The Path of Wisdom - Part 3

[Gary Petty] On BT Daily, we've been talking about the book of Proverbs. We've been going through how Proverbs teaches us knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 says that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Steve what does that mean? How do we do that—the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord?

[Steve Myers] I think it's important that we've got to have the right foundation. And so when you start with the right foundation, then that's going to set the structure in the right way for the rest of our lives. And so it's got to start with the fear of the Lord. We've got to have the proper awe, the proper respect, the proper view of what God is all about and what He means to our lives.

And so when you think about this process, there's an interesting chapter in the book of Proverbs, chapter 8 talks all about wisdom and how we should base it on understanding God and having a relationship with Him. And one of the interesting sections there is in verse 10 of Proverbs 8. And it goes through this process. It says, "Receive my instruction and not silver and knowledge rather than choice gold." So there's that first step. Well do we know God? Do we understand His way? Do we understand how it applies to us?

That takes us to that next level of how do the words of God affect me and my life so that I can put them into practice. And that begins to take us to wisdom. How do I apply God's word to my life so it makes a difference? And in fact, in chapter 8 it talks about that. He says, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance and the evil way" (Proverbs 8:13). So, what is my life like? You know, what am I doing? And how does God's word affect what I do and what I think and the things that I say?

All of that should have a powerful impact. God says in verse 14, "Council is Mine and sound wisdom" (Proverbs 8:14). So, do we let the word of God direct us in everything that we do? Is that our foundation? And if that is, then that's going to have a powerful impact on our lives. And so we should allow the word of God then to develop in us and have that right relationship with Him (Proverbs 8:10-14).

[Gary Petty] If you're making bad decisions all the time, you need wisdom. You need to go through this process. And this is where it begins. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. That's BT Daily. Join us next time.