By: Allen

Read: Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12

For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
(Proverbs 9:11-12)

Relate: When I was a child, my parents told me that I was a genius, like other kids at that age, and at that time, I thought that I was an outstanding child. That mindset gave me confidence, but arrogance as well. When my arrogance reached its peak, I made a mistake that fixed my self-esteem and made me more humble.

While taking my midterm exam for social study class, I thought I answered everything perfectly and did not check it again. However, when my result came out, I got 20 right out of 50 questions, which was truly unexpected. I went to my teacher’s office and checked my answer sheet, and I found that I skipped one question but did not leave a blank for it. Ever since that test, I always double-checked my answers and been more careful.

React: This experience taught me that wisdom is good only when we use it wisely. Since our wisdom is God’s merit toward us, we should use it godly and humble. Proverbs chapter 9 talks about this and says “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (Proverbs 9:12). Our wisdom can lead us to help others or glorify God, but it can also make us much evil by abusing it. As the previous verse said, we should accumulate our wisdom and add to our lives.

We should never be haughty of our abilities, since they are all from God’s grace. We should always set God first, whenever and whatever we do. We don’t have to worry about other secular things, because God will reward us if we act wise.

Respond:

Dear God,
Help me to be humble. Help me to never be overconfident but to always trust in You. I give all of my talents and abilities to Your will for me.
Amen