Wisdom

For the past few weeks, Betty (an older lady that Kennedy and I met at the apartment gym when we were living here in November) has been inviting us to a Bible study that she and her husband have been doing for the past 12 weeks with one of the apartment employees. The employee that we have met a few times claims Catholicism, but I don't think she has had a steady study of the Bible according to Betty. After hearing this, Betty and her husband befriended her and have been going through the book of John verse by verse- to which the employee has been very receptive. Hesitantly, Kennedy and I considered whether or not to commit to the study and last night was the start of a new study as they just finished the book of John. We were hesitant only because we don't want to over commit ourselves, yet Betty's loving persistence of inviting us over for a while now motivated us to go last night. I think we are also interested in this multi-generational type studying of God's Word...AND they are our neighbors which means we can just walk over :) I love that the friendship Betty built with this girl who is around our age has grown into Betty and her husband opening up their home to her and studying the Word of God together.
So last night, we met Roger, Betty's husband, for the first time. We of course have heard about him and Betty's family since November, but actually meeting him in person was really good! We sat down, thinking that they were only discussing what they were doing next, not knowing they had already just started their new study in the book of James. Thankfully, we came prepared with our Bibles...because Roger calls you out. Verse by verse we dove into the book of James, with Roger asking one person after the other to read reference verses he had pulled out from his studies. "Wisdom...", Roger said, "comes from this book alone"---pointing to the Bible. Saying this ever so confidently, as if he believed it. He asked me what I thought wisdom was...I think I formulated some kind of answer but he said wisdom is a skill of living...and as James 1:5 says- if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.
Wisdom isn't something that comes overnight...it is a part of our spiritual growth. But we must seek it and be committed to trusting God's Word unwaveringly. We read from Proverbs 2 towards the end of our study last night...which I still find fascinating every time I read it. I can't help but think to myself, do I really seek for wisdom as if it were silver or hidden treasures?
Here is some of chapter 2---good stuff:

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice (or cry out) for understanding, if you seek it like SILVER and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil..."

John Piper says, "The fear of the Lord is, therefore, the beginning of wisdom not only in the sense that it is the first step in a wise way to live, but also in the sense that all the later characteristics of wisdom flow from the fear of the Lord like a river flows from a spring....

To know and love and follow this Jesus is to own the treasure of ultimate and eternal happiness. Therefore, the command, "Get wisdom," means first and foremost "Come to Jesus! Come to Jesus!" in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom."