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9/26/2018

Wisdom

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    What is true wisdom, in the Spiritual since? How is Spiritual wisdom better then the wisdom I have accumulated through my 60+ years of life?
    This study will attempt to contrast the different sides, standards and coming from different sources, so I am splitting this into sub subjects: Discernment, Wisdom:  Both Worldly and Spiritual, Source of Wisdom, Value of Wisdom, Knowing God’s Will, and How to live. I hope this lesson will help in understanding what God hopes for us.
 
Table of Contents:
Pg 1 Introduction                                                     Pg 3 Worldly Wisdom:
        Table of Contents                                                     Contrast of God’s &       
        Key                                                                     Pg 4 Human Wisdom:
        Definition of wisdom: Dictionary & Bible     Pg 5 Heavenly or Spiritual
        Pg 2 Key Verses                                               Pg 7 Practical’s to live by
        Discernment                                                   Pg 8 Concluding Thoughts
 
KEY:
Key Words:
    RED       – Key Word
    Green    – Positive qualities

    BLACK  – Important Word, Negative qualities
    [II]          – Footnotes Located at the bottom of the page.
    ()            – Added words for clarity
 
Definition: Wisdom:
1 the quality of being WISE; power of JUDGING RIGHTLY and following the SOUNDEST COURSE OF ACTION, based on (true) KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTANDING,  etc.; GOOD JUDGMENT, SAGACITY 
2 LEARNING: KNOWLEDGE: ERUDITION/ THE WISDOM OF THE AGES]
3 [Now Rare] wise discourse or teaching
4 a wise plan or course of action --SYN. INFORMATION
 
Definition: Discern:
1 to separate (a thing) mentally from another or others; recognize as separate or different
2 to perceive or recognize; make out clearly --vi.  to perceive or recognize the difference
 
SYN.--discern implies a making out or recognizing of something visually or mentally [to discern  one's motives];
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Pg 2


Key Verses:
James 3 Two Kinds of Wisdom:
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
 
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

#   God’s wisdom is pure because it comes from a pure source.  Man changed becoming most definitely in-pure on a heart level, when sin became a part of us. 
   Both natures are described here battling, one spiritual expressed by our good deeds done in humility, the other worldly, expressed by envy and selfish ambition. What I take to heart eventually comes out in action.  Matt 12:33-35 [I] "Out of the storeroom of the heart" Faith requires works, Love needs expressing and Spiritual wisdom requires proof by deeds "done in humility" so that it shows the evidence of what wisdom I hold.
    Those who are happy to humbly acknowledge God as having the pure, eternal wisdom are open to that wisdom and can make it a part of their lives with God’s help.

Prov 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in  prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, (a gullible person, without directions, prone to evil) knowledge and discretion to the young.

#   Proverbs is focused on the gaining of wisdom. The real need for everyone to gain it, the benefits of true wisdom. The word is used 55 times in Proverbs so you can get the idea that it is really important that we read it.  In verses 3-4 it says wisdom gives instruction for doing what is right, just, and prudence to the simple meaning those prone toward evil, therefore; just from this the wisdom being spoken of here must be spiritual wisdom vs worldly or human wisdom.
    I recommend you watch YouTube "the Bible Project" videos on Wisdom It covers Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, and Job, three different views of wisdom.

James 1 Trials and Temptations: (v2-18)
5 If any of you (disciples) lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

#  To get the best of anything I need to go to where the best is. God is the source of everything, including wisdom, both the worldly, as in common since and understanding of how things work in the world, and the spiritual, eternal wisdom that goes beyond this world. Going to any other source; a person or creation would by nature be going to what is fallible, weak and limited in scope. Paul wrote about this

 FOOTNOTES:
[I] Matt 12
33 "Make a gree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 you brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
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Pg 3


Ecc 1 Wisdom is Meaningless:
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! 14 I have seen all things that are done under the son, all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

#   I am convinced that Solomon used his great human wisdom to its furthest extent to explore just how far it would take him and found all his efforts to be a waist of time. The only recourse is for man to pursue spiritual wisdom.

Gal 5 Life by the Spirit: (v13-25)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
 
Worldly WISDOM:
Gen 3 The Fall: (v1-24)
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
 
#   This is a surprise. Worldly thinking existed right along with Spiritual thinking. I think this is likely so we had a choice in what we wanted to do with our life.
     We know the choice to eat the forbidden fruit was the mistake on Man’s part, that started it all.  The desire for wisdom I don't think was or is bad, but what Eve got was a mind and heat that is now "hardwired' to focus on worldly wisdom, limiting her ability to see spiritually. This is the exact opposite of what she should have been seeking from God. 
    My first impression of this difference in wisdom is Worldly wisdom seems to be bent in a shortsighted selfish direction that really doesn't look too closely at the consequences of our actions, while spiritual wisdom seems much more outward focused, seeking God’s viewpoint and not that of my own. There is the added side benefit of being willing to focus on others.
 
Contrast between God’s and Man’s Wisdom:
1 Cor 2 God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit: (v6-16)
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 
#   For me, this is an essential truth. It points out the clear separation that exists between worldliness and spiritual, specifically the spiritual that only comes from God. My natural way of thinking can only bring me so far. I need the Spirits help to provide what I am lacking so I may see the many awesome spiritual truths of God. Most of mankind stop here they use only their own ability to see and have as a result "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator- who is forever praised" Rom 1:25 We all need to seek the wisdom that God freely gives so we may see with spiritual eyes
Key Verse. James 1:5 above.

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Pg 4


1 Cor 1 Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom: (v18-31)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us (disciples) who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
 
“I will destroy the (worldly) wisdom of the wise;
    the (worldly) intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[Is 29:14]
 
20 Where is the (spiritually) wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? 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 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 human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
 
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
NOTE: The word "foolishness" is in green to highlight that it is only foolishness in the eyes of the world.

#   I love this!.  It strips away the illusion that man is equal to the task of finding a way to God. It shows the futility of using human/worldly wisdom to find God or have the ability to understand the great depths of Gods. So when the message of the Cross is presented it is perceived as foolishness by the Greeks/gentiles or not fitting the preconceived idea of what should be the way to God (Jews). A example of this is when Paul was being judged by King Agripa. The King said "...You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." (Acts 26:24)
    On one side a king with a high level of education, familiar with the teachings of the scriptures couldn't accept the message Paul was teaching, and on the other, Paul expressed the heart of God to him. This conflict is to be expected when two opposites meet.
 
     I think these two verses points out one of the coolest lessons about the nature of God and man, and the extent of our differences between what we, as humans, value and how we naturally think to what God values and how he thinks. Invariably, by nature man picks the opposite of what God wants us to put our trust in, Him not self or things. Here God plainly says human (worldly) wisdom is of no value when trying to seek a path to a relationship with him. It appears that one of the major underlying lessons about God is that when seeking God, the cost includes even our way of thinking.

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Pg 5
 
    Once the disciples asked Jesus about the rich being saved, Jesus said it was easier for a camel to pass thru the eye of a needle then for a rich man to be saved, Matt 19:16-20 [I]
One explanation is that the rich man needs to be willing to strip himself of his trust in his wealth and the "wise man" must do the same with his worldly wisdom and become fools (in the worldly since) in order to become wise, in a spiritual since 1 Cor 3:18-22 (the page above). 
 
    The logic makes perfect since and was one of the lessons that brought me to Christ."
         
The Limitations of Human Wisdom:
Pr 21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. 
                                                                                        
#   The Bible is full of examples of those who mocked God and the result.  Every nation that trusted in their own ability; their armies, wealth, power, their own gods, all quite reasonable decisions in a worldly since, and used it against God by attacking the Jews failed completely and often dramatically. All the empires of the Bible from Egypt to Rome are no more. Their plans could not stand against those of the Lord.
 
     I wonder if perhaps even the devil is like this. Is the devils in all his great power and knowledge so extremely blind to spiritual thinking that it is now impossible for him to see the end that is coming or that even though he can see and understand it, he, by his nature cannot change how he responds?
 
    Both attitudes seem to apply to people. The Jewish leaders for all their knowledge of God’s Word could not stop being fixated on their own point of view, even when shown the truth. So they turned to hate and out of claimed devotion to God they murdered Christ.
    It's time for a new way of thinking. One of humility, spiritually based, thinking from an eternal point* of view and stop making plans that will come to nothing and seek the true wisdom that God intended for us from the beginning, wisdom that will succeed.
 
(*More on this subject in my Word Study on “Eternity”)
 
FOOTNOTES:
[I]  Matt 19 THE RICH AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD (v16-30)
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
 
#   How big is God in your eyes? If I see God as small, weak, limited in ability to help me, of what value then would God be to me when I really need it?  But God is so vast in power, wisdom, strength, Love, compassion, mercy, grace, justice, etc. and having the heart’s desire to be in my life to give what I truly need. In humility I need to acknowledge this, approaching God with a healthy awe, and even fear of God as the ultimate source of all power, including true wisdom and understanding needed for this life and the life to come, brings eternal praise.
 
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Pg 6
 
Rom 1 God’s Wrath Against Sinful Man: (v18-32)
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be (spiritually) wise, they became (spiritual) fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
 
#   When man looked to nature for answers and not God. They mistook the sign pointing the way for the final answer. Verses 21-23 talks of how the thinking of some became futile and foolish, claiming to be wise, spiritually, they in truth became fools in this case because of the image they built to worship was one that came out of their own wisdom, replacing the true God with something that is worthless.
 
1 Cor 3 The Church and Its Leaders: (v1-23)
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; 20 and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."
 
#   This is GREAT! Another verse that contrasts so clearly the “contrary” thinking humans have when compared to the way God thinks.
 
Jer 9 Sin and Punishment: (v8:4-22 – 9:1-26)
23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
 
#   I think boasting is another way of saying trust.  So "let not the wise man trust in his, (human gained) wisdom or the strong man trusts in his strength or the rich man trust in his riches", as worldly wisdom says we can and should. But instead trust in the Lord. "...Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty". Zech 4:6 The power of God's Spirit is better than any of creations abilities.
              
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Pg 7
Matt 7 The Wise and Foolish Builder: (v24-29)
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock (Faith in Christ). 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
 
#     In this verse the wise man builds on the spiritual rock (Christ), the foolish man builds on sand (the world). Both face the storm of life’s’ daily struggles. Since nothing in this world lasts, it is sand that is not worth building on. The only permanent foundation of Christ, who doesn't change can be trusted to last. In 1 Kings 19:10-13 [II] Elijah came face to face with God. God passed by him while he was protected in a cave. First wind, then earthquake, and fire but God wasn't in them. God followed as a gentle whisper.
    I think Elijah was on the rock (Christ) while the unpredictable, unsure and volatile things of the world were being pushed aside by God. Once they were out of the way Elijah could hear God without distractions.
 
Zech 4 The Gold Lamp-stand and the Two Olive Trees: (v1-14)
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by (human) might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
 
FOOTNOTES:
[I]  Matt 12 Jesus and Beelzebul: (v22-37)
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
 
[II] 1 Kings 19 The Lord Appears to Elijah: (v10-18)
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
 
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
 
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
 
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
 
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Pg 8

Concluding Thoughts:
    There is a universe of difference between spiritual and worldly wisdom. With the eating of the forbidden fruit man cut the spiritual connection to God, leaving a heart that is bent toward worldly wisdom.
1) Adam and Eve already had the spiritual way if thinking, that was connected with God was
     cut. All that was lacking was time to learn from it.

2) Man's heart and mind are now "hardwired" to worldly, thinking, wisdom, creating the
    condition where. "..man without the Spirit does not accept the things from the Spirit of God"
    1 Cor 2:14-16 [I]  they seem like foolishness.
3) The focus of worldly wisdom seems to be one of selfishness demonstrated by what we trust
    in and chase after, money, comfort, status, possessions, strength, etc. In the world they are
    valued as proof of getting ahead. But all these things are of this world and limited to this
    world.
3b)  I can see that Solomon in Ecclesiastes became very frustrated when he tested the extent
     of his wisdom. I am convinced that he realized that he can't take anything he did with him
    when he dies and his works can't help him find a way to get close to God. making it all,
    "chasing after the wind"

4)  As a practical I would say examine the way you think on the heart level. use the Spirit given
     you to discern the truth and trust in the source of wisdom that only comes from God.
    1 Cor 3:18-20 [II] since spiritual wisdom fits the nature of God. It can't be selfish because
    God isn’t;
5) Spiritual wisdom it is outward focused off of self and worldly things and onto spiritual
    things, God's will and others.

NOTE: for more on changing the way you think look at the study. "Overcoming Self"

6)   With spiritual wisdom I will have the ability to apply spiritual discernment to see the true
    value of both worldly and spiritual things. The worldly is limited only of this world while the
    spiritual is eternal, essential for this world and the world to come. Ecc 2:10 [III], Ecc 2:14-17
    [IV], verses Ecc 2:24-26 [V]
 
7)    Much of what we do in our day to day lives calls for having basic common since, which I
     believe also is from God, to survive and get ahead in life. I would much rather my/our
     children have a good grasp of common since and discernment then a fancy collage degree
     with no common since, this is especially true now, with what I hear about some of the things
     being pushed to collage students today, With common since whatever they learn they can
     make the best use of and be very happy with what they have in life. Adding spiritual wisdom
    is even better because its return is a crown that can lasts forever 1 Cor 9:25 [VI].
 
NOTE:  For more study on Wisdom Read all of Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Job. Also the YouTube videos put out by "The Bible Project" cover these three books with a very clear presentation of the different aspects of wisdom.

Two parting verse:
Phil 4 Final Exhortations:
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think abut such things.

2 Cor 5 A Final Charge to Timothy:
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

FOOTNOTES:
[I] 1 Cor 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.

#   We as disciples can't do any better that to have the mind of Christ for spiritual wisdom, if we are diligent in putting it to proper use.

[II] 1 Cor 3 The Church and Its Leaders: (v1-23)
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you (disciples) think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should (now) become “fools” (by the world's standards) so that you may become wise, (by God's standards) 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” [Job 5:13]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” [Ps 94:11]

[III] Ecc 2 Pleasures Are Meaningless: (v1-11)
10 I (Solomon) denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
 
[IV] Ecc 2 Wisdom and Folly are Meaningless: (v12-16)
14 The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both.
15 Then I said to myself, "The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
    What then do I gain by being wise?”
I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.”
16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!

Toil Is Meaningless 17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
 
[V] Ecc 2 Toil Is Meaningless: (v17-26)
24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

[VI] 1 Cor 9 The Need for Self-Discipline: (v24-27)
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we (disciples) do it to get a crown that will last forever.

 
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Pg 9

ADDED REFERENCE VERSES:    
The Value of wisdom:
Prov 3 Wisdom Bestows Well-Being (v1-35)
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain 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.

Ps 119:125 I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.
         
#   David went to God the source of all true wisdom seeking the ability to understand God's commands. His son Solomon also asked for the wisdom to be a great king.
 
Col 2: 2 My purpose is that they (disciples) may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete (spiritual) understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
 
#   To know God's will I need to know God. All the qualities, the vary nature of the Father is found in Jesus. Not some but all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Well worth the cost.
 
1 Cor 2 God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit: (v6-16)
6 We (Apostles) do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, (then) they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
 
Pr 4 Get Wisdom at Any Cost:
5 Get (spiritual) wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
 
Ecc 1 Everything Is Meaningless:
#   When I read this I think, poor Solomon, his great learning, insight and wisdom really hasn't provided much happiness.  Then I look and see that most of what he was studying seemed to be based largely on human wisdom.  If so, then it makes a lot more since that it didn't bring happiness. In other verses Solomon says after denying himself nothing of material things, pleasures in the end it was all meaningless. Ecc 2:10-11 [I]
 
     When examining wisdom he too seems disappointed, concluding that both the wise and fool die the same death in the end, so he hated life. Ecc 2:14-15, 17 [II] Then he sees that everything in life is from God and a person can be find satisfaction in their work; If it's pleasing to God, to all others their life in the end is meaningless. Ecc 2:24-26 [III]
         
Pr 3 Wisdom Bestows Well-Being: (v1-35)
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
 
Chapter 3 is filled with strong advice even pleading that the writers son should seek, find and keep; wisdom (True wisdom that is Godly in nature), understanding, and discernment.  True wisdom and understanding is helpful for all areas of our lives the worldly and spiritually.
 
FOOTNOTES:

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    John is a long-time disciple and student of God's Word. Enjoy these topical studies that he has compiled over the years.
    John would love your feedback on his studies. Please feel free to email him at beckerjohnf@hotmail.com

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Email

kanawhavalleychurch@gmail.com
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