One of the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit is wisdom (Is 11:2; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1831). God freely gives His wisdom if we ask Him for it. Yet we must ask God from a position of humility and faith (Jas 1:5-6). The Bible actually contains a book entitled Wisdom. There is even a section of the Bible called the Wisdom books, containing the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, and Sirach. A wonderful way to seek God's Wisdom is to spend time reading the Wisdom books.
The wisdom of man is foolishness to God (1 Cor 1:20). God's ways are high above man's ways (Is 55:8-9). "If any one of you thinks he is wise in a worldly way, he had better become a fool. In that way he will really be wise, for the wisdom of this world is absurdity with God" (1 Cor 3:18-19).
The young King Solomon humbly asked God for wisdom. "The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request" (1 Kgs 3:10), and gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart (1 Kgs 3:12). Like Solomon, ask God in humble faith for wisdom.
A priest once gave a teaching on the topic of wisdom in the Bible. He began the teaching by saying, "This is God's wisdom." Then he turned and gazed for several moments upon the large crucifix mounted on the wall behind him. Jesus Christ crucified is "the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:24; see also 1 Cor 1:30; Catechism, 272). "Get wisdom" (Prv 4:5).
| PRAYER: | Father, "give me Wisdom, the Attendant at Your throne" (Wis 9:4). |
| PROMISE: | "Realize that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance." –Jas 1:3 |
| PRAISE: | Jacob reads Bible stories to his children at dinner time. His sons' favorite story is about King Solomon's wisdom in judging his people (1 Kgs 3:16-28). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College