Wisdom Principles--Stay Focused on God & What He Has Given You to Do; Don’t Be Distracted By Other Things

Deuteronomy 5:32 

Be careful, therefore, to do as the Lord, your God, has commanded you, not turning aside to the right or to the left

Psalm 37:1-3

Do not get heated about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. 2 Quick as the grass they wither, fading like the green of the fields.

3 Put your trust in Yahweh and do right

Psalm 37:7-8

Stay quiet before Yahweh, wait longingly for him, do not get heated over someone who is making a fortune, succeeding by devious means. 8 Refrain from anger, leave rage aside, do not get heated -- it can do no good

Psalm 37:27

Turn your back on evil and do good, you will have a home for ever

Psalm 37:34

Put your hope in Yahweh, keep to his path, he will raise you up to make the land your own

Psalm 37:37

Observe the innocent, consider the honest

Psalm 131

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high;I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a child quieted at its mother’s breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul. 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.

Proverbs 4:25-27

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 16:17

He who guards his way preserves his life.

Proverbs 25:6-7

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; 7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

Ecclesiastes 3:13

It is God’s gift to man that every one should … take pleasure in all his toil.

Sirach 3:17-18

My son, perform your tasks in meekness; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. 18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.

Sirach 3:22-24

Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries. 23 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds the scope of the human mind. 24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgment.

Sirach 7:4-6

Do not seek from the Lord the highest office, nor the seat of honor from the king. 5 Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord, nor display your wisdom before the king.6 Do not seek to become a judge, lest you be unable to remove iniquity, lest you be partial to a powerful man, and thus put a blot on your integrity.

Sirach 11:20

My child, stand by your agreement and attend to it, grow old while doing your work.

Sirach 13:9-11

When a powerful man invites you, be reserved; and he will invite you the more often.10 Do not push forward, lest you be repulsed; and do not remain at a distance, lest you be forgotten. 11 Do not try to treat him as an equal, nor trust his abundance of words; for he will test you through much talk, and while he smiles he will be examining you. 12 Cruel is he who does not keep words to himself; he will not hesitate to injure or to imprison.

13 Keep words to yourself and be very watchful, for you are walking about with your own downfall.

15 Every creature loves its like, and every person his neighbor; 16 all living beings associate by species, and a man clings to one like himself. 17 What fellowship has a wolf with a lamb? No more has a sinner with a godly man.

Sirach 51:30

Do your work before the appointed time, and in God’s time he will give you your reward.

Philippians 4:11-13

I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. 13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

You do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Timothy 6:7-9

What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! 8 So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction.

Wisdom Principles: God = Light, Departure from God = Darkness

Genesis 1:1-4
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.3 And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

Job 29:2-3
If only my life could once again be as it was when God watched over me.3 God was always with me then and gave me light as I walked through the darkness

Job 30:26
Yet when I looked for good, evil came; when I expected light, darkness came.

Psalm 18:28
O Lord, you give me light; you dispel my darkness.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.

Proverbs 4:18-19
The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. 19 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.

Proverbs 6:23
For the command is a lamp, and the teaching a light, and a way to life are the reproofs that discipline

Ecclesiastes 2:13-14
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and yet I perceived that one fate comes to all of them. 

Isaiah 8:22-9:1
Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom(C) for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan

Isaiah 45:6-7
I do this so that everyone from one end of the world to the other may know that I am the Lord and that there is no other god. 7 I create both light and darkness; I bring both blessing and disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things.

Isaiah 49:6-7
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. 7 Thus says the Lord, the redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, To the one despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers: When kings see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall bow down Because of the Lord who is faithful,the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 4:12-16
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Caper′na-um by the sea, in the territory of Zeb′ulun and Naph′tali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zeb′ulun and the land of Naph′tali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

Matthew 8:12
But those who should be in the Kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness, where they will cry and gnash their teeth.”

Matthew 22:13
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’

Matthew 25:30
Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’

Luke 1:78-79
Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us 79 and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path of peace.”

Luke 2:32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.

Luke 8:16
No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light.

Luke 16:8
The master commended the dishonest steward for his prudence; for the sons of this world are wiser in their own generation than the sons of light.

John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 3:19-21
And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.

John 12:35
Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.

John 12:36
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

John 12:46
I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.

John 3:29-30
Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night.

Acts 13:46-47
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”

Acts 26:17-18
I will rescue you from the people of Israel and from the Gentiles to whom I will send you. 18 You are to open their eyes and turn them from the darkness to the light and from the power of Satan to God, so that through their faith in me they will have their sins forgiven and receive their place among God's chosen people.’

Romans 13:11-13
Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; 12 the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Ephesians 5:8-19
For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; 13 but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. 14 Therefore it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.”

Colossians 1:12-13
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

1 Thessalonians 5:4-8
But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 John 1:6-7
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

 1 John 2:8-11
Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Wisdom principles: We Grow in Godliness Over Time, Gradually

Proverbs 1:5
The wise by hearing them will advance in learning, the intelligent will gain sound guidance

Proverbs 4:18
The path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day.

Proverbs 10:17
He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes astray.

Proverbs 24:3-4
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4 and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Sirach 6:18-19
My son, from your youth up choose instruction, and until you are old you will keep finding wisdom.19 Come to her like one who plows and sows, and wait for her good harvest. For in her service you will toil a little while, and soon you will eat of her produce.

Sirach 6:27-28
Search out and seek, and she will become known to you; and when you get hold of her, do not let her go. 28 For at last you will find the rest she gives, and she will be changed into joy for you.

Sirach 24:30-33
Now I, like a stream from a river, and like water channeling into a garden31 I said, “I will water my plants, I will drench my flower beds.” Then suddenly this stream of mine became a river, and this river of mine became a sea.32 Again I will make my teachings shine forth like the dawn; I will spread their brightness afar off. 33 Again I will pour out instruction like prophecy and bestow it on generations yet to come.

Matthew 9:14-15
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Ephesians 3:16
Be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self

Philippians 3:10-16
All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, 11 in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life. 12 I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. 13 Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. 14 So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above. 15 All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you. 16 However that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now.

Colossians 1:9-12
And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Colossians 3:10
Put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

2 Peter 1:5-8
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wisdom Principles: Living in God's Presence

Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old Yahweh appeared to him and said, 'I am El Shaddai. Live in my presence, be perfect

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 11:18-20
Remember these commands and cherish them. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. 

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

Psalm 91:1-2
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty,2 Say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:14-15
Because he clings to me I will deliver him; because he knows my name I will set him on high. 15 He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and give him honor.

Proverbs 3:3
Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart.

Proverbs 4:8
Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her,[a] and she will bring you honor.

Proverbs 4:13
Hold fast to instruction, never let it go; keep it, for it is your life.

Proverbs 7:1-4
My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend

Proverbs 8:34
Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

Wisdom 8:9
So I determined to take [Wisdom] to live with me, knowing that she would be my counselor while all was well, and my comfort in care and grief.

Wisdom 8:16-18
Entering my house, I shall take my repose beside her; for association with her involves no bitterness and living with her no grief, but rather joy and gladness.17 Reflecting on these things, and considering in my heart that immortality lies in kinship with Wisdom,18 great delight in love of her, and unfailing riches in the works of her hands; and that in associating with her there is prudence, and fair renown in sharing her discourses, I went about seeking to take her for my own.

Sirach 14:20-15:6
Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom and who reasons intelligently. 21He who reflects in his mind on her ways will also ponder her secrets. 22 Pursue wisdom like a hunter, and lie in wait on her paths.

23 He who peers through her windows will also listen at her doors; 24 he who encamps near her house will also fasten his tent peg to her walls;25 he will pitch his tent near her, and will lodge in an excellent lodging place;

26 he will place his children under her shelter, and will camp under her boughs; 27 he will be sheltered by her from the heat, and will dwell in the midst of her glory.

15 The man who fears the Lord will do this, and he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom. 2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and like the wife of his youth she will welcome him.3 She will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.4 He will lean on her and will not fall, and he will rely on her and will not be put to shame.5 

She will exalt him above his neighbors, and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.6 He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will acquire an everlasting name.

John 14:23
Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 15:4-11
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Romans 8:14-16
All who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God; 15 for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, 'Abba, Father!'16 The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God.

Galatians 2:20
I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me. The life that I am now living, subject to the limitation of human nature, I am living in faith, faith in the Son of God  who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 3:14-20
I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Colossians 2:7
[Be] rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians  3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Hebrews 4:10
Whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his own works as God did from his.

James 1:21-25
Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.