In our previous blogs from the ‘Everyday Wisdom’ series we’ve seen the difference between conventional wisdom and Godly wisdom. Biblical wisdom (hokma) is not intellectual attainment, but it’s having a skill or expertise in something. According to the Bible the wise person lives rightly before God and men with the everyday stuff of life.
Whether the wise are successful in the cultures’ standard of success or not, the wise in the Book of Proverbs are successful at life from God’s perspective. Success is not having the right formula, attending the right school or program, but being a certain kind of person. We cannot separate who we are from what we do.
According to Proverbs there are some characteristics that mark a wise person. What are those marks?
Those in the military know who to salute when they see a designated rank. One of the marks of a wise person is their heart’s posture of submission to God.
They know who is in charge.
A Roman centurion whose servant was paralyzed knew who to salute when he said to Jesus, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it” Matt.8:8-9. Jesus was amazed by this guy’s faith and submission.
The wise know who to salute to. They listen and submit to God’s commands.
The wise in heart accept commands…Prov.10:8
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3
Join us for our next mark of the wise person.
