Proverbs 1:7 
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.  (NIV)

Start with GOD—the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD;
Only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. (MSG)

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The starting point and center of knowledge and wisdom is God, and God alone. 

God and God alone gives us our best first and enduring steps on the pathway of knowledge and wisdom. He alone is the First and Final Authority on what is right and just and fair. (See Proverbs 1:3.)

Yesterday, our vacation travels took us to Mackinac Island between the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan. This is where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. It’s one of my favorite travel destinations, even though I haven’t been here in forty years. 

Our family rented bicycles and pedaled around the island’s perimeter. It was beautiful. It was warm in some places, reaching almost seventy degrees. It was quite cool as we rounded onto the north side from the east. A strong wind made it feel twenty degrees cooler. The transition onto the west side moved us back into warmer breezes. 

At a rest stop where we enjoyed lunch, a new feature popped up on my Apple Watch. It uses the compass to record the successive phases of my travel. Should I ever get lost and need to retrace my steps, I simply go back to the segment where I messed up, and the watch will map out my way back to that point and set me back on the right path.

This feature would have come in handy many, many times in my life. 

This feature has been available forever in a different form. God is really good at helping us get back on the right path. His guidance is clear. His directions are sure. His provision is ample. His record is flawless. 

The best part of God’s directions is that he goes with us as the expert Guide we need more than we know, and we can trust him without fear of failure. 

My bride and I visited a church years ago that had two worship services and two Bible study hours. Those attending early worship likewise attended the later Bible study hour, and vice versa. 

We asked for directions on our first visit. An information booth was clearly labeled, and we walked up to ask for guidance. There was nobody there to guide us. Looking around, we noticed a similar booth a ways down the hall. We walked there. Again, it was unattended. Then a man with a name tag stepped into the booth, picked up some materials, looked at us, and turned away without speaking.

We bathe regularly, in case you are wondering.

So, we toddled on back to the first booth, and someone was there. Yay! After asking about our age group, she provided options. After we decided which option to pursue, she gave us these directions: “Go down this hall. Pass the double doors. If you get to the elevator, you’ve gone too far. Turn right when you get upstairs. The class is about halfway down the hall on the right.”

We almost gave up. It would have been so much easier if someone had escorted us and introduced us to those leading the class.

How can we know how to live in a manner that honors God and blesses others? God gives us clear directions. They are not hard to find or understand. They are easier to implement than we fear. 

When you need wisdom and require direction, begin with God. The One who created the world still has the blueprints. He who hung the stars in space definitely knows how to navigate you through life. 

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I will start with God in my quest for knowledge and wisdom.

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Our Father, give us knowledge and wisdom. Remind us as often as necessary to start with you in seeking knowledge and wisdom. Forgive us for thinking we are smarter than you are. Forgive us for beginning anywhere but with you. Thank you for giving us all the light by which we see, and all the truths we hear. Amen.