How To Be Wise

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 NIV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 NIV)

And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:28 ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalm 111:10 ESV)

In order to be wise, one must first fear God, the creator of heavens and earth. This is the pre-requisite.

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14 NIV)

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. (Proverbs 8:17 NIV)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1 KJV)

The God who created the heavens and earth can be found easily and His creation loudly proclaim His existence.

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. (James 1:5 NIV)

When one finds God, one can ask Him for wisdom and He will give.

This is the summary of how to be wise:

1. Recognise the Creator of heavens and earth;
2. Fear Him;
3. Ask Him for wisdom.

Death The Equalizer

One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both. (Job 21:23-26 NIV)

Ezra Trust God

I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions. I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, "The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who abandon him." So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer. (Ezra 8:21-23 CSB)

Jehoshaphat's Wise Policies

In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials - Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah - to teach in the cities of Judah. The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord's instruction with them. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people. (2 Chronicles 17:7-9 CSB)

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city. Then he said to the judges, "Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment. And now, may the terror of the Lord be on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with the Lord our God." (2 Chronicles 19:4-7 CSB)

To teach and to judge are the simple policies which a government and use to rule the people wisely. However, what is being taught is important. If you teach wrongly, you will judge wrongly.

Time of Distress

Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every possible distress. (2 Chronicles 15:6 CSB)

As the age of the gentiles end, there will be more and more distress, just as in the time of King Jehoshaphat. 

For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (Matthew 24:7 CSB)

Household Salvation

For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. (1 Chronicles 17:25 ESV)

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31 KJV)

We dare to pray for the salvation of our household because God has promised to save them.

Garden And Baby

"When you enter your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not carry any away in a basket. And when you enter your neighbor's field of grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not harvest it with a sickle. (Deuteronomy 23:24-25 NLT)

Baby will land in Perth at 2022-02-05 00:15. The picture is taken in Melbourne, from my friend's rented house.