Above all, if you are wise you will learn and apply the grace of humility (3:7; 11:2; 8:12-13; 26:12), before the face of God (Jas. 4:10).  In other words, you will reflect the heart of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2).  As a Christian, that is the character of the One you follow (Isa. 11:2; Matt. 13:54; Col. 2:3).  Look at Him and you will see what wisdom looks like.

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight” (Proverbs 4:7).

Why not aim at becoming wiser this year?

What Does a Wise Person Look Like?

Proverbs gives us an apt portrait of what a wise person looks like. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are told to seek after God’s wisdom and knowledge (Col. 1:9-11; 1 Pet. 3:18). As a Christian, you know that God the Holy Spirit speaks through God’s Word to teach and guide you into all wisdom (Psa. 119; 1 Cor.1:18-2:16). Yet, so many disciples claim to know God, to know Jesus and to know the Bible but do not know what it means to be wise or even what a wise person looks like. Here’s a short description for your benefit.

What is wisdom?

James says it is from heaven and “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit, unwavering and without hypocrisy” (Jas. 3:17). Wisdom is the right use of God’s Word to all facets of life. It is the skill of applying the thoughts of God to every area of your life. But wisdom comes first of all from a loving and fearing relationship with the All-knowing God (Pro. 1:7; 2:5; 3:6). Wisdom also grows out of being a true disciple of Jesus (Pro. 2:1-5; 9:9; 10:8).

Some qualities of being wise

If you are wise you will eagerly receive training in God’s thoughts. Training is hard (9:4,16; 2:7-9) and costly (23:23). It comes by good instruction (1:2ff), a willingness to be corrected (1:23; 3:11), and even through chastening (19:25; 23:13; 3:11).

You will have insight and good understanding (1:22; 2:2). That means you discern between good and evil (cp. 1:9-10; 1 Kgs 3:9; 1 Cor. 2;14), and you will act rightly with good sense (10:13; 6:32). You will have sound judgment as you trust in God’s will for your life (3:5; 19:21; 20:24).

You will often be successful in your dealings with others (1:3; 10:5; 12:8). To this extent wisdom will lead you into biblical success in life (9:1-6, 12; 16:20; 10:22; 8:18), which means you do the right thing in your activities (11:19; 10:21; 12:18; 16:17; 21:21 cp. Hos. 14:9). In this way, you reflect Jesus who is Wisdom (Pro. 8; Isa. 52:13; 1 Cor. 2:14).

In wisdom you know how and when to speak (10:13, 31-32; 11:9; 15:2,7; 17:27; 18:4; 20:12). You will be shrewd and discreet (1:4; 2:11). This is to say that you will take the trouble to nose your way around in life and plan your course realistically and well (22:3; 14:15). God’s thoughts will teach you to learn the ropes of life, becoming a skilled artisan in it (1:1-7).

You will develop a good reputation among people because of your wisdom. This is more important than obtaining wealth (12:8; 22:1 cp. Acts 6:3; Jas. 3:13).

Above all, if you are wise you will learn and apply the grace of humility (3:7; 11:2; 8:12-13; 26:12), before the face of God (Jas. 4:10).  In other words, you will reflect the heart of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2).  As a Christian, that is the character of the One you follow (Isa. 11:2; Matt. 13:54; Col. 2:3).  Look at Him and you will see what wisdom looks like.

Christian, why not aim at becoming more like Christ and making one major goal for this year to become more wise than before?

Dr. Don Owsley is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and lives in Denver, Colo. This article appeared on his blog.