As a younger believer, I attended church. But it was a social club where I met friends and hoped to someday meet my wife.

In those days, it was not a place where I went to seek wisdom. I hopped from church to church seeking, but I was never satisfied. I found myself reverting to my old ways, making the wrong choices. Finally, I came to the point where I realized I was empty, and I needed something more. What I needed was right there: a treasure sitting on my bookshelf called the Bible. What I needed were the gemstones of truth inside that book.

Today, there seems to be a growing lack of wisdom as crime, infidelity, divorce, bankruptcy and immorality are all on the rise. A nationally published family magazine conducted a poll asking families, “How do you think families in the U.S. are doing as a whole”

Seventy-one percent said they thought the family was in real trouble and they didn’t see much hope, though we continue to hear about ethics issues in Congress and in business.

Many are constantly striving but never satisfied. Some have more insight than discretion. Others have more knowledge than common sense.

Parents are often faced with decisions on things like how to discipline children. Do I spank them or give them a time-out How much time do I need to spend with my children Am I properly preparing them for adulthood, or am I relying on school teachers or their peers How do I protect my children from the evils on the Internet or from hanging out with the wrong crowd How do I protect them from drugs and alcohol How do I help them learn to make the right choices in life

We face complex questions, yet the answers to these questions come to us in very simple instructions from the one who not only created us and who knows everything about us, but who also created the universe and knows exactly how it all works.

Wisdom starts with God, and God gives it to those who persistently seek it. His desire is to teach his people how to live — how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did. I want to make the simpleminded wise! he said. I want to warn young men about some problems they will face. I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth (Proverbs 1:2-7 TLB).

How does a man become wise The first step is to trust and revere the Lord!

Wisdom does not come from institutional learning or from knowledge. It always begins with and comes from the Lord.

There are those who are always learning, but never gained wisdom, because wisdom is the application of God’s truth. God wants us to live well. He gives us all choices in life, and because we don’t get to choose the consequences of the choices, he wants us to make the best possible choices. Therefore, it would be wise to ask yourself if you are seeking wisdom.

There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. Reading a chapter a day could change your life. Looking for a good counselor God’s the expert.

To contact Robert Krenik of Calvary Chapel, call 839-8099 or e-mail rkrenik@sbcglobal.net. All religious leaders within the Tracy community are invited to write columns for Reflections on Faith.