THE
WEALTH OF WISDOM
BREAD
1 My
son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and
applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for
understanding, 4 and if
you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the
fear of the Lord and find the
knowledge of God. 6 For
the Lord gives wisdom, and from
his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds victory in store for
the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of
the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what
is right and just and fair--every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your
heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Proverbs 2:1-10 (NIV)
13 Blessed
is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable
than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than
rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right
hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace. Proverbs 3:13-17 (NIV)
10 Choose
my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is more precious than
rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:10-11 (NIV)
18 For
the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will
frustrate.” 20 Where
is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God
the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the
foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs
and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to
Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is
wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's
strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NIV)
BUTTER
“We
judge things by their present appearance; but the Lord sees them in their
consequences. If we could do the same we
would be perfectly of His mind; but since we can’t, it is an unspeakable mercy
that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not;
and it is regarded as one of His heaviest judgments when He gives any person up
to the way of their own hearts, and to walk according to their own wisdom.” John
Newton
“His wisdom’s
vast, and knows no bounds, a deep where all our thoughts are drowned.” Isaac
Watts
“God alone knows
the depth and riches of His Godhead, and divine wisdom alone can declare His
secrets.” Thomas
Aquinas
“Most of us go
through life praying a little, planning a little, jockeying for position,
hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid
that we will miss the way. There is a
better way. It is to repudiate our own
wisdom and take instead the infinite wisdom of God…..God has charged Himself
with full responsibility for our eternal happiness and stands ready to take
over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him.” A. W.
Tozer
“The doorstep to
the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a
quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and a wisdom which is a
thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they
care not. They are masters of their
souls. They have overcome the
world. These people, Donatus, are
Christians…and I am one of them.” St.
Cyprian, 200-258
HEART SAVOR
- · Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
- · I am blessed to find wisdom and to gain understanding – both are more profitable than silver and gold.
- · The “foolishness” of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the “weakness” of God is stronger than man’s strength.
