Look inside this book.Where the Bush is Burning: A Daily Devotional by [Thomas Tice]
Whatever Else You Gain

Whatever Else You Gain

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Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 

Proverbs 4:7 

… in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:3  

Solomon was, according to the Scripture, the wisest man who ever lived. God said to him, “behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” He ruled Israel during its’ golden age. He wrote much of the book of Proverbs. He valued knowledge and wisdom. Scripture records that he succeeded in an impressive array of accomplishments including the gathering of wealth, power, and influence in the ancient world. Therefore when we come to this text it is important for us to put his advice in the context of the vast number of areas in which he was succeeding. Thus, he advices, ‘get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding.’ In our vernacular, we might put it, ‘Whatever else you get, get understanding.’ Solomon prized wisdom above anything else that he could acquire. He advises us to do the same. The second portion of our text holds the key to how to go about acquiring this wisdom Solomon prized so highly. It leads us to Christ, ‘in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ Looking to Christ first is always the best way forward.  

Our Gracious God and our Savior, 
we rejoice at all You bestow upon us. 
We praise You that the wisdom and knowledge we need 
is all in You.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

The Principal Thing

The Principal Thing

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Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 

Proverbs 4:7 

… in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:3  

Knowledge is good, but wisdom is better. Our text identifies wisdom, as ‘the principal thing.’ What does that mean? It means that wisdom is supreme. We prize knowledge and rightly so. Knowledge is vastly superior to ignorance. Ignorance is inherently dangerous. Knowledge is good and more knowledge is better. Above these is wisdom. Wisdom is understanding. Wisdom uses knowledge rightly. If a person has knowledge without wisdom, they become arrogant and thereby foolish. Paul remarks in Corinthians, ‘Knowledge puffs up.’ We want knowledge, but we must have wisdom with it. Where can we go to acquire both? According to the second portion of our text the treasures of knowledge and wisdom reside in Christ. If we gain knowledge it will be through Christ. If we find wisdom, it will be in Christ. This means if we want these things, we will pursue Christ. To know Him and the Father Who sent Him is eternal life. Therefore, we make much of Christ. He gives what we cannot acquire anywhere else. Through Him we gain knowledge and the wisdom to understand.  

Our Holy and Wise God, 
we rejoice that You do not leave us in our ignorance. 
We praise You that You point us to the One 
in Whom resides wisdom and knowledge. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Knowledge And Wisdom

Knowledge And Wisdom

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… in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2: 3 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,  
But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

Proverbs 1:7 

If we desire knowledge and wisdom where shall we begin? The second portion of our text addresses this directly. ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.’ The word ‘fear’ as it appears is communicating honor, reverence, and regard. It does not denote abject terror in the way we often think of the use of the word. Thus to honor, reverence and regard God, as God, is the beginning of knowledge and the path to wisdom. To disregard God, to devalue Him in our estimation is utter folly. David remarks ‘The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.’ The remark from the fool’s mouth is not so much a statement of atheism, but rather a refusal to regard God as having any say or authority over the speaker. Thus, if we would begin to acquire knowledge and wisdom, we must begin with God. This leads us to Christ. The first portion of our text tells us all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Therefore, if we are to begin where God points us, we will begin with Christ. He is that storehouse of wisdom and knowledge. We begin to know God by knowing Christ.  

Our Good and Faithful God, 
we rejoice that Christ is a fountain of knowledge and wisdom. 
We praise You that You teach us, 
to go to Him, that we may deeply drink of that fountain. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

All The Treasures

All The Treasures

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For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:1-3 

Knowledge and wisdom are vast treasures. When we speak of knowledge we refer to the astronomical amount of things that are knowable. This is an expanse of information that extends in every direction and which covers a limitless number of facts. As humans, in all our history we have barely scratched the surface of all there is to know. Then we speak of wisdom, we address the use of knowledge to the best end. Knowledge only serves the greater purpose when we apply it with wisdom. Without wisdom we waste the knowledge we have. Wisdom is the understanding of what is good. When wisdom and knowledge come together it results in the highest good. When Paul wrote to the Colossians, he touched upon this subject. In our text, he makes a statement regarding Christ. He says of Him, ‘in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ This statement has the broadest of implications. It brings us to the conclusion that if we are to gain true  knowledge and wisdom we must know Christ. He is the storehouse in Whom knowledge and wisdom reside. When we know Him we are on the path to all the treasures.  

Our Great and Gracious God, 
we rejoice in Your knowledge and wisdom. 
We praise You that all of those treasures 
reside in Christ.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

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