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Growing in Wisdom

“Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment” (Proverbs 4:7 NLT).

"The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.” (Proverbs 10:17 The Message).

“Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join in the company of mockers. Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord and reflects on his teachings day and night. He is like a tree that is planted beside streams–a tree that produces fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. He succeeds in everything he does” (Psalm 1:1-3 God’s Word).

"The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life" (Proverbs 22:4 NASB).

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:1-6 NIV).

“And this is what he says to all humanity: `The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding’” (Job 28:28 NLT).

“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world--wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important--has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him” (1 John 2:15-16 The Message).

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24 NKJV).

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).

"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them" (Hosea 14:9 NIV).

"My child, don't turn away or become bitter when the LORD corrects you. The LORD corrects everyone he loves, just as parents correct their favorite child" (Proverbs 3:11-12 CEV).

“It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:5 NKJV).

“Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom--it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats. Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced" (James 3:13-17 The Message).

"For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life" (Proverbs 6:23 NIV).

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and weakness of God is stronger than man's strength....The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God" (1 Corinthians 1:25 and 3:19 NIV).

“GOD's Message: "Don't let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don't let heroes brag of their exploits. Don't let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I'm GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what's right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks" (Jeremiah 9:23-24 The Message).

"Those who sneer at others don't like to be corrected, and they won't ask help from someone with sense" (Proverbs 15:12 CEV).

"Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating" (Proverbs 12:1 Amplified).

"How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules" (Psalm 119:9 NLT).

“If you are wise and understand God's ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don't brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise!" (James 3:13 NLT).

"...I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil" (Romans 16:19 NIV).

"If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject criticism, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Fear of the LORD teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor" (Proverbs 15:31-33 NLT).

“My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live?” (Hebrews 12:5b-9 The Message).

“In a similar way, urge the younger men to be self-restrained and to behave prudently [taking life seriously]" (Titus 2:6 Amplified).

"A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back" (Proverbs 29:11 NASB).

"Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourself with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:5- NIV).

"Your laws never leave my mind, and they make me much wiser than my enemies. Thinking about your teachings gives me better understanding than my teachers, and obeying your laws makes me wiser than those who have lived a long time” (Psalm 119:98-100 CEV).

"And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity...Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes!" (1 Timothy 4:12,15 The Message).

"But meat is for people who are grown up. It is for people who have trained their minds to know the difference between what is good and what is bad" (Hebrews 5:14 WE).

"Fools have no desire to learn; they would much rather give their own opinion" (Proverbs 18:2 CEV).

"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him" (Proverbs 26:12 NKJV).

"It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, "Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor” (Luke 6:41-42 The Message).

"You think that everyone should agree with your perfect knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for" (1 Corinthians 8: 1b-3 NLT).

“LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me” (Psalm 131:1-2 NLT).

“If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me” (Matthew 10:39 The Message).

“You will never get into God's kingdom unless you enter it like a child!" (Luke 18:17 CEV).

"If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking" (James 1:5 CEV).

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