us’ and ‘reminds us of all things’ (John 14.26), and the Christian life should be one where we seek nothing other than being in step with the Holy Spirit. We are privileged to have access to the very mind of God, and we should, as far as we are physically and mentally able, seek first God’s will for our lives.

There is something freeing about pursuing God’s wisdom because it releases us from the anxiety of making wrong decisions. We must, of course, be careful when making life decisions. If we feel God is leading us in a specific direction, is the decision in line with the trajectory of scripture, does it breach ‘the golden rule’ of putting ourselves first at the expense of God, others, or God’s creation, and is it confirmed through the witness of other Christians in whom we trust? As we are reminded, we must ‘test the spirits’ (1 John 4.1).

Today, if you have been struggling with direction, trying to discern which way to turn, or what decision to make, the answer is to lean into God. Ask the Holy Spirit to come and to lead you and be open to the still, small voice of God. God will hear you and a path will be laid upon your heart.

Pray

Holy Spirit
Come and fill me today.
Speak to me and lead me.
Help me discern,
through my heart,
through your Word,
and through counsel,
your will for my life.
Today and forever.