Both Come From God
Power and Wisdom
God gives us the power to live a life full of wisdom.
Bob Lonac The subject of power, what it is, and how we can get it seems endemic in all humans since the beginning of time. From Adam and Eve, who wanted more power than they could handle, to the current world we live in.
Power is used in the English language in many ways with very similar definitions. Here is the current list from Websters:
- ability to act or produce an effect
- ability to get extra-base hits
- capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect
- legal or official authority, capacity, or right
- possession of control, authority, or influence over others
- controlling group (often used in the phrase the powers that be)
- a force of armed men
- a large number or quantity
- physical might
- mental or moral efficacy
- political control or influence
Even baseball makes the list. Everyone wants the power to be a home run hitter. But I want to look at a definition not included above.
Rather than “possession of control, authority, or influence over others,” how about possession of control, authority, or influence over ourselves?
This is the kind of power referred to by Solomon, the wisest person who has ever lived (next to Jesus). Consider this:
Another Perspective:I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
The point Solomon makes in these few verses is applicable to how we look at who we want to be and who God wants us to be.
The Power of Wisdom is Using Wisdom
Wisdom is not just information to be stored in our brain. Real wisdom only becomes valuable to us and the world around us if we possess it and use it.
This verse infers that life itself is a war against good and evil. God indeed gives us the power to live a life full of wisdom — and to reap the benefits for ourselves and those around us.
My prayer for myself is for knowledge and discretion, to fear the Lord and to hate evil, to be humble, to hate evil behavior and perverse speech.
He tells me counsel and sound judgment are mine and I have the insight and power to live them out daily. That power comes from Him!
God is with you! Believe it and be it!
