Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

This particular truth is repeated numerous times throughout the Bible, but we seem to have a hard time really getting it into our awareness. That’s doubtless why the Lord repeated Himself so many times! Yesterday I watched another Virtue Signal video by Bill Whittle and Alfonzo Rachel in which they, appropriately for the occasion, talked about the founding principles of the United States. The Founding Fathers were certainly not all dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ, but several of them were, and the documents they produced make reference to “the laws of nature and nature’s God.” At the very least they were deists, firmly convinced that the universe didn’t happen by accident, and since that was the case, they needed to do their best to abide by the instructions of the Creator. That’s the source of the at times incredible wisdom found in those founding documents, which is being demonstrated daily even today. Those men weren’t all even what we would call moral in their personal lives, but even Benjamin Franklin called the group to pray before major decisions were made. Today we are seeing a dramatic divide among politicians, with some going the way of the Founding Fathers and some refuting the whole idea. That makes these very dangerous times for the nation, because there is no wisdom in denying and/or rebelling against God. Those who know Him need to be active in praying for those in leadership that they would indeed fear God, at least, and so acquire at least a little wisdom. Some seem to be completely devoid of it!

This naturally applies much closer to home as well. I have a high IQ, but that’s not at all the same thing as wisdom. I have never been more stupid than when I have been convinced of my own competence. I can do nothing right completely on my own! The better I have learned and operated on that truth, the more God’s wisdom has operated through me. I still mess up, and have done so recently, to the pain of those around me, but God is gracious and merciful. I need to operate constantly in the awareness that God is the only one who knows it all, and so actively commit myself to seeking and following His will in every detail. That applies, quite literally, to everything, and I must not forget it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I started this time with You rather in a fog, mentally speaking, but I feel You have gotten through to me. Thank You. Help me not just acknowledge this as abstract truth, but rather live it out in practical terms moment-by-moment, so that I may avoid the traps of the enemy and function as a conduit of Your grace and blessings to those around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!