When You Discover Wisdom, You Will Discover Joy

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If you don’t mind being sad, poor, foolish, and short-lived, don’t bother asking for wisdom. You can get along fine without it. But if you’d rather experience joy, riches, honor, life, understanding, and God’s protection—pray that he will bless you with all the wisdom you can handle. Pray, too, for those in leadership whose decisions affect many others—that they will act wisely on behalf of all.

In addition to praying for it, you can actively seek wisdom by cultivating a life of humility, study, patience, and openness to the counsel of others. God’s wisdom, the Bible says, is a treasure greater than rubies. Though it may look like folly to the world, no human understanding or plan can stand against it.

Promises in Scripture

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly. Proverbs 2:13-18

No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

This article originally appeared on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.