Perhaps you’ve experienced the privilege of a gift that keeps on giving. That could be a true joy like family time, a season pass, or a beloved recipe. Or, an irritation—that ongoing car issue, the ugly curtains, or someone asking for more help than you already gave.
In my home, we call those “gifts that keep on giving.” Whether good or bad, they’re persistent and seem to pop up repeatedly. One of the more unfortunate occurrences is when one of us shares a cold with everybody else. On the flip side, there are helpful gifts, like the soft, warm blanket I brought back from Ecuador.
My life is full of perpetuating gifts of some kind or another. But by far the best one I’ve known is the Word of God. It is a pure treasure given to teach, equip, correct, encourage, mold, and serve us throughout our lives. The Bible has the capacity to speak to us every time we interact with it.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV
Indeed, the wisdom of God Himself is made available to us through the preservation and promulgation of His Word. David said God’s commandments made him wiser than his enemies (Psalm 119:98). Solomon taught prudence to the simple (Proverbs 1:4). Paul affirmed that God’s sacred writings gave wisdom to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:15). And for those who reject the Word of the LORD, Jeremiah warns, they are dismayed and caught (8:9).
One of my friends recently expressed to me, “I’m reading in the Proverbs right now, and I didn’t realize there’s so much wisdom there! It’s just full of it, and I want to be too.” I also, am working through Romans, and desiring the same: a deeper understanding of God, who grants wisdom to those who need it and request it through faith.
God’s Provision:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
– James 1:5
God’s wisdom is not like the world’s. Rather, it is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere (James 3:17). By it, He founded the earth and established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19). His thoughts and ways are immeasurably higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Even His “foolishness” is wiser than men and His “weakness” stronger (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Word of the Week: Revelation. Romans 1:19-23 tell us that God has made Himself plain to us in such a way that we can know and perceive Him, giving us the chance to honor and thank Him. That is true wisdom, for anything else is folly and futility. The wise Creator “is blessed forever! Amen” (25).
Abby
