![]() An entire chapter could be written on it. What then is wisdom? The topic is complex. If a person isn’t growing in wisdom, he isn’t growing in maturity. One of the concerns for the apostle Paul was for Christ’s church to grow in wisdom ( Eph 1:17 Col 1:9). One can cry during a set of songs but be addicted to porn. You can have a head full of theology but have a train wreck of a life or marriage. One can do all of these things and still live in total rebellion. ![]() Spiritual growth is also more than being emotionally moved in a worship gathering, more than attending lectures, and more than hearing sermons. Reading numerous articles at The Gospel Coalition (or any other Christian website) doesn’t equal spiritual growth either. Being able to name a bunch of preachers doesn’t equal spiritual maturity. Let me ask an additional question: How should a Christian measure spiritual growth? Don’t be deceived by certain Christian subcultures. Don’t determine your significance and worth by external appearance but by internal submission to God. Adonijah and Absalom illustrate how men may be suitable for magazine covers but aren’t worth following because they lack godly wisdom. The attractiveness of a beautiful ring is likened to the attractiveness of a lady, but that beauty is nullified if it’s in an undesirable situation-in this case, in obstinate stupidity. Proverbs says, “A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout” ( Prov 11:22). The lady worth admiring and emulating pursues wisdom, which means she submits to God, reveres God, and worships God. Proverbs also shows us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” ( Prov 9:10). ![]() A woman should be concerned with fearing the Lord, not being “hot.” Fearing the Lord is the wise life. The book of Proverbs, however, gives a different vision of what ladies should desire: “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised” ( Prov 31:30). I also heard of a pop star who said that her greatest fear when she turns 70 is that she would no longer be “hot.” Being “hot” is the central desire not only for her but also for the many girls who seek to emulate her. For these young ladies everything sadly revolves around one’s figure. She described the sad scene of her modeling world: teenage girls getting into black SUVs late at night, getting home early in the morning, and standing in front of the mirror sobbing because they thought they were “fat.” One girl was so bulimic that she involuntarily threw up everything she ate. I read this week of a young model who was “leaving her career for God,” citing that she didn’t want to use her body to promote sex any longer. Problems like eating disorders and addictions to plastic surgery arise with this quest for a perfect appearance. It’s evidenced in films, magazines, songs, and many other contexts. What type of person is worth admiring? How do you evaluate someone’s significance? According to the world, for many young ladies (and some older ladies), outer appearance is the determining factor of value and worth. To help us think about the importance of wisdom, let us consider a few questions. In chapter 3 we see more of Solomon’s leadership, witness positive and negative acts, and we are told the reason for Solomon’s greatness: God gave him wisdom. The right king was appointed to the throne, even though some questionable actions were taken. ![]() In the opening chapters of Kings, Solomon’s reign is established.
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