“선한 일을 위하여 지으심을 받은 자니”(엡 2:10)

Title: Steps to Wisdom (1)
Theme: The Fear of the Lord
scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7

Even with knowledge, we can face relational problems if we lack wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." So, what is wisdom? It is the ability to make the right choices in any situation and to act on them.

Why is it said that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of knowledge, rather than wisdom? Looking at Proverbs and Psalms, we see that wisdom and knowledge go hand in hand. The goal is to gain wisdom, but knowledge is necessary for that. Here, knowledge refers to understanding who God is and how He created the world and us. Wisdom, then, is the ability to comprehend and apply this knowledge—acting rightly based on proper understanding.

Why does wisdom come from God? Because He is omniscient and knows all things. Wisdom involves insight and the ability to see the bigger picture. Since God knows everything, wisdom originates from Him. Furthermore, when we consider wisdom as making right choices, it is not enough to have knowledge; we also need good intentions. God, as our good shepherd, leads us with His goodness, so true wisdom comes from Him.

Fear of the Lord ⇒ Knowledge ⇒ Wisdom

To fear the Lord is to truly believe in God, who is all-knowing and completely good.

Trust ⇒ Knowledge ⇒ Wisdom

Solomon, who wrote Proverbs, had knowledge and at one time wisdom, but ultimately fell. According to Warren Wiersbe’s book on Proverbs, he failed for three main reasons:

1. He did not trust in God’s protection. Although God commanded not to amass a large army (Deuteronomy 17:16), Solomon had many chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 4:26).
2. He did not trust in God’s promises. God promised peace and safety to Israel during Solomon's reign (1 Chronicles 22:9), but Solomon built fortifications against enemies (1 Kings 9:16-17).
3. He did not believe God would provide.Despite God's warning against accumulating wealth and having many wives (Deuteronomy 17:17), Solomon acquired 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). In the end, because he did not fully trust the Lord, Solomon had knowledge but lacked true wisdom.

   Jesus rightly understood God's love for humanity, desiring to save us from sin. He experienced our limitations and suffering through His incarnation and made the right choice by obediently accepting the sacrifice of the cross. His death was not the end; He rose and ascended to become the eternal King.

   We can understand God through knowledge, but if we do not trust Him, we may lack wisdom. Applying God's principles can lead to happiness, but relying on our own can bring unhappiness. The Lord knows everything about the universe and has perfect goodness towards us, making Him trustworthy.
   Trusting in the Lord is the essence of fearing Him.

Discussion Questions:

• Have you ever experienced God’s grace by trusting Him?
• In what situations do you apply your principles instead of God's?
• How can we encourage each other to fully trust God?

Application:

• Identify a specific difficult situation or relationship and set aside time to pray for wisdom, trusting in the goodness of the Lord (e.g., every night before sleep). Through this prayer, may you experience God's guidance and peace, deepening your faith.