"God Sense"
Most of us are probably familiar with the term common sense, which refers to a practical, applicable kind of wisdom. I’ve also heard it called horse sense. It is something to be desired and is looked upon favorably. Having and using common sense is said to produce a good life with minimal problems. And yet, there is something better that we could call God Sense.
God Sense, the wisdom of God, is to be desired above any earthly wisdom, wealth, or prestige. When we have the wisdom that comes from above, we will be able to live well and favor will come to us.
How does one get this God Sense? From God, of course. According to James 1:5, we can ask God for wisdom and He will give it to us. And a prime way He gives it to us is in His Word. The wisdom of God is woven throughout the entirety of Scripture because God and His Word are one. However, a key place to find God Sense is in the book of Proverbs.
Oh what a wonderful book Proverbs is! If you enjoy witty sayings and brief but powerful gems of wisdom, Proverbs is the book for you. It is packed with nuggets- those powerful truths expressed with few words. And it really is a book that will provide you with wisdom for daily life- God Sense. Consider the following verses and how they give us guidance for avoiding trouble and walking in favor, peace, and prosperity.
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1 (New Living Translation, NLT)
Here we have a key piece of wisdom for relationships. It shows us how to avoid strife and promote peace and unity.
Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live. Proverbs 15:27 (New Living Translation, NLT)
This verse covers ethics, character, and integrity, showing us how to walk upright. It also shows us that it is important to have a healthy view of money and not to be controlled with the desire for it.
If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Proverbs 15:32 (New Living Translation, NLT)
This tells us about personal growth and development and submitting to constructive correction.
I’ve only listed three verses from one chapter and consider the wealth of knowledge and understanding that just those three verses have shown us! Each verse in Proverbs is a treasure that we can examine and meditate at length. And if we took them to heart and put them into practice, we would become mature Christians individually and the body of Christ would be more powerful, effective, and unified.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:17 (NKJV)
I challenge you to read one nugget from Proverbs daily and ponder it as you go through your day. I say read a “nugget” rather than read a verse, because many truths or principles in Proverbs can be given in one verse, but there are some that require more than one verse. If we read a nugget or truth from Proverbs each day, we will be well on our way to walking in that wonderful heavenly wisdom that I call God Sense.
