Your Life Preserver

Have you ever needed some expert advice?  Have you ever required help in determining the best course of action?  In such situations, we often go to an accountant, attorney, physician, broker, educator, or other such “expert.”  And there is nothing wrong with consulting with people who have experience and training.  Unfortunately, so many times believers fail to take advantage of the most effective way to get the best guidance and direction for any given situation.

Proverbs 4:5-7 (KJV) says,

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

This passage indicates that wisdom is the principal, or main, thing.  Wisdom is described as something that will preserve us, or protect us. It is the wisdom that comes from God, not man’s natural wisdom.  When we operate in God’s wisdom, we tap into the all-knowing mind of God.  He sees all the aspects of our situation.  He knows the outcome of each option we have and knows which one is the best.  We obviously need this wisdom to function successfully in life and to avoid unnecessary pitfalls and setbacks.  But, if we need it, how do we get it?

According to I Corinthians 1:30 (KJV):

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

The Amplified Bible Classic Edition (AMPC), says it this way:

But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].

In other words, Jesus has become wisdom for us.  And, because we are in Christ, we can access this wisdom as a part of the salvation package- no strings attached.  Jesus paid for it on the cross. 

To tap into this wisdom, we simply need to ask for it.  James 1:5 clearly shows us that.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

It is even clearer in the New International Version (NIV):

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

So, all we need to do is ask God for His wisdom and He will generously give us what we need.  He will not condemn us, even if we have gotten ourselves into a mess.  Once we ask for wisdom, then we must simply believe that He has given it to us, and then listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit to guide us in that wisdom.

It’s not complicated, but we must be intentional about seeking the wisdom of God in our lives.  And when we seek it consistently and heed God’s wise counsel, wisdom will preserve our lives.