Just for the Asking

Scripture:
Proverbs 2:6-7a — “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright…”

Observation:
Twice in these verses Solomon tells me the source of wisdom is God. In fact, the wisdom I can receive from God is “sound” by nature. That is, God’s wisdom will never let me down, never be proven false, never lead me in a direction contrary to His perfect will, and never leave me disappointed. It will always be exactly what I need to hear when I need to hear it. And the idea that God “stores up” this kind of wisdom means there will never be a shortage of it because He gives it generously. And the amazing truth is that He is simply waiting for me to ask Him for it! God longs for the moment when I seek Him for the answers, or the direction, or the counsel I need. And He can’t wait to give it to me. But there is that last phrase: “for the upright.” That is, for those who seek His honor above their own, for those who seek His kingdom, and His righteousness, as Jesus later said.

Application:
I need, depend on, God’s “sound wisdom” each day. I face daily decisions for which I need God’s counsel. I face powerful temptations for which I need to know the way of escape. I encounter difficult people who are sometimes hard to understand and even harder to relate to. And God “stores up” this wisdom for me. My only requirement to receive it is to live before Him a life that is “upright”. Am I striving to obey God in all areas of my personal and public life? Am I seeking Him first? Am I listening to His voice and surrendering my will to His? This generous offer of the gift of wisdom is waiting for my life to answer “yes.”

Prayer:
God, I cannot live without Your wisdom. Thank You that You store it up for me. Thank You that You offer it to me generously. I want to live my life seeking Your honor, Your kingdom, Your righteousness. I confess that I sometimes settle for my own wisdom. I sometimes become confident in my own ability, and I fail to seek Your help. Cleanse me and remind me often that true wisdom is there simply for the asking.

— Jeff Holland, congregational care pastor, reservoir pastor