Week 1: The beginning of wisdom

Transcription

1 Introduction Wisdom is the art of knowing the right thing to do and doing it at the right time. The book of James gives us a solid description of Heaven s wisdom: 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. (James 3:17) Wisdom is more than education. Wisdom is no respecter of one s education or intelligence level. In this way, wisdom is on an equal playing field and obtainable by anyone willing to seek it. How about you? Do you want wisdom? Would you like to know how to raise successful children? Would you like to know how to operate a good business? How about your dating life? Need some wisdom about that guy or girl you re seeing? The Book of Proverbs has something to say about it. We have an entire book in the Bible dedicated to giving us the answers we so desperately seek. This study guide is designed to help you gain the most from your experience. Wisdom is so essential that we cannot afford to miss it! The lessons in this booklet are arranged to coincide with our Sunday celebration topics. If you miss a Sunday, the teaching will be online at NewRiverChurch.org. Let s get started! As we begin, take a moment and write a note to yourself in the box. Respond to the statement: One thing I could really use some wisdom about is

2 Week 1: The beginning of wisdom The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 Wisdom is like love, we cannot touch it, but we sure can feel it. We cannot go online and buy a box of wisdom. Wisdom cannot be possessed, but it can be obtained. We operate with a fair amount of wisdom every day. For example, you probably put on a seatbelt before driving. Our experience tells us that wearing a seatbelt is a wise thing to do when driving. Likewise, you probably do not make a habit of walking down dark city streets at night. Conventional wisdom has taught you that it s just not safe. So wisdom is already a part of your daily living. If you have children, you spend much of your time training them to use wisdom in their decisionmaking. To begin our study in wisdom, let s look at the source from where it springs. If I cannot buy it at Wal-mart, where can I get it? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Think about this. What does this mean?. Let s dig deeper by reading the following Proverbs. We ve got to figure this out! READ Proverbs 1:7 Notice the word but in this proverb. It means Solomon is contrasting two concepts. What two concepts is he contrasting?. How does this contrast help us to understand wisdom better? From this, is a smart person automatically a wise person? Explain. READ Proverbs 2:1-8 According to verse 4, what is required of me if I am to get wisdom?.

3 This might sound goofy, but God is really smart. We all know this as a fact, but few experience it as a life directing principle. Practically speaking, how does the belief that God is brilliant change the way you live your life? READ Proverbs 1:1-6 In Proverbs 9:1 it says that wisdom has seven pillars. It has been suggested that these seven pillars can be found in these 6 verses. Here they are, as found in the New International Version of the Bible: Words of Insight Disciplined Life Prudent Life Knowledge Discretion Learning Guidance #1 Using your own words, take a moment and write a brief definition of each of these concepts. #2 What do these seven concepts teach you about wisdom? From our study today we have learned that wisdom does not just fall out of the sky. It is a treasure that requires a search, a trove of infinite jewels from God s very heart and we must dig for it. Congratulations! By engaging in this study, you have begun the quest. To complete this chapter, there is one more scripture for you to view. READ James 1:5. This wisdom quest begins with a request: God, please give me wisdom. It s there for the asking. Begin today.

4 Week 2: four fouls The fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. ~Psalm 14:1 Sometimes it helps to see what we shouldn t be to learn about what we should be. In our search for wisdom it is helpful to see what is NOT wisdom. If you were asked to give the opposite of wise, you would probably answer fool. This makes sense and you would be right but incomplete. To gain a better understanding of wisdom, Proverbs contrasts four different types of people with the wise. All of them lose out on the benefits of God s good wisdom and each is worse than the one before. There is the sluggard, the simpleton, the fool and ultimately, the mocker. Let s take a deeper look into the twisted world of these four fouls and see what we can learn from their negative example. (caution! Avoid the temptation to compare someone you know to one of these types of people.) Let s begin by observing the slothful existence of the sluggard. As you read the following Proverbs, make a list of the characteristics of the sluggard. Proverbs 1:32 Proverbs 6:6-11 Proverbs 10:26 Proverbs 19:24 Proverbs 20:4 Proverbs 26:13-16 Characteristics of a sluggard God created the Sabbath for us to rest. In fact, He commands us to rest! So, what is the difference between godly rest and being slothful? Notice that the sluggard is long on excuses and short on action. Remember, this is not only referring to physical work like mowing the lawn or housecleaning. In a bigger way, the sluggard is lazy towards the things of God. He is lazy in his pursuit of wisdom. Consider this, how strong is your personal pursuit of God s wisdom?

5 The sluggard is lazy. The simpleton is naïve. Look at these Proverbs and make another list of the simpleton s character traits. Proverbs 1:22 Proverbs 7:7 Proverbs 9:4-6 Proverbs 14:15 Proverbs 14:18 Characteristics of a simpleton In your study, is there a way out for the simpleton? If so, what is it? And now, we move on to the fool! So much is said about the fool that we really cannot cover it all in this study. But let s at least get started. Get your pen ready, Proverbs uses many words to describe the fool. Proverbs 1:22 & 32 Proverbs 9:13-18 Proverbs 12:15-16 Proverbs 14:1 & 7-8 Proverbs 15:2 & 5 Proverbs 17:12 Proverbs 21:20 Proverbs 28:26 Proverbs 29:9 & 11 Characteristics of a fool The worst foul of all is the mocker. This person has become hardened in their foolishness to the point of being proud in his opposition of God s wisdom. Proverbs 1:22 Proverbs 9:7-8 Proverbs 14:6 Proverbs 15:12 Proverbs 21:11 & 24 Proverbs 22:10 Proverbs 29:8 Characteristics of a mocker The bottom line is, you don t want to be a sluggard, simpleton, fool or a mocker! So, we had better get busy in our pursuit of God s wisdom! We ve got a lot to learn!

6 Week 3: killing pride In his pride, the wicked does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. ~Psalm 10:4 There are two kinds of pride. There is the pride of a 4 year old who just learned to tie their shoes, Look Mommy, I did it ALL BY MYSELF! This is not bad at all. In fact, it s sweet to celebrate the good accomplishments of our loved ones. It s the other kind of pride that we must wary of. The kind of pride that demands I must do it by myself! It s the pride that dismisses the importance of others and elevates self above all else. This kind of pride is a perfect set up for foolishness. This is the pride that refuses to listen to good advice. This is the pride that only seeks counsel in those who agree with their point of view. So shame and disgrace are not far behind. Proverbs has some good advice about what to do with our pride. We are to take it out behind the shed and kill it. Let s break this down into sections How God feels about pride: Proverbs 6:16-17 Proverbs 8:13 Proverbs 21:4 So based on these verses, how does God feel about our pride?. The negative affects of pride: Proverbs 11:2 Proverbs 13:10 Proverbs 16:18 Proverbs 29:23 In what ways have you witnessed the devastating effects of pride in your own life? READ Proverbs 16:19. Take a minute and think deeply about what this Proverb is saying. Why is it better to be humble and oppressed than to be proud and on top?

7 Killing Pride Before we finish our study this week, its important to talk about HOW to put pride to death in our lives. James 4:6 gives us a great clue. But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ~James 4:6 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. ~James 4:10 What does it mean to be humble before the Lord? So, HOW does a person get humble before the Lord?

8 Week 4: wisdom in marriage By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. ~Proverbs 24:3-4 Marriage is the most difficult relationship that anyone could enter into. The process of melding two lives into one involves more give than take. To make a me into a we is not easy but it does come with great rewards. If there was ever a relationship where we needed wisdom, it is marriage! King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. It could be said that given his track record, he can t possibly have much good to say about marriage. Or, you could say that given his track record, he ought to have much to say about marriage! You will probably notice that there are more Proverbs directed at wives than husbands. This is because Solomon was the king. (It can t possibly be the king s fault?!) Let s take a look Proverbs 24:3-4 By wisdom a house is built. Think through this for a minute. What does a home built on foolishness look like? What does a home built on wisdom look like? Through understanding it is established. Do you feel that you have a good understanding of your spouse? (If so, tell them one thing today that you admire about them.) Through knowledge What is the difference between understanding and knowledge? Rare and beautiful treasures. These could be literal treasures, but more likely, these treasures are intangible. Besides money, what kind of treasures would you like to fill your home? How do understanding and knowledge help to obtain those treasures?

9 Just for the ladies: Proverbs 12:4 Noble Character is a personal responsibility. Its something that we each develop as we draw nearer to Jesus. This means that the first key to being a good lover is being a good lover of Jesus. You love your husband best by loving Jesus first. What steps can you take to develop in noble character? Proverbs 21:9 Why do you think this specifically addresses a quarrelsome wife? What is your opinion, do you think women can be more argumentative than men? Why or why not? NOTE: The truth is, wives AND husbands can become argumentative. We have all had times when we would rather sleep on the roof in quiet than live in a continual fight. When we re not happy with ourselves, it is hard to be happy with our spouse. On this point, it may be helpful for you to call up a trusted friend/counselor and talk about it. It is never your spouse s job to fix all your soul s troubles. The more right you become with God, the more right you become with your spouse. Just for the men: Proverbs 18:22 Do you cherish your wife? Do you see her as a gift from the Lord? How can you show your wife that she is a gift today? Proverbs 5:15-19 Sexual attraction is a state of mind. If your wife has lost her appeal to you, it is not her fault. It s yours men! You can either cultivate a mindset that draws you to your wife, or you cultivate a mindset that leads you away. Did you notice in these verses that the challenge is given to you as a man and not to your wife? That is because it is your job to keep the heat on in the home. The word cherish literally means to keep warm. Did you not take a vow promising to love, honor and cherish her until death parted you? Read Proverb 5:15-19 again: What does this tell you to do to keep things heated up in your marriage?

10 NOTE: Remember our previous Proverb? Your wife is a gift from God. When a man lusts after a woman other than his wife, he despises the gift that God gave to him. Our culture is flooded with the lie that expects men to window shop or worse, to be physically unfaithful to their wives. The imagery in this Proverb of drinking from your own well makes it clear that you and your wife have something that is never to be shared with another. Consider this, how has the temptation to lust after other women weakened the bond of your marriage to your bride? If you were to begin praising your wife and cultivating a desire for only her, how will that strengthen the bond of your marriage? He who loves his wife, loves himself. ~Ephesians 5:28

11 Week 5: raising godly children Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. ~Proverbs 22:6 One of the complaints most parents often have is that their children did not come with a training manual. It would be helpful to have a step-by-step training guide! The good news is that the Bible gave you a training manual. It s called The Book of Proverbs. Proverbs was literally penned with the training of children in mind. You my have already noticed that the term my son is frequently used. This is because it was written as an adult who is training his child. The pages of Proverbs contain all the important lessons a parent needs to give their young children. Let s take a look Proverbs 22:6 To train a child in the way he should go means that each child is different. As the parent, you are best positioned to encourage your child in the gifts/abilities that God has given them. Take a moment and write out the vision you have for each of your children. Can you see it? Can you see where God is leading them? Next, take a look at Proverbs 4. This chapter contains three important lessons that every parent must teach their children. Let s break it down and take one at a time. Proverbs 4:1-9 What lesson is to be taught your children from these verses? Proverbs 4:10-19 What lesson is to be taught your children from these verses? Pay careful attention to verse 18. How is the righteous path like the sunrise?

12 Proverbs 4:20-27 What lesson is to be taught your children from these verses? How do you teach your child to guard their heart? Now let s look at what Proverbs says about discipline! Proverbs 3:11-12 God s discipline of us becomes a model for our discipline of our children. God disciplines us because He loves us. Why is discipline a loving thing? Proverbs 22:15 Proverbs 29:15 & 17 We must be careful with these verses! In the USA, we have developed some twisted ideas about discipline. Proverbs is not advocating the abuse of children, but neither is it advocating a soft response to our children s sin. When our children sin, the loving response is to deal with it swiftly, fairly and with care. We dare not ignore it! According to these Proverbs, what happens when a parent is passive about their children s sin? A word to the wise Consistency is key in the discipline of our children. Do not discipline them for a behavior today and then ignore the same behavior tomorrow. Be consistent. Fairness is also essential. Be certain that the punishment fits the crime, so to speak. Don t ground them for 6 months because they failed to take out the garbage this week, then let them off the hook when they beat up their little brother. That sends confusing messages to your children. Proverbs 6:20 In the NIV version of the Bible, this verse mentions a father s commands and a mother s teaching. How do teaching and commands go together?

13 The heart of the parent. Proverbs 17:6 This is a curious statement, the glory of children is their father. What kind of person do you need to be in order to become the glory of your children? Proverbs 20:7 Your integrity as a person provides a safe covering for your children and brings blessing to them. Let s think about this. How does a parent s integrity provide a safe covering for their kids? Does being blameless mean you have to be perfect as a parent? Why or why not? The Daddy Prayer Tiny little fingers, wrapping round my pinky; Squeezing me as tight as she can. With her big blue eyes and bright smile and little piggy tail, She s captured me and thrown away the key. Sticky little fingers and big white milk mustache; Squirmy little feet that won t sit still. Well he s trying hard to figure life by the questions that he asks. Dad how come this? And How come that? He s captured me and thrown away the key. I m just a simple man with a big job. Raising kids is not my specialty. Jesus please help me and mold me in your image. And I ll be the Dad they need me to be. Sometimes I do and say some things that later I regret; My kids, they ve got a sinner for a Dad! Cover them with your grace and with your shining Face. And capture me and throw away the key. I m just a simple man with a big job. Raising kids is not my specialty. Jesus please help me and mold me in Your image. Cause if I m like You then they can be like me. And if I m not like You, protect them Lord from me.

14 Week 6: wise relationships with the other side He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall. ~Proverbs 28:18 One of the most dangerous arenas in relationships is the one between men and women. These days, sexual harassment suits are commonplace, workplace romances ruin stable marriages, and our media encourages us to express ourselves sexually. Men and women have never been forced to work this closely together before. It brings up the ages old question, How can a young man keep his way pure? The answer, found in Psalm 119:9 is, By living according to Your Word. Thankfully, the Book of Proverbs offers us great wisdom on the matter! Proverbs 29:3 A companion of prostitutes squanders wealth. Could this statement be advice about the kind of people we are to spend time with? We compromise our choice to remain pure when we put ourselves in close contact with those who do not share that value. Think through your own interactions with the opposite gender. How many close calls have you had? How did you get into those situations? How did you get out of them? Proverbs 27:8 How does staying close to home help prevent you from getting into compromising situations with the opposite sex? Proverbs 31:30 While this Proverb speaks about the charm of a woman s beauty, it also speaks to a general principle about physical beauty. What is it? Special focus on Proverbs 7. This whole chapter is a warning to young men against going with an adulteress. There are some great principles buried here regarding proper relationships between men and women.

15 Proverbs 7:1-5 These verses basically challenge us to cherish God s Word, to treat it as the apple of our eye. How does a love for and focus on God s Word protect us from improper relationships with the opposite gender? Proverbs 7:7 What was it about this young man that showed he lacked good judgment? Proverbs 7:10 This woman had crafty intent. How can you know when someone s intentions for you are impure? What are the clues that give away their intentions? Proverbs 7:18 Does this woman truly love this man? How do you know? Proverbs 7:21 Smooth talk can get to the best of us! How can we train ourselves to be wary of smooth talkers? In talking about smooth talk we need to address the issue of giving compliments to the opposite gender. Quite often, smooth talk involves giving compliments. So, what do you think are some wise boundaries for when and how you compliment a person of the opposite gender?

16 Week 7: wise friendships He who walks with the wise grows wise but a companion of fools suffers harm. ~Proverbs 13:20 A friend is more than somebody who loves us. A friend is someone who likes us too. We all need someone who enjoys our company, who is glad to see us coming and hates to see us leave. The bible gives us very clear warnings about the kind of company that we keep. Hanging out with wise people can help us become wiser. Hanging out with foolish people will not do us any good. We easily become like the company we keep. Proverbs offers great wisdom on how to choose our friends wisely. Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens Iron. This tells us that we rub off on each other, either for the better or the worse. Some relationships sharpen us, other relationships make us dull. Think through your friendships. Which of your friends has done the most to sharpen you and help you to be more like Jesus? Friendship Warnings. Proverbs 22:24-25 What kind of person does this tell us to avoid? Why is hanging out with a hothead so dangerous? Proverbs 20:19 If someone gives up other people s secrets, he will probably do the same with yours. What does this Proverb tell us to do with such a person? Proverbs 20:6 What is the difference between someone who claims to have unfailing love and someone who is truly faithful? Proverbs 18:24 You may have a lot of companions, but how many true friends do you have?

17 Friendship Advice. Proverbs 3:27-28 Being a good neighbor is being a good friend. How does a friend serve another friend who is in need? Proverbs 17:17 According to this, what is the mark of a true friend? Proverbs 26:18-19 According to this, is a practical joker a true friend? Why or why note? Proverbs 27:5-6 Do you have any friends who are willing to hurt you if that s what helps you? If so, how long has it taken to develop those friendships? Proverbs 27:9-10 NOTE: The beauty of a good friend is the good counsel they give. This is the greatest reason why our closest friends should be godly people who can give biblical advice. Someone once said that we have three types of friendships: friends for a reason, friends for a season and friends for a lifetime. Some friends are people to whom God is asking us to minister. We are to be salt and light in this world. But for obvious reasons, we must be cautious in these relationships. Other friends are in our lives for a season. We enjoy their company for months, or even years, but schedules change, people move and the friendship dissipates. Then, there are friends for a lifetime. These are the people who share our love for Jesus. These are people who know us best and love us anyway. Choosing these kinds of friends is where we must be the most selective. From the Proverbs you have read on friendship, what valuable lessons have you learned and how will you apply them?

18 Week 8: righting wrongs To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. ~Proverbs 21:3 When my children cried unfair! my response was always that life is not fair. Our world wears injustice like a dog carries fleas. Everywhere you look, injustice and inequality abound. What is a godly person supposed to do about it? Because the dilemma is so large, many Christians have checked out. They assume the problem is beyond their control and so selfishly live out their lives. Other Christians have picked up the fight for justice. They march, picket, petition and do all they can make things right. What do the Proverbs say? What is a wise approach to righting wrongs in our world? Let s take a look The presence of injustice. Proverbs 13:23 Proverbs 17:23 In your experience, how prevalent is injustice in our world? How does God feel about injustice? Proverbs 11:1 Proverbs 20:10 Proverbs 23:10-11 So, in your own words, how does God feel about injustice? What we are supposed to do about it. Proverbs 21:3 Proverbs 21:13 & 15 Proverbs 24:23-25 Proverbs 31:8-9 According to these Proverbs, how should we respond to injustice? When it comes to injustice, we often operate with an out of sight, out of mind approach. If I don t see the injustice, am I off the hook in my responsibility to do something about it? Why or why not?

19 Week 9: speaking what is right The tongue holds the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. ~Proverbs 18:21 Foot-in-mouth disease is a common malady. There is no amount of medicine that can cure it. There are no doctors who specialize in treating it. Throughout the centuries the tongue has done more damage than any weapon of mass destruction. More lives have been ruined, homes obliterated, friendships severed, and careers demolished by the unsanctified tongue than any other offense. We have all had our share of oops moments. Those times when words flowed out of our mouths and we desperately wished we could reel them back. Proverbs has much to say about our words. As the proverb above suggests, our words have the power of life and death. So perhaps more than any other issue we face, we ought to make the pursuit of a wise tongue our top priority. We ve got a lot to learn, so let s get to it! For our study this week, we will divide these proverbs into different subsections. Speaking at the right time. Proverbs 11:22 Proverbs 15:23 Proverbs 25:11 Proverbs 27:14 What lessons do these Proverbs teach about speaking at the right time? Mouthing Off. Proverbs 17:27-28 Proverbs 18:2 Proverbs 29:20 What lessons do these Proverbs teach about mouthing off?

20 Perverse speech. What lessons do these Proverbs teach about cleaning up our mouths? Proverbs 4:24 Proverbs 6:12-14 Proverbs 8:6-8 Proverbs 25:23 Let s take this one a step further. What kinds of language would be classified as perverse or corrupt talk? Gossip. Proverbs 18:6-8 Proverbs 25:9-10 Proverbs 26:20 What lessons do these Proverbs teach about gossip? Honestly speaking. Proverbs 15:4 Proverbs 17:20 Proverbs 24:26 Proverbs 26:28 What lessons do these Proverbs teach about honesty? Giving knowledge. Proverbs 10:31-32 Proverbs 11:9-11 Proverbs 15:2 & 7 Proverbs 18:20-21 If you are wise, what kinds of things will come from your mouth?

21 Week 10: financial wisdom Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. ~Proverbs 23:4 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth; and He adds no trouble to it. ~Proverbs 10:22 The two proverbs quoted above demonstrate the two extremes in a wise approach to money. On one hand, we are not to wear ourselves out to get rich. But on the other hand, one of God s blessings is wealth. It s about our focus. It is foolish to focus on money. It is wise to focus on God. A focus on money will only lead to trouble and more trouble. A focus on God will lead to blessing and perhaps even some money. The bottom line is that if we are unhappy without money, we will be unhappy with it. The person who delights in God will indeed be the richest person on the planet, even if they live in poverty. Keeping Jesus first will help us to keep a proper perspective on money. Many of these proverbs were written by Solomon. He just happened to be the wealthiest person to ever live. He received an annual income of 666 tons of gold! Based on current market prices, that would amount to $43 Billion! (yes, the bible tells us he received this much each year) It s safe to say that Solomon had some experience with money. Let s learn from the wisdom of his experience. Because Proverbs has so much to say about money, it is helpful to break it down into subsections as we study it. Get your pen ready! Seeking wealth versus seeking integrity. Proverbs 11:18 & 28 Proverbs 15:16-17 Proverbs 16:7-8 Proverbs 23:4-5 Where should our focus be when it comes to money? Working hard for the money. Proverbs 12:11 Proverbs 13:11 Proverbs 14:23 Proverbs 28:19-20 What advice do these proverbs give about get rich quick schemes?

22 Generous living. Proverbs 3:27-28 Proverbs 11:24-25 Proverbs 19:17 Proverbs 22:9 Proverbs 28:22,25,27 How do these proverbs define a generous lifestyle? Honoring God with money. Proverbs 3:9-10 Exodus 23:19 Malachi 3:8-9 Matthew 23:23 How does God ask us to honor Him with money? Bonus round: Honestly, can we say that we honor God with our wealth if we are disobeying Him by not tithing? Co-signing loans and debt. Proverbs 11:15 Proverbs 17:18 Proverbs 22:7 Proverbs 22:26-27 What is a wise approach to debt and co-signing loans with others? Wisdom in saving. Proverbs 6:6-8 Proverbs 13:22 Proverbs 21:20 Proverbs 27:23-27 What do these proverbs tell us about saving? Bonus round: How have these proverbs changed the way you will handle money?

23 Congratulations! You have worked your way through the Book of Proverbs! Now the fun begins because Proverbs is not about having a notebook filled with good ideas. Proverbs is about changing the way you live your life. During the last 10 weeks you have gained insight into relationships, parenting, money management, justice and much more. Do you remember week 2? We talked about the four fouls. The sluggard hasn t gotten this far yet. (He left this under the front seat of his car after church and hasn t bothered to get it.) The simpleton has probably read this but will claim that he is confused and it s too difficult for him to comprehend. The fool has skimmed the Proverbs and knows what should be done but would rather not bother. (where s the party?) The mocker has dismissed this whole exercise and thought it to be a waste of time. Thankfully, YOU are none of those guys! You have worked hard, you have prayed, you have thought deeply about what you need to do. It would help if you found someone in your Life Group to help you process all that you have learned. Your Life Group can help hold you accountable as you put your plan into action. Keep in mind that wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord, which is quickly followed by a request of the Lord. (James 1:5) As we close our time together on this, remember that the pursuit of wisdom is a lifetime endeavor. We serve an infinite God Whose wisdom is equally infinite. We cannot possibly comprehend it all in our lifetime! So let s determine to spend our lifetime growing in His wisdom, holding it close to our hearts and letting it flow from our lips. Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. ~Proverbs 22:17-18 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5