7-day plan: Wisdom
What God teaches for living well: start with him, ask for it, and see it in everyday life.
One passage a day, with a question to think it over. Your progress stays on this device, no account needed.
Day 1 · The beginning of wisdom
The proverb says wisdom begins with the fear of YHWH
The start of wisdom is the fear of YHWH, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What does this passage say about what God is like?
Day 2 · Asking for wisdom
If you lack wisdom, ask: God gives generously and without scolding
And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproaching, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
James speaks of being quick to hear and slow to speak (v. 19). In what conversation today could you listen more?
Day 3 · The wise and the foolish
Jesus compares the one who hears and does with the one who builds on rock
“So everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and struck that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.”
Matthew 7:24–27 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Jesus speaks of the beam in one's own eye (vv. 3–5). What could you examine in yourself before judging someone else?
Day 4 · The wisdom of the cross
The message of the cross sounds like foolishness to some and is God's power to others
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, to us, it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the discerning I will set aside. Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we proclaim the Messiah crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to the nations foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1:18–25 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What does it invite you to do today, even something small?
Day 5 · The beginning of wisdom
Knowledge begins with the fear of YHWH; fools despise wisdom and correction
The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and correction fools despise.
Proverbs 1:7 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Who could you share this with this week?
Day 6 · Asking for wisdom
Solomon, now king, asks for a listening heart instead of riches
At Gibeon YHWH appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and Elohim said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown your servant David my father great loyal love, because he walked before you in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great loyal love and have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, YHWH my Elohim, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, but I am a little boy; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. So give your servant a heart that listens, to judge your people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this people of yours, so great?” And the thing was good in the eyes of Adonai, that Solomon had asked this thing. And Elohim said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself many days, and have not asked for yourself riches, and have not asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to hear justice, look, I have done according to your words; look, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that like you there has not been anyone before you, and after you none will arise like you.
1 Kings 3:5–12 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What would you like to say to God after reading it?
Day 7 · The wise and the foolish
The fool thinks his way is right; the wise listen to advice
The way of a fool is right in his eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.
Proverbs 12:15 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Looking back over the week, what changed in how you see this topic?