Wisdom

Wisdom - we all need it. We need wisdom in our marriage, with our kids in our parenting, in our dating life, with our finances, in our jobs and so much more. Wisdom is key for us to grow and become the men and women God created us to be. God has a plan and a purpose for us. Yet, we live in a world that doesn’t always have wisdom. We live in a world filled with knowledge. We have more knowledge than at any other time in history. We all have smartphones that, if we need any questions answered, we go right to them. Any question like, “Hey Siri, who won the 2019 Super Bowl?” (It was the Patriots.) We can really ask anything. And then there is ChatGPT - write me an email, write me a business plan, write me a healthy eating plan, etc. But, the question no one is asking is, “With all this knowledge, is it making us better?” What are we gaining from all of the knowledge that is there? Depression, anxiety, fear and stress are on the rise. Yet, we have more knowledge and technology than ever before and than any other nation. We’ve got all this knowledge, but what we desperately need is wisdom.

The United States is the most technologically advanced culture to ever exist in history, and the US doesn’t even crack the Top 10 in happiness or most fulfilled nation around the world. Two years ago, we were 14th, and last year we fell to 18th. But we have so much knowledge?! There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. And God wants us to have wisdom.

The average adult makes 35,000 decisions a day. Ever thought about that? Don’t you want to have wisdom to make good decisions? In your marriage? In parenting? In your job? While the world runs after knowledge, God wants us to have wisdom to live a godly, impactful and meaningful life. God wants us to succeed. God created us, and He has a purpose for our lives. He is telling us how to live it and to live it with wisdom. And the Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10-12

We just concluded a powerful series at church called “Wisdom for the Ages” as we walked through the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. This book is an incredible gift in the Bible that tells us how we should live. It is only 12 chapters long, and you can read it here. And, if you missed a week in this series or want a recap, see the links below.

Week 1 | Start Strong - Finish Faithful

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his old age. Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest person to ever live. He was king over all Israel. Although Solomon started well, he did not finish well. He drifted from God and pursued the things of this world. He writes Ecclesiastes as a warning to those who come behind him to keep God first in their life. Solomon pursued everything this world has to offer and found it all “meaningless.” We all get one shot at life, so let’s not waste it on things that are trivial. Invest your life in what matters. Always keep God first.

Week 2 | What Are You Living For?

In Ecclesiastes Chapter 2, Solomon explores the pursuits of pleasure, achievement and possessions, ultimately finding them all meaningless apart from God. While God wants us to enjoy life, these pursuits become empty when they are self-centered or disconnected from Him. Solomon concludes that true fulfillment—wisdom, joy and purpose—comes only from God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism affirms that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Let’s determine to invest the rest of our lives in the pursuit of what really matters - a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus.

Week 3 | Make Every Moment Count

Time is precious. God has given us life. We were born for a reason and a purpose. We often complain that we don’t have enough time. It is really not about time, but about priorities. Therefore, we must prioritize the time God has given us and live each moment for Him. To know  God is Sovereign over this world and over our lives. May we learn to understand how precious our time is so that we gain a heart of wisdom. Wisdom to live each moment for the glory of God.

Week 4 | Wisdom Is Knowledge in Action

In today’s world, there is an obsession with knowledge but a growing resistance to true wisdom. While knowledge is the accumulation of information, wisdom is the right application of that knowledge, something our society increasingly overlooks. Ecclesiastes 4 echoes this truth by exposing the emptiness of ambition, isolation, and toil without purpose. It reminds us that life’s value is not in what we know or achieve, but in how we live in relationship with others and with God.