“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; the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:2-3, 7 NIV)
as a man thinks so is he
Firstly, wisdom is the application of knowledge in a manner that brings prosperity to the individual. The wise are generally god fearing and apply principles that can be traced back to the sages of old, like Solomon and David, kings of Israel. The wise will always act in ways that are principled and upright.
From our text we see that Solomon outlines the requirements for obtaining and attaining wisdom, viz.
- Discipline; this is paramount if one wants to be wise. A disciplined one is one who is a follower and a learner. Good learners become great teachers.
- Understanding; to understand something is to grasp and appreciate a concept and the nuances associated to that concept so that is can be applied.
- Prudence; this describes someone who is practical. Wisdom dictates that what you are doing is practical and achievable.
- Justice; ensures that you are doing the right thing for the right reasons and doing it in a way that is both ethical and honest.
Solomon stipulates from the outset that knowledge and the wisdom that flows from this, is predicated by ‘the fear of the Lord.’ If we do not fear the Lord, then we will despise wisdom and suffer the consequences.
Today, fear the Lord, accept his discipline and make wise choices. The first choice should be to seek his kingdom and all his righteousness then all the other things will follow.
Read Proverbs 1
Pastor Bell's Words To Live By 
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