Why Think?

Yesterday I posted Thinking Hurts!. In light of that, why do Christians need to think? Since it takes lots of time and work; if it’s so hard, why do it?

 

…because it’s worth it.

 

Thinking is absolutely critical to the Christian life. The Christian who doesn’t think is naive and weak. He will be prone to temptation. Proverbs 13:15-16 shows the folly of the not thinking, “Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. (emphasis mine throughout)” It is is foolishness.

Why do we think long and hard? The Bible commands to be wise. It is a command of God and a gift from God. All wisdom comes from his person. It is a characteristic of God that we ought to pursue. Wisdom leads to holiness. Critical Thinking makes us wise. 

Why think?

God Commands It

Proverbs 8:32-33 “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.”

Proverbs 23:19 “Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.”

Matthew 10:16 ”Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

God commands and expects his children to wise. We are to know the ways of righteousness and flee from sin.

God Gives It

God gives wisdom. It is a part of his being, his character. Apart from God, there is no wisdom. James tells us to ask God for wisdom with the promise that he gives it liberally. Wisdom is a gift from God.

Daniel shows us that wisdom is of God and from God. That is it is part of his being and a gift, Daniel 2:20 “Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.”

And a few verses later, ”To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:23

Proverbs 2:6 sums it up, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

It Produces Holiness

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth

-Proverbs 1:1-4

Here in the very beginning of Proverbs, Solomon reveals his purpose–to know, understand, and receive instruction in righteousness, justice, etc.

Proverbs 2:10-12 says, “for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil…” 

I don’t think it can be said clearer than that, we think critically, even though it is hard work, because it delivers us from the way of evil.