The Balance of Wisdom

It’s okay to have balance.  It may not feel as exhilarating as always going where you want to go, or doing what you want to do, but it is more rewarding in the end.  “Wisdom has built her house.  She has hewn out her seven pillars” (Prov. 9:1).  There is much speculation about what the seven pillars are.  They could be an expression of a good structure since the number seven represents completion.  They could also refer to seven characteristics like the seven Spirits of God, which are before the throne of God (Rev. 4:5).   The description of these in Isaiah Chapter 11 are similar to the descriptions of wisdom in Proverbs.  In any case, we know that wisdom is balanced.  It is knowledge and understanding; prudence and discretion; counsel and instruction; truth and righteousness, etc. 

We are exhorted to ask God for wisdom since He gives freely to those who ask in faith (Jas. 1:5,6).  How then will it come?  “The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6).  Wisdom is found in Christ (1Cor. 1:30).  He is the Word of God (Jn. 1:1).  We obtain wisdom by asking and then seeking.  We search for it in the Scriptures as for hidden treasures (Prov. 2:4).  The words of wisdom are spiritually discerned (Prov. 1:22).  When we find knowledge, we dig deeper to get understanding.  But that is not yet wisdom.  It must also be planted in our hearts and become truth and righteousness for we must be doers of the word and not merely hearers (Jas. 1:21,22). 

The house built by wisdom has a solid foundation.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10).  We must receive the words of wisdom as the voice of God.  If we have a respect for God, we do not choose which of His words to obey; we treasure all His words in our hearts (Prov. 2:1).  Sometimes what He says is not what we want to hear, but we must turn to His rebuke before we get understanding (Prov. 1:23).  To receive all His instructions, we must “incline our ear” to His words; we must “apply our heart” to understanding (Prov. 2:2). 

Where shall we search for these hidden treasures?  Large quantities of minerals must be mined to extract small amounts of precious metal.  If you only read the scriptures that you find appealing, you will not find all the hidden treasures God has for you.  The goal is to prayerfully read as much Scripture as you can.  At this point, it is not a study of Scripture, but a mining expedition.  When you come across, what my Bible College instructor called, a “wonderful thought” you stop and meditate on it.  That nugget is a rhema word “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Tim. 3:16).  They are usually the basis for my study of the Scriptures.

Since we do not know where we will find the hidden treasures, we should have a systematic approach to reading the Bible.  The reading of Christians books is useful for study and for inspiration, but these are not enough by themselves; they should point us to the Scriptures.  Then, the Scriptures should bring us to a revelation of Christ (Jn. 5:39).  There are a couple of ways to read the Bible systematically.  One way is to keep a list of all the books of the Bible and check them off as you complete the reading of them.  This allows you to read them in the order you feel led to, but it requires a commitment to read all the books.  Another way is to use a Bible Reading Plan.  I have done it both ways, and I find that the latter is more effective for me.  With the first method, I tend to read the same books multiple times and other books are left unread.

At first, I tried reading the entire Bible through in a year, but I found that too ambitious.  I looked for a two-year plan but could not find one, so I developed my own.  This plan allows me to read a portion every day while still allowing me time to meditate and study.  Since it covers a period of two years, I doubled the reading of the New Testament to get a better balance between the Old and the New Testament portions.

One of the concerns you may have about following a reading plan is limiting the occasions that the Lord will speak to you.  I have not found that to be the case.  The Lord is quite able to speak to us in whatever portion of the Bible we are reading.  If He knows that we will faithfully follow a plan, He may even arrange circumstance in our lives to go along with what we are reading.  And, with a two-year plan, we are still able to extend our reading into other books.  For example, during the time of writing this article, while following my Bible Reading Plan, I came across a passage in 2Samuel that was a rhema Word to me.  I had been meditating on something a minister friend of mine had published in his newsletter.  He, like many others, do not believe that the corona virus has anything to do with God’s judgment.  When I came across this verse: “I will be his Father, and He will be my son.  If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the blows of the sons of men.” (2Sa. 7:14), the issue became clear to me.  I was reminded that there is a lack of understanding among God’s people about the balance between mercy and judgment.  Part of the problem is a misunderstanding about God’s discipline.  As I pondered this, many more scripture references came to mind and I continued my reading that morning as a study of this balance. 

Let me encourage you to seek the fullness of God’s wisdom.  If you have veered away from systematically reading the Scriptures, let me suggest you begin the new year with a Bible Reading Plan.  The one posted on my site can be downloaded and printed.  Let us grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ whom God has made our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1Cor. 1:30).