THE PRINCIPAL THING
“WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING; THEREFORE GET WISDOM. And in all your getting, GET UNDERSTANDING.”
Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV)
The Bible admonished us to get wisdom being the principal thing. In other words, wisdom is the main thing, the most important thing, you will ever need to run the race of life.
What is wisdom?
• Wisdom is the ability to live life skillfully.
• Thus, the Bible, the Word of God, provides God’s detailed instructions for believers in Christ to deal successfully with practical affairs of everyday life.
• Divine perspective necessary to handle life’s issues are found in the Word of God.
Now, if wisdom is the principal thing; How do you get it?
I. Wisdom is found in Christ Jesus.
• Jesus is wisdom personified.
• Jesus is the embodiment of wisdom.
• Therefore, all you need is Jesus: “BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED, BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS, CHRIST THE POWER OF GOD AND THE WISDOM OF GOD" (1 Corinthians 1:24 NKJV).
• The Scripture says wisdom is the principal thing; thus, having Jesus, the embodiment of wisdom, is the principal and most important thing.
• Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour and Lord?
• Are you abiding in Him?
• If you are in Christ Jesus, and you abide in Him, and you walk in all His commands; you will walk in wisdom and all its benefits (John 15: 4-10).
II. Fear, morally reverence, of God is the beginning of wisdom, the Scripture says (Psalm 111:10).
• When you have reverence, awe, for God and His Word, you will not want to disobey Him, and you would not want your fellowship with Him to be marred or negatively affected.
• You have the foundation of wisdom established in you through reverential fear of God: “FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE FOUNDATION OF TRUE WISDOM. ALL WHO OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS WILL GROW IN WISDOM. PRAISE HIM FOREVER!” (Psalm 111:10 NLT)
III. When you walk in the light of the Word of God that you know, you grow in wisdom.
• Wisdom comes through the Word of God, and through fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:15,16).
• Your depth in the Word of God and fellowship with the Holy Spirit determines the level of wisdom you possess.
• Those who obey, love the Word of God, grow in wisdom.
• God’s wisdom comes through the Knowledge of Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15)
IV. Also in getting wisdom; you seek God’s face by asking in prayer and you will not be denied: “IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, WHO GIVES TO ALL LIBERALLY AND WITHOUT REPROACH, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM" (James 1:5 NKJV).
• Remember, all our requests in prayer should be directed to God the Father through Jesus Christ, and He will grant us; He is generous, liberal, in granting the requests of His children.
23 “AND IN THAT DAY YOU WILL ASK ME NOTHING. MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, WHATEVER YOU ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME HE WILL GIVE YOU.
24 UNTIL NOW YOU HAVE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME. ASK, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.”
John 16:23,24 (NKJV)
V. In your quest to get wisdom, you would have to be diligent about it: “I [wisdom] LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE ME, AND THOSE WHO SEEK ME DILIGENTLY WILL FIND ME” (Proverbs 8:17 NKJV).
• Therefore, be diligent in studying and meditating in the Word of God (Joshua 1:8).
• It is not enough to know the Word of God, you put the Word you know to practice—you do the Word of God that you know (Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:22-25).
• The practicing of the Word of God leads to wise decisions about life: “BUT HE WHO LOOKS INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AND CONTINUES IN IT, AND IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS ONE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES” (James 1:25 NKJV).
What are the benefits of getting wisdom:
• You leadership is enhanced through wisdom:
15 BY ME [wisdom] KINGS REIGN, AND RULERS DECREE JUSTICE. 16 BY ME PRINCES RULE, AND NOBLES, ALL THE JUDGES OF THE EARTH" (Proverbs 8:15,16 NKJV).
• Where wisdom is, riches and honour are found there. One can simply know a person’s level of wisdom by what he does with money that comes to his hand.
Enduring riches and righteousness are found with wisdom: “RICHES AND HONOUR ARE WITH ME, ENDURING RICHES AND RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Proverbs 8:18 NKJV).
The foundation of it all:
If you have not opened the door of your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, take this step:
9 THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. 10 FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION" (Romans 10:9,10 NKJV).
As you have taken the step, you will be fruitful in all your endeavour as you walk in the light of His Word.
Jesus says: “I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. HE WHO ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; FOR WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING" (John 15:5 NKJV).
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!