Jeff Johnston

Come on… admit it.  You want to be a ’smarty pants’.

Everybody does… well almost everybody.

You know how rewarding it is to ‘be in the know’. To have your facts straight. To come across like you have a solid handle on what you’re talking about. To be an expert on the subject… and to not get caught with the wrong answer – or even worse, without an answer at all!

People like to listen to those who have done their research and give out of their endless understanding.  Likewise, we have short patience for those who have a shallow reserve of wisdom, and put on a big show of smoke and mirrors to cover it up!

All in all, I really do believe that there is a desire inside of just about all of us to have a little (or a lot) of King Solomon’s wisdom at our disposal.  Answering questions.  Leading people through their issues. Solving the problems of the world.

Something else I see is this.  Our lives don’t have nearly as much evidence of such desires as we would like to think they do.

When was the last time we finished a good non-fiction book?  One that stretched us in our life and leadership for God.  How often do we break open the Word of God during the week and really dive in to His truth (not including Sundays)? Do we read the Bible with intentionality… meaning do we have a pointed focus of what we are studying and digging in to (as opposed to just closing our eyes, dropping the book on the floor and reading wherever it opens up)? Do we have any real-life mentors, that are further down the road than us, who are opening up our minds and spirits to new things?

These are just a few signs (of many) that would be evidence of a real desire to take hold of God’s true wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7 says: “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

Though it cost you ALL you have.  Wow.  I don’t think my life comes anywhere near to matching up to this statement.  I mean, if you really take this literally, I have a LONG way to go.

Maybe all it costs us now is the leftovers of what we have.

We give our time to so many other things (and many of them good things).  It seems that the pursuit of wisdom is forever stuck as the lower rung on the ladder of our priorities.  Below our jobs, our relationships, our rest, our recreation, our housework, our TV sets… you get the picture.

I wonder what would happen if we were really to pursue God’s wisdom with the tenacity laid out for us in the scriptures.

Proverbs 2 says we will discern the fear of the Lord.  It says we will discover the knowledge of God.  That wisdom will enter our heart.  That knowledge will be pleasant to our soul.  That discretion will guard us, and understanding will watch over us.

Even further, you see all throughout the Proverbs that wisdom (when saught after) will cause us to walk in our ways securely and be blessed beyond measure.

I don’t know about you, but all that and more makes me want to be a ’smarty pants’.  Yet, wanting is not enough.  Not for me.  Not for you.

WANTING must translate into GETTING.

Go get it.  It is yours for the taking…

JJ