BE A WISE PERSON

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

JUNE 09, 2022

TOPIC: BE A WISE PERSON

BY T. O. BANSO

“Then Hiram king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon: Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them. Hiram also said: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for He has given King David a wise son, endowed with prudence and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal house for himself!” (2 Chronicles 2:11-12 New King James Version).

It takes wisdom to build. To build a Temple for the LORD and a royal palace required nothing less than prudence and understanding. God’s candidate to build His Temple was David’s son, Solomon, an embodiment of wisdom and understanding. Hiram, king of Tyre, testified of this about him.

2 Chronicles 2:11-12 says, “Then Hiram king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon: because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them. Hiram also said: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for He has given King David a wise son, endowed with prudence and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal house for himself!” (New King James Version).

According to Proverbs 24:3, a house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts” (Proverbs 24:3-4 The Living Bible).

Foolish people destroy their lives, homes, business, etc. with their own hands, but wise people build theirs. “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands” (Proverbs 14:1 New King James Version). Wise men and foolish men can do the same.

Solomon was a wise son. But his father, David, was also wise. The Bible records that David behaved wisely and even very wisely. “And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him” (1 Samuel 18:14-15 New King James Version). Also, verse 30 says David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul.

About Saul, 1 Samuel 13:13 says, “And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever’” (New King James Version). He eventually lost the throne.

However, in 2 Samuel 24:10, David, who had in the past behaved himself wisely, also told the LORD that he had done very foolishly. That was after he had counted the people of Israel and Judah. Seventy thousand people died because of his foolish behaviour. Also, his adultery earlier with Bathsheba and the killing of her husband, Uriah, cannot be described as wise actions (2 Samuel 11). Be careful!

But David raised a wise son, Solomon. David testified of his wisdom before Solomon’s encounter with God, when, I believe, God gave him a higher dose of wisdom upon his request!

About Joab, David’s commander who was ruthless, killing two commanders of Israel’s army, he told Solomon, “Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace” (1 Kings 2:6 New King James Version).

He also said Solomon was a wise man and knew what to do to Shimei, who had cursed and stoned David, but David didn’t kill him then (1 Kings 2:8; 2 Samuel 16:5-8; 19:18-23). He must bring his gray hair to the grave with blood (1 Kings 2:9). Sometimes, you don’t give all the details before a wise person understands you.

Nevertheless, as Solomon grew old, he didn’t behave wisely. His foreign wives turned his heart to follow other gods. He wasn’t completely faithful to the LORD. Be careful the choices you make. Make  sure they honour the LORD. Be a wise person; avoid foolish choices and behaviour.

Be a wise person. Exercise self-control. Control your emotions; don’t let your emotions control you. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (New King James Version). New Living Translation renders it thus:  “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.” Similarly, Proverbs 12:16 says, “A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted” (New Living Translation). The New King James Version puts it this way: “A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame.”

Be a wise person. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10). It is also the beginning of knowledge. Don’t behave as fools who despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). Proverbs 21:11b says a wise person learns from instruction. Don’t hate, reject, or despise instruction.  “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness” (Proverbs 15:14 New King James Version). In other words, “A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash” (New Living Translation). Pursue the truth; feed on it. Don’t feed on trash. Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (New King James Version).

Be a wise person. Wisdom is better than strength (Ecclesiastes 9:16a). It is better than weapons of war (verse 18b).  Wisdom is also better than rubies; nothing can be compared with it (Proverbs 8:11). Study and meditate on the Word of God and obey it. It will make you wise. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He will reveal to you things you don’t know. Walk with the wise; reject the company of fools (Proverbs 13:20). “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7 New King James Version). Be a wise person.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, I receive wisdom from heaven for me and my family. We shall not behave foolishly in the name of Jesus. We shall not enter into any relationship that will cause us to behave foolishly. We shall work with the wise and become wise. I pray that those who’re living independent of God and despise wisdom and instruction will repent, surrender their lives to Jesus and pursue divine wisdom.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org