THE THREE MUST HAVES ~ Precious Victor Akah

Today, we're considering the three key things that play a pivotal role in living successfully on earth (fulfilling the purpose for which God your Creator made you). I call them the three must haves: WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING. A man destitute of these three things is a man who won't fulfill God's plan for their life. Proverbs 4:7 emphatically states "wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding."

To begin, let's hear what King Solomon (the king God Almighty personally endued with wisdom from above) first said about knowledge. King Solomon began his wise sayings in the Book of Proverbs by first making this statement in (Proverbs 1:7): "The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline." (Amplified Version).

Contemporary English Version puts it this way: "Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice." While Good News Translation says: "To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the LORD. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn."

Permit me to also read Proverbs 9:10: "Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of wisdom. To have understanding, you must know the Holy God." (Contemporary English Version). Good News Translation says, "To be wise you must first have reverence for the LORD. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding."

From the two scriptures we just read, two things are very glaring. First, God is central to acquiring knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Without Him, no man can access these three things. So a man without God, a man who does not believe in God, and one who has no regard for God and what He says, cannot have these three things. What they can only play with or operate with is common sense, earthly wisdom and understanding given to all men from birth; they won't touch the real thing nor handle it. And what they're playing with cannot enable them to fulfill God's plan for their lives. What they can only achieve or accomplish with it is their own plan for their lives.

The second obvious thing is: you cannot have wisdom and knowledge except you first have reverence for God. In other words, what qualifies anyone to have wisdom and knowledge is, having the fear of the Lord. Therefore, any man who does not fear God cannot possess true wisdom and true knowledge. Even access to understanding requires you to first know God Almighty. Knowledge of God here isn't just knowing He exists, but knowing who He is, acknowledging who He is, worshipping Him for who He is, and living in reverence to who He is.

When a man is empty of WISDOM, he is filled with FOOLISHNESS; which of the two would you rather have?

When a man is devoid of KNOWLEDGE, he is rich in IGNORANCE; which would you rather have?

When a man lacks understanding, he is full of errors and mistakes; which would you rather have in your life?

The ending part of Proverbs 1:7 we read tells us that only fools despise wisdom. When a person despise wisdom, they live a foolish life (which they may not be cognizant of while living it), they only realize their foolishness when the consequences and results of foolish living begins to play out. This will not be your portion in Jesus' Name.

I know you're wise and you have chosen wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Therefore, if you're not born again, first accept Jesus and believe in Him, then He'll give you the wisdom, knowledge and understanding you need to live successfully on earth as you grow in the knowledge of Him and reverence Him. If you're already born again, one way to acquire knowledge, wisdom and understanding, as we read above, is to have the fear of the Lord. 

To fear God is to depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7, Proverbs 14:16). To fear God is to keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). To fear God is to give Him all the glory due to Him (Revelation 14:7). Do these and the Lord will keep adding to your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. 

Furthermore, study of God's Word, prayer (asking God for these three things whenever you need to apply any in a peculiar situation, unusual challenge/dilemma, or a special part of your life - James 1:5), daily declarations and positive confessions, fellowship with the Holy Spirit, listening to those the Holy Spirit has told you is operating with God's wisdom, knowledge and understanding, among other things, are ways to grow and increase in wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Stay blessed!

ALSO READ: 9 OCTOBER - JEALOUS ONE