Winning with Wisdom

"Your father's teachings....are a graceful wreath to your head..."  Proverbs 1:9

     Studying the details of scriptures can help broaden the diameter of the light that shines on our path.  As I walk through our bivouac at night my small red-lens-light guides my path.  I make certain the focus is sharp and I hold it a little higher so my beam will broaden at my feet.  In the same way, I think it is important to be careful not to dull down our expressions of faith, as if everything being taught is synonymous and all of God's teachings can be simplified into a slogan.  I also believe in receiving spiritual insight from above so I reach toward my Lord and humbly ask him to reveal his treasured secrets that make my steps sure.

     Proverbs is a series of lessons designed to perfect your walk with God.  In chapter one the author introduces eleven key words plus multiple teachings of morality, ethics and simple decision making processes.  He specifically calls these teachings "a graceful wreath to your head", which is a symbol of someone who has won their race. The first of these key words that Solomon begins to teach his child is Wisdom, Instruction and Discernment.

     Wisdom:  The understanding of Wisdom is the total accumulation of all things taught.  It is not the depth of one subject, but rather how all subject matter interacts, connects, and affects the second, third and fourth order of effect.  It is more than the accumulating of information, it is in how to apply knowledge and experience.  Wisdom is like moving from being a checkers player to being a chess player.  After years of studying moves, techniques and strategies you become a formidable master competitor.  Then your eyes open and you fully see that you are only on level one.  What you thought was a finish line is only the beginning and you become hungry for more knowledge and all its applications.   

     Instruction:  After four years of a bachelors degree, three years of a master's degree and five years of a doctorate one thinks they have wisdom.  No, they have a deep understanding of one field.  They have instruction.  Instruction is what you gain when you begin a new job and after years of "on the job training" you master your skill and become one of the most wanted craftsmen.  You have instruction.  You know how to perform your task with excellence, professionalism and are the model of success.  When a crisis arises the best of the best are called to remedy the problem.  On the battlefield there will be experts in artillery, airborne strikes, special forces, engineers, surgeons, support squads and the list is exhaustive.  All of these are elite professionals in their field.  They are models of instruction.  The military strategist who moves all pieces on the battlefield in synchronization with all other military elements uses wisdom.  Then still, that person only uses wisdom in one field during one occasion.  That person merely scratches the surface of wisdom.

     Discernment:  Discernment is the ability to judge well.  It encompasses the concept of being able to detect with precision, correctly differentiate, assimilate, compare and contrast.  It includes the emotional intelligence spectrum of sensing the moment, speaking to be understood and using the power of silence.  It is never void of deep contemplation while drawing on instruction and experience.  Spiritual discernment is a blessed revelation from God.  To be in the moment of ministry and to be gently guided by God is an honor.  Once as a young boy I was challenged by my friends to examine an old abandoned house on our block.  It was a beautiful structure but the fact that it had not been lived in created a mysterious presence.  I took a blade from my father's razor, ran to the front porch to scratch off the film of a window and peered into its secrets. After what seemed an eternity in the grasp of the unknown, I ran back to report the all my findings.  Today, Christians barely peek into the depths of the truth of God.  They trade instructions for superficial simplifications and swap wisdom for whimsical quotes.  To discern the elements, you need to know the elements.  You have to go into the depths of what you do not know and learn through experience.

     The riddles of Proverbs lay out principles of living the will of God.  I encourage you to clearly differentiate every term added to the lesson.  Examine by every means possible how to apply the simple anecdotal parables.  As you master each concept, begin to grow in wisdom as to how each element builds christian character.  Lastly, lean heavily on spiritual discernment, but do not separate your lessons from the best intellectual research and reasoning you can muster.