THE WISDOM WALK TO WEALTH

Have you ever wondered how to become wiser? The scripture tells us that wisdom is of utmost importance - "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding." But where can one acquire wisdom? It's not something you can purchase like groceries at a store.

Many philosophers, religious institutions and educationalists have defined wisdom in their own ways. Some try to relate it to the right way of living, some say that wisdom is acknowledging and being answerable to God for all the deeds. It has also been known to associate with decision-making between right and wrong, habits like speaking truth, following the moral values.

Let's explore some concepts about gaining wisdom from the book of Ephesians, particularly Ephesians chapter 5. In verse 8, it's stated that we were once in darkness but are now in the light, so we should walk as children of light. The fruit of the Spirit includes goodness, righteousness, and truth. We are advised to discern what is acceptable to the Lord, avoid unfruitful works of darkness, and expose them.

The scripture encourages us not to engage in shameful deeds done in secret but to bring them to light. It even tells us to "awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Furthermore, it urges us to walk circumspectly, meaning wisely, not as fools. We should redeem the time because these are evil days, and we must not be unwise but understand the will of the Lord.

Now, let's define wisdom. Wisdom has prerequisites: ignorance, knowledge, and understanding. Ignorance is the absence of truth, while knowledge is the accumulation of truth, and understanding is knowing what it means. Wisdom, then, is the application of truth. Conversely, foolishness is the abandonment of truth.

To walk wisely, we must acknowledge our mortality and the limited time we have. It's essential to make every day count, recognizing that we can't afford to waste time. We should live with a sense of urgency and take meaningful actions.

To apply wisdom to our work, we must buy back our time. This means delegating tasks or paying for services that save us time, thus making our lives more efficient. By doing this, we invest our time in what truly matters.

Regarding the will of God, success is about discovering our purpose, developing ourselves for that purpose, and deploying ourselves in it. Your purpose is to live in your creative space and make the world a better place. This involves doing what you're good at and love while serving others.

To understand the will of God, we must yield to it even before fully comprehending it. We should present ourselves as living sacrifices and undergo a transformation by renewing our minds. Accepting God's will as good, even when it doesn't feel like it, leads us to His perfect will.

The Hebrew sages were clear that, given the choice between wisdom and wealth, we should always choose wisdom. Happy are those who gain understanding. Her profit is better than silver, and her gain better than gold. Her value exceeds pearls; all you desire can't compare with her. In her right hand is a long life; in her left are wealth and honor. (proverbs 3:13-16)

These early sages were convinced that some of the most important choices we make are not between good and evil but between what is wise and what is foolish. The words wise and wisdom appear 111 times in the proverbs; the words fool and foolish appear 77 times.

In conclusion, applying wisdom to our walk, work, and will is the key to living a wise and productive life rather than a foolish and destructive one.