Wisdom Takes Time: A Study of ProverbsExemplo

Wisdom Takes Time

Life becomes much easier when we walk in wisdom. In fact, we’re promised that when we do, our steps will not be hampered, and when we run, we will not stumble (see Proverbs 4:11-12). Just think about how much time we waste when we don’t slow down long enough to seek and heed wisdom. 

I think it’s safe to say that every divorce is caused by at least one person in the marriage who is ignoring godly principles, and almost every bankruptcy or failed business can be attributed to the same problem. Wisdom requires that we slow down and take time to consider and examine situations before we get involved and, once we are involved in them, to thoughtfully solve problems through wise decision-making.

Another common scenario we can run into is making commitments without considering what fulfilling them will actually require of us. I once asked a friend in ministry how she decided which speaking invitations to accept and which to decline. She told me that before she responded to an invitation, she thought through every detail of what it would take for her to do it. She thought about things like how long she would be away from home, what kind of preparation time she would need to invest, and how far she would have to travel. Although these are all logistical questions and not ministry-related ones, she was wise to ask them. 

If we do not ask wise questions, we might agree to do something and then later complain about it and dread doing it because we didn’t consider all the details. It’s always better to take time, pray, and think through a commitment before giving an answer. 

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me remember to count the cost before I say yes or no to an opportunity. Thank You for giving me the wisdom I need to make the right decisions and commitments that I can keep. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Adapted from the book In Search of Wisdom by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2021 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.