Wisdom Matters

Throughout Scripture God assures us that he has a plan for each of our lives. His plan is our blessed life now and the path for eternal blessing in heaven. Our priority is clear. We want to know God so that we can walk with him on the path he has set for our lives. Yet Scripture also makes clear that none of us walk through our lives perfectly in his will. Thankfully, Scripture also teaches us of...

Scripture tells us that there is a reward for living with God’s priorities. So often in the Bible, the word reward is associated with our eternal lives, but Proverbs 22:4 tells us there is an earthly reward as well. God is quick to reward two behaviors in our lives. God blesses those who choose to be humble and those who live in reverent awe of the Lord. According to the proverb, the reward for ch...

One of the most difficult lessons a Christian must learn is that even our families can become an idol in our lives if we are not careful. Every Christian should love and serve their family, but our families are not to be our highest priority. That phrase just seems wrong but look at our first-century examples. Jesus told his disciples to stop what they were doing and follow him. Jesus’ family trie...

Proverbs 16:19 reveals the heart of God for his children. God cares about whom we spend our time with and especially about the way our “company” reflects on our character and witness. King Solomon had more wealth than almost any other human being has ever accumulated in a lifetime. Yet, he wisely wrote, “It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.” I...

Many passages in Scripture talk about our good works and the benefit they have in our lives. Our good works are often the first witness we have with other people. I appreciate the phrase that says, “Don’t tell me I have a friend in Jesus until you show me I have a friend in you.” Good works matter, but Jesus said they might also be a wrong priority. When are good works not good? In this passage, J...

Cleaning out and bagging up clothes you haven’t worn in a while always feels good. It is especially fun to bag up the clothes that make us consider, “What was I thinking when I bought that?!” There is something about restoring order and simplifying our lives that is good for our souls. Maybe the Lord is trying to tell us something during those times. Getting something new, trendy, interesting, or...

The priorities of our culture are often at odds with the priorities of God. The world teaches us that the road to success is clawing our way to the top. Jesus taught his disciples to claw their way to the bottom. Success isn’t gained by stepping over or on others. Instead, it is gained by becoming the “servant of all.” Wise priorities are the result of learning to think biblically. God sent his So...

God wanted his children to belong to a family on earth even before they became a family in heaven. We were created by God to need and enjoy relationships with him and with other people. A lot of Scripture teaches us how to live on earth as we will one day live in heaven. Paul taught each Christian in the Philippian church to “look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others....

God loves to bless his children with prosperity. Some of our prosperity is defined by the things we own or possess. God gives us possessions, and those things can give us peace of mind, contentment, and a sense of safety for the future—until they don’t. God taught Adam and Eve how to take care of all that he had given them. He wanted them to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the Garden and their...