📖 Read
Psalm 147:12–20; Proverbs 1:1–7; James 3:13–18
🔎 Focus
The reverence of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise knowledge and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 Lamsa Version
… the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
James 3:17 NRSVue
✟ Devotion
George Lamsa’s “reverence of the LORD” is unique among translations, as it seems every other English translation uses fear. Yet, the underlying understanding of fear in Proverbs 1:7 is fear based upon reverence of God, rather than other types of fear.
Why one pursues knowledge seems to becoming more critical as time goes on. People are pursuing knowledge for power and money. Yes, there many pursuing their dreams, but how much of that dream is about money and power, rather than a fulfillment of oneself?
In ancient times, wisdom and knowledge were often intertwined. In our modern days, we have started to understand (wisdom) that all the facts and data points do not mean that we make wise (or God honoring) decisions.
James notes that Godly wisdom has characteristics that modern knowledge does not. It is not that knowledge is bad, by no means. It is that we are seeing the consequences of what happens when knowledge is separated from Godly wisdom.
How do we bulk up our wisdom? Reading the Scriptures is a big one. We are blessed to have access to the Scriptures with nearly 900 English translations (not to mention all the targeted versions of each).
What reading the Scriptures often don’t give us are prescriptions for how to do what, and that is okay. James 3:17 (see Focus) gives us descriptions for what Godly wisdom looks like. How that is lived out is up to us as we wrestle with reading the Scriptures and living life among people who believe differently than we do.
🤔 Reflection
Do you see differences between wisdom of the world and Godly wisdom? How do you navigate the differences?
⏏️ Act
Find a Bible reading plan (if you don’t have one), even one that just covers a book (like James or Proverbs) and start it.
🙏 Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you that you have provided the Scriptures so that we might understand you better, and be better reflection of God-honoring lives. As John called Jesus the Word, may we recall that the Word presented in the Scriptures is not to be left on a shelf, or isolated from the world outside of the pages. Help us to improve our wisdom in navigating the world in light of your Word. Amen.
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