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Do you remember the parable Jesus taught about the wise and foolish builders? You’ll find it in Matthew 7. The wise man built his house on a rock and when the rains came and the winds blew, it stood fast. The foolish man built his house on the sand, and it could not endure the rains and the winds, so it fell with a great crash, as Jesus tells the parable.
I’ve asked the question: Do you want to be wise? And I’ve pointed out principles from Proverbs that teach us how to become wise. Jesus had a lot to say about being wise too, and this parable is a good one. It, of course, refers to whether we build our lives on Jesus, our Rock, or we try to find life somewhere else, from someone else. And this is true not only for the decision we make to accept Jesus as our Savior, but also the daily decisions you and I make about many things—on our jobs, in our families, at our churches.
Building something on sand is faster than building something on a rock, but the wise person doesn’t take the easy way out. I have a tendency to want to get a job done quickly, so I often can forget this wise principle. My husband has to remind me that my easy way won’t work; it will fall apart sooner or later. So, if you want to be a wise person, build your life on the Rock, Jesus Christ, and build your daily lives on good decisions that are based on rock-strong principles.
In James 3:13 we read: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” That really sums it up well, doesn’t it? If you want to be wise, show it by the good way you live and by helping others in humility. And then don’t forget what James told us in chapter 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Please take this promise and practice it. Ask God for wisdom—every day! He promises to give it to you, and as you become more and more wise, you will be more and more like Jesus, you will be shining his light in a dark world, and you will avoid a lot of heartaches and problems.
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