Last week, I felt like I needed to study the word “wisdom”.  As I began studying “wisdom” in the Bible, I realized that all of the scriptures I was finding are vital for the body of Christ.  Then, I looked a little closer and saw some great truths for women in particular.  In fact, I started thinking about W.O.W:  Women of Wisdom.  The Bible is very clear when talking about women and the characteristics they should possess.  One of the most important is wisdom.

If you have never read Proverbs chapter 31.  I strongly encourage you to do so.  The entire chapter is dedicated to describing the Virtuous Woman.  My Women of Wisdom study actually began in this chapter, in verse 26.

**Recently, I have been studying in the Amplified Bible because I like extra description!  All of the scriptures listed are out of the Amplified translation.**

Proverbs 31:26

“She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].”

So how do we begin to have wisdom so that we can open our mouths and Godly wisdom will be available?

Psalm 111:10

“The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.”

So, we must first have “reverent fear and worship of the Lord”, because that is the beginning and the “first essential” of wisdom.  Also, “good understanding, wisdom and meaning” belong to those who do the will of the Lord.  Do you want understanding and meaning in your life?  Seek out and do the will of the Lord! 

James 1:5

“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.”

I love that James 1:5 says that all I have to do is ask God for wisdom and He will give it to me liberally!  That’s not hard!  God wants us blessed in ALL things, including wisdom!! 

So, if we are seeking true Godly wisdom, we need to know what it looks like.  The following is my favorite scripture in this study!!  I encourage you to meditate on this scripture in particular.

James 3:17

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).”

If we are speaking and acting in Godly wisdom, our actions and words should be full of “good fruits”.  Many times, we want to give our wisdom to others, but instead of building up and speaking with gentleness, we begin to nag.  That is not Godly wisdom.  According to the above scripture, God’s wisdom is full of love, and it is pure.  That means that wisdom should not be our opinion or our judgement - it should be of God, because He is the only pure One.  

This leads us women back to Proverbs 31.

Proverbs 31:11 & 12

“The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.  She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.”

Doesn’t that sound like James 3:17?  Proverbs 31:12 tells us exactly how to treat our husbands, but it also sounds like a great way to treat everyone else -  including our children!  So, if we are following God’s Will for our lives (Psalm 111:10) and we are seeking God for His pure wisdom (James 1:5), we will be bearing wonderful fruits!  We will comfort, encourage, love, yield to reason, tell the truth, do only good and walk in purity!

Are you ready to see it all come together now?  As W.O.W., we will be praised...

Proverbs 31:30

“Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!”

Psalm 111:10 says that the “reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.  Are you seeing what I am seeing?  If we are seeking God, we will be Women Of Wisdom.  We are called to a life of Godly wisdom, but we must choose to walk in what God has for us!

So, seek God and become a Woman Of Wisdom!  W.O.W!!

Pastor Leah Thomas