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PART I: A Personal Search For Wisdom
In the mid-1970‘s, we lived in Nashville, Tennessee, where I owned a small business — a building maintenance company. In my first six months of operations, I found I was being cheated by both employees and customers; and I had employees who were stealing from customers. I was confused, hurt, in turmoil, and soon developed ulcers. I had hired warm bodies to do a job, but I hadn’t taken the time to get to know them well before involving them in the business. I had refused to work with customers where kickbacks and fixed bids were concerned, but my competitors hadn’t. Potential customers let me know this. My life, my business and my family were going rapidly downhill.
One day a friend pointed me toward Proverbs. I wondered, why Proverbs? But, since I respected this friend, I began to study. This is what I learned.
SEEK WISDOM
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, showed knowledge and insight on almost every subject. One of the first things he tells us is why he wrote Proverbs: “He wrote them to teach his people how to live — how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just and fair in everything they did“ (Prov. 1:2-3. TLB). This sounded great. I grabbed on to the first part of these two verses, for I needed to know how to act in every circumstance. The other portion of these verses became more meaningful to me later — what it means to be “understanding, just and fair in everything you do” (emphasis mine).
Solomon also identifies who he wrote Proverbs for: “I want those already wise to become the wiser” (Prov. 1:5, TLB). This was okay, but I wasn’t sure I qualified as being “already wise.“ But, I should have checked the previous verse: “I want to make the simple-minded wise!” (Prov. 1:4, TLB). Wow! Now I was sure this was a book written just for me! My search had begun.
But how does one become wise? With some reading I found these verses: “The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord!” This was followed by, “Only fools refuse to be taught“ (Prov. 127-8, TLB). Note the interesting contrast here: fools do not learn from wisdom. This trust and reverence (or fear) spoken of here does not mean terror. It means taking God seriously in view of His absolute sovereignty and our utter dependence on Him. In the context of Israel’s covenant with God it means giving Him our exclusive devotion and loyalty. It also implies that the ungodly — those who do not fear God — have no enduring foundation for wisdom. Morally, mere knowledge is subordinated to obedience. Spiritually. it means that knowledge of God and humble submission to Him are the only sources of truth.
Next l discovered two verses that go together. “Have goals: wisdom — that is knowing and doing right — and common sense“ (Prov. 3:21 TLB) and “Determination to be wise is the first step toward becoming wise! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment” (Prov. 4:7, TLB.) To me this meant that although wisdom is of immense value. it needs decisive action and personal application. Notice the way he speaks of wisdom. It is not just knowledge: it is not simply having a computer mind. It involves intelligence to use knowledge properly and to have a love for doing this.
I can read these passages. but how can I understand them? The answer was to search further! Solomon says. “Every young man who listens to me and obeys my instructions will be given wisdom and good sense. Yes, if you want better insight and discernment, and are searching for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure, then wisdom will be given you, and knowledge of God himself; you will soon learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting him” (Prov. 2: 1-5. TLB). The sayings of God are meant to be received and stored up. This suggests that more than devotional reading is needed. One cannot learn the Word of God merely by getting in a pious frame of mind and reading a few verses of Scripture. We must store it up; listen not only with our ears, but with our hearts as well; to cry after it; to lift up our voices; to seek it as silver; to search for it as if it were a hidden treasure. That is the way we should go after gaining knowledge — especially knowledge of God himself.
You may say, “All this sounds real nice. But how do I apply it? What does this mean? How does one do this?“ Solomon has an answer: “Follow my advice. my son; always keep it in mind and stick to it. Obey me and live! Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart. Love wisdom like a sweetheart: make her a beloved member of your family (Prov. 721-4. TLB).
We need to seek wisdom the same way we are told to pray. Paul and David both speak of praying “without ceasing” (see I Thess. 5:17. Psalm 55:17). Do you have loved ones, perhaps children? If they were lost, how would you go about finding them? Wouldn’t you search ceaselessly?
Or, would you take this approach? On a Tuesday morning while getting ready for work, you suddenly find your child is missing. You think, “Well, it will be ten minutes before the bathroom is clear for my shower, so I’ll take a quick look.” Ten minutes later, you come back, shower and dress, and realize breakfast will not be ready for another ten minutes. So you decide, “I’ll spend another ten minutes looking.” After breakfast, when your ride to work has not yet arrived, you can spend a few more minutes “searching.” Once at work, you decide to forego your morning coffee break. Maybe you also decide to skip lunch later that day.
Is this how you would look for your lost child? I don’t think so. And I don’t think Solomon was telling us to look for wisdom that way either. I suspect he meant we should search without ceasing, an ongoing and persistent process. I then asked, “If I find wisdom, what will it do for me?” In other words, I still doubted whether this was what I really needed. I mean, this search could be a lot of work! This thought brought me back to Solomon: “He wrote them to teach his people how to live — how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just and fair in everything they did” (Prov. 1:2-3, TLB) (emphasis mine).
I asked myself, “Do I need to know how to act in every circumstance? Do I need to know what it means to be fair and just?” Let the remind you that these were tough questions. After being lied to and stolen from I did not have “being just and fair” as my top priority. I wanted to “fight fire with fire,” to apply the law of the jungle. After all, wasn’t this a jungle?
But I decided to read on: “He shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision every time” (Prov. 2:9. TLB) (emphasis mine). Think about it. He’s talking about being able to make the right decision — every time! At that point, my question was answered. I had no further doubt. This was definitely what I needed!
I began to wonder what else wisdom grants? I learned wisdom grants the desires of the new (or saved) man, as well as many of the desires of the old man. But just what are our desires in life?
Proverbs suggests: favor with God and man, good judgment, common sense (3:4-5, 13), efforts crowned with success (3:6), health, vitality (3:8), a long, good life, riches, pleasure, honor, peace (3:16-17), safety and protection (4:6), approval from God (8:35), and riches (11:24) — quite a list.
These are only a few of the things God will grant us, not because we desire to become wise, but because we “trust and reverence the Lord.” There is one caution — we need to be sure we define these treasures the same as God does, or we will again find ourselves miserable. For example, the subject of riches is spoken of in Proverbs 11:24 (TLB): “It is possible to give away and become richer …by watering others, you also water yourself.” I doubt that this exactly matches our first idea about obtaining riches. What is being said here is if one sows sparingly, he shall also reap sparingly. The promise is that whatever you give away, it will come back to you multiplied. This is a general principle that is also stated elsewhere in Scripture. “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure. pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For whatever measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
Now I had a plan of action to test. Does God want me to become wise? Is this desire really from Him, or is it just my own? “Learn to be wise,” Solomon said, “and develop good judgment and common sense!“ (Prov. 4:5. TLB); and, “l have called you so often but still you won‘t come. I have pleaded, but all in vain. For you have spurned my counsel and reproof.” (Prov. 1:24-25, TLB). I now realized that to reject the voice of God‘s wisdom (to persist in the enjoyment of shallow skepticism and ignorance), was to court disaster.
Finally, one further verse: “But all who listen to me shall live in peace and safety, unafraid (from the fear of evil)” (Prov. 1:33, TLB). What a statement this is! I wondered if it could refer to our society? We are so affluent; we evaluate everybody by their bank accounts, the homes they live in, and the cars they drive. But this is a fool‘s paradise. The wisdom God gives is not for the privileged or intellectual elite. Rather, it is intended for the practical realities of everyday life — for ordinary people as they go about their shopping, business and social affairs. This is where God-fearing wisdom really counts.
Do I ever make wrong decisions? Do I ever make mistakes? Of course. But how can this be, with all the wisdom I have supposedly obtained? Simple. I let my eyes wander away from God. I take counsel in my own understanding — a poor thing to do. We read, “A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God‘s wisdom are safe“ (Prov. 28:26, TLB); and, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight“ (Prov. 3:5-6).
In less than a year my business was grossing four times as much as before I started my study. It was not only netting a 38 percent profit, but was providing for 26 employees, with 15 more on a waiting list. I received positive reference letters from customers. I had employee resources. My business was rated number two in the nation in its field (out of more than 70 companies).
This happened more than 15 (1978) years ago (before the publication of this hook — 1990). Since that time, God has placed me in the position of developing businesses in Third World countries, working with some of their “young men,” as Solomon mentions — helping them to struggle with some similar difficulties in “the world.”
Scripture does give guidance in finding success, hiring and firing employees, setting salaries, selecting managers, lending, borrowing, interest, business tithing, partnerships, keeping agreements, planning, fairness, ethics. It tells us how to create Kingdom businesses. I believe our biggest business problems originate from the fact that many Christian businesspeople do not realize that what they are doing is contrary to God‘s way, and they probably don’t even know what questions to ask!
Decisions rest on certain basic questions. We need to ask ourselves: Who is it that I am serving? Will I continue to do business as usual, (the world’s way)? Will I endeavor to serve God?
Many people have told me, “You can’t do business God’s way.” But I believe I can. In fact, for the Christian it is, and must be, the only way. Christ did not guarantee that following him would mean no more problems. He simply said, “Follow Me.” That wasn’t a suggestion. It was and is, a command.
God’s Word provides the wisdom to equip us, to enable us to live as we ought. Religion is a way of life. It is something that we must live constantly, not something we reserve for the sanctuary. It is not a matter of just attending church. Rather, it is the total integration of our businesses, our schools, our homes, and our relationships with others. The message of Christianity is intended to be worked out in our lives seven days a week. The Word of God is living truth that comes into our minds and hearts. It is to be seen and expressed in every aspect of life.
A wise man listens, and increases his knowledge. He sharpens his skills. He realizes that we never “arrive.” We never exhaust our potential to learn. We may think we have done all we can do, but God longs to do even more through us. That’s why we read, “I want those already wise to become the wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth” (Prov. 1:5-6, TLB). So God wants us to know that our potential is unlimited if we abide in Him. What God proposes to do with us is dependent upon our willingness to do it. If we are wise we will listen, we will hear, we will increase our knowledge and understanding of God‘s purposes in our lives.
This gives us a glimpse into the book of Proverbs. It is but the beginning. It instructs us, it equips us to live, it teaches us, trains us, and disciplines us in our own attitudes toward life in a world that is both antagonistic and hostile. Jesus himself said, “Don‘t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, rather, a sword” (Matt. 10:34, TLB). In fact, wherever the Gospel is preached, some will believe and others will be bitterly antagonistic. That being so, how are we to live? What are we to do with discipline, tragedies and opportunities in life? The book of Proverbs does not promise to change society. It proposes to give God‘s children the tools by which they can live within the framework of a disenchanted and hostile environment. If we open our hearts and minds, we will learn. God will give us skills to enable us to experience all of life in a beautiful, victorious way. That is what Proverbs endeavors to convey.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7), and of wisdom. That is the starting point. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. We can choose to live either in the power of God, under the discipline of His Word, or to live foolishly. The world offers no hope, no solution, no encouragement. God wants us to have wisdom, and skill to experience life as it ought to be experienced. But the choice is up to us.
Wisdom provides skills for living lives in a manner pleasing to God. It is not limited to mere information. It is information to put to use — where we live, where we work, and where we play.
THE ROLE OF DISCIPLINE
Wisdom does not come by casual application of knowledge. It is the product of careful and disciplined training in a person’s life and heart. It calls for hard work. It is a pursuit. It involves a search. It is not accidentally obtained. It requires discipline and a concerted effort.
“I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — and poverty will come to you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” (Prov. 24:30-34).
In visiting the vineyard of a lazy man, the writer of these verses noticed weeds had taken over and the wall was broken down. He said, “I heeded the warning. I looked at it and I was instructed. I looked at it and I listened. I learned.”
Heeding the warnings, God gives from experiences of life and from the pages of His Word, allowing Him to instruct us through them. This is part of the discipline He uses to impart wisdom to us.
Reproof too is part of God’s discipline. God says, “If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you“ (Prov. 1:23). God uses reproof to deal with us when we have deviated from His basic principles for our lives.
In experiencing God’s discipline, we gain wisdom in our use of time. One of the greatest sins of God’s people in our affluent society is the wasting of time. We spend so much energy on pursuits that have little or no lasting value. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).
“A wise man‘s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction” (Prov. 16:23). Each one of us needs to strive for that level of communication. How different we would be if we could eliminate the unnecessary, sarcastic, and divisive speech that disrupts our contact with God and alienates us from our Christian brothers.
A disciplined life also promotes happiness. “My son, do not despise the LORD‘S discipline and do not resent His rebuke (Prov. 3:11). If we hope to be happy, our lives must be disciplined by wisdom from God. Happiness results from living by God’s principles. We will also find wealth “… for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (Prov. 3: 14-15).
SHREWDNESS
The word “shrewd” sometimes carries a bad connotation. A shrewd person is often considered to be evil, or crafty, or someone who takes advantage of others. But a literal definition of “shrewd” describes someone who looks around, sizes up a situation, and knows what is going on in it. There is an awareness of what is happening. Life is viewed in the perspective of its opportunities.
We see this in the following verses: “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young, let the wise listen to these proverbs and become wiser — for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise” (Prov. 1:1-6).
The writer of Proverbs wants us to become shrewd about the issues of life — to avoid pitfalls that would trip us up in our pursuit of happiness. He wants us to know what life is all about. We need to know the dangers ahead so we can avoid them. In effect God is saying, “I want to help you chart your course through the uncharted seas that lie ahead of you. I want to give you shrewdness and understanding. I want to give you my wisdom.“
That is what we read in Proverbs: “For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you“ (Prov. 2:10-11). Elsewhere we read, “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” (Prov. 22:3). Unless we allow the wisdom of God to pervade our minds and control our hearts, to give us a shrewdness, a discretion, an understanding of all that stretches before us, we shall fall into the same pitfalls that overthrew those who walked before us.
DOCTRINE
One other ingredient of the wisdom God described for us in the book of Proverbs: doctrine is “knowledge” or “learning. A wise man knows the truth. More than that, he knows God. In fact, if we do not know God, we cannot know the truth “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me‘” (John 14:6).
Wisdom then is full knowledge, complete doctrine — not just knowledge of facts, but a knowledge of God himself. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6). Awareness of God and understanding of Him lead to full commitment to Him. God wants us to know and experience this commitment, as part of wisdom.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). In this passage knowledge means “knowing by experience.” The wise man knows God, and the essence of wisdom is wrapped up in God. God is the beginning and the end of wisdom. He is the One who brings discipline into our lives. He is the One who gives understanding and common sense. He brings shrewdness into our lives, as well as knowledge and learning. Ultimately, wisdom begins, ends, and finds its full expression in God.
The writer of Proverbs says the one who trusts God completely is wise. We are however not to be wise in our sight. We are to stay away from evil, choosing rather to acknowledge God in all our ways.
All of this brings us to the point of commitment to God. Many today have head knowledge about the Bible but know little about God Himself. They know what the Bible says. but don‘t know how to put it into practice. They seem unaware of God‘s presence in their lives, or of the reality of His Spirit within them. Such persons are often depressed, defeated, and discouraged. They may have a form of knowledge, but it does little good for they lack the skills needed to live a life that pleases God.
In the Swiss Alps there was a halfway house where travelers and mountain climbers could stop and rest before continuing on to the summit. A crippled man worked at that halfway house. He spent his time watching the travelers as they came and went. He saw some who rested in utter exhaustion while others climbed on to the summit. He noticed the keen disappointment in their eyes as they realized they were missing the joy of a successful adventure. He also watched those who returned from the summit on their way back down. There was happiness in their expressions, and an obvious thrill about what they had seen. He wanted so badly to go to the top of that mountain himself; he wanted it more than anything else in the world. But he was crippled and could not do it.
One day a skilled guide said to him. “I will take you to the top.” The cripple replied. “But I cannot carry a pack. I cannot walk. My footsteps are too uncertain.“ The guide said. “I will help you. I will take you. Be ready in the morning. We will go to the top together.” The crippled man spent a sleepless night, but he was ready long before the appointed time. At last they set out on their journey. It was a tedious task. In many places the path was narrow, and the guide had to hold the crippled man’s hand. There were other places where the guide had to steady the man’s foot. After considerable time and effort they stood together on the summit. The cripple stood as tall as he could. He looked around and drank in the beauty, the awesomeness of the sight. Then he turned and fell on his knees before the guide and cried, “Sir, if it had not been for you, I would never have made it.”
Someday we will stand at the summit of eternity, before the throne of God. Those of us who know who Him will bow before him and declare, “God, if it had not been for you been for you. I would never have made it.” If we are going to make it — if we are going to know life and walk wisely through time toward eternity — we must have God’s help. As we obey and trust Him, God will make us wise. He will enable us to live a beautiful and pleasing life before Him.
WISDOM’S DEMANDS
As we have indicated, wisdom is far more than the mere gathering of information. A person may have a great deal of information but lack wisdom. The book of Proverbs can show us how to apply the wisdom and knowledge of eternity. It can also show us how to practice wisdom. That wisdom relates to where we live, work, and play. It helps us as we go about daily tasks and engage in personal relationships. It enables us to interact with those around us and to understand life. This is the wisdom God wants us to experience.
Wisdom is not possible for the lazy, careless, or casual persons. It is a pursuit that demands energy. It calls for persistent effort. If we would be wise, much will be required of us. We must make a genuine commitment to God if we want to experience His wisdom in our lives.
LISTEN TO GOD
There are three prerequisites for this kind of wisdom. First, we must have an attentive ear. We must listen to God.
A wise man listens with his heart as well as his ears. Jesus continually spoke of people who had ears to hear but did not hear (Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9. 23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35). If we want wisdom, if we want to live skillfully, with fulfillment, purpose, direction, and satisfaction, we must listen to God. It matters not how sound the counsel or how good the advice if we do not listen to it. “For the reference and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding” (Prov. 9:10, TLB).
Second, we must recognize that God is the source of wisdom. We cannot find wisdom anywhere else — not in others, nor in our own imaginations or our own thoughts. We must look to God for it.
Third, the wise take God seriously. They listen to His Words. They do not lean upon their own understanding, but upon His teaching. Anyone who disregards what God has to say is a fool. “Wisdom shouts in the streets for a hearing. She calls out to the crowds along Main Street, and to the judges in their courts, and to everyone in all the land: ‘You simpletons!’ she cries. ‘How long will you go on being fools? How long will you scoff at wisdom and fight the facts. Come here and listen! I will pour my spirit upon you and make you wise‘” (Prov. 1:20-23, TLB).
If we want the kind of wisdom that enables us to be a blessing to those around us, we must trust God. That involves listening to Him.
TURN FROM EVIL
Another requirement if we want to experience God‘s wisdom is to turn from evil. This is God‘s path to understanding.
Repentance
To turn from evil. we must repent. “Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding” (Prov. 9:6). By stressing repentance, the Scriptures emphasize changing direction. No one repents by keeping the same attitude about things. Lives must show change. Repentance indicates a reorientation of thought — a turning around and going the other way, a changing from man‘s direction to God’s. Repentance causes us to forsake evil and to seek good. There can be no wisdom apart front repentance.
lf we violate God‘s principles. and go on in ignorance and rebellion, God admonishes us to turn around. “If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride. arrogance, corruption and deceit of every kind” (Prov. 8:13, TLB). This reversal of direction is repentance. Where once we loved evil, now we hate it. We turn to God instead of away from Him.
Confession
After we repent in our hearts, it is necessary to confess our sins. This means we admit our sins and failures to God. “A man who refiuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance“ (Prov. 28:13. TLB). Confession is not telling God something He doesn‘t know. Rather, we come to agree with God about ourselves. God knows we are sinners. In our confession we say, “God, that’s right. I admit it.” In this manner I acknowledge my sin. I face up to my previous attitude and confess those things in me that are sins against God. In the confession of his sinful involvement with Bathsheba, King David cried, “Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed — it haunts me day and night. It is against you and you alone I sinned, and did this terrible thing. You saw it all and your sentence against me is just“ (Ps. 51:24, TLB).
Notice that he was specific about the sin he had committed. When we come to God, we are to acknowledge our transgressions to God and be specific about them. Confession of sin is a privilege, based on the invitation of God. “Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call upon Him now while He is near. Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon!“ (Is. 55:6-7, TLB).
Forgiveness
Repentance and confession are always hard, but the third part of turning from evil is the beautiful part. It is forgiveness “He will abundantly pardon,“ said the prophet Isaiah. When we repent and confess, God forgives. God’s pardon gives us another chance. Through repentance, we come into contact with the loving heart of God. He longs to give mercy. He does not delight in judgment. The Son of God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to redeem it. Hell becomes a human reality only because men refuse God‘s offer of holiness. But God is so serious about redeeming us that He gave His Son to die so that we could have forgiveness and salvation. That is God’s earnest desire.
The Psalmist explains what happens when we confess our sins. “He is merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge. nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:8-12, TLB).
PERSISTENT DEVOTION
It is not enough to listen to God once and then consider it finished. Nor should we be content to merely begin a relationship with God. We must persist in devotion if we are going to gain wisdom. This does not mean we have to follow a certain life-style in order to keep our salvation. God does not “recall” forgiveness. But He does expect us to walk wisely and winsomely. So if we are going to experience victory, we need to follow Him daily.
God not only wants us to be saved, but He wants us to grow in our devotion to Him. He doesn’t want an isolated act of repentance, but a lifetime of fellowship with Him. This means a disciplined, persistent quest as His disciple. For this reason Christians should be born anew, get into a Bible study, and become involved in serving God. God can then grant His eternal wisdom, as it is revealed in His Word, to our hearts. Thereafter, we are to continue walking with God in order to allow His wisdom to control our daily life.
We all give ourselves to something. If we do not give ourselves to God, we will give ourselves to something less, and falling short is the substance of sin. “Don‘t you realize that you can choose your own master? You can choose sin (with death) or else obedience (with acquittal). The one to whom you offer yourself — he will take you and be your master and you will be his slave. Thank God that though you once chose to be slaves of sin, now you have obeyed with all your heart the teaching to which God has committed you. And now you are free from your old master, sin; and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. I speak this way using the illustration of slaves and master, because it is easy to understand: just as you used to he slaves to all kinds of sin, so now you must let yourselves be slaves to all that is right and holy” (Rom. 6:16-19. TLB).
In order to receive God‘s eternal wisdom, we must first listen to Him, then turn from evil and, finally, persist in our devotion to Him.
NEXT: PART ll: Some Biblical Issues
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PART I: A Personal Search For Wisdom
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