A Heart of Wisdom

Psalm 90: 12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Someone said,

“Live every day like it’s your last, ‘cause one day you’re gonna be right.”

The Bible often reminds us that we should live our lives with the end in view.

One of those scriptures is Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

The context for these verses is the eternal nature of God.

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:1-2).

The Psalmist begins by saying…… “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:1-2).

The author reminds us that while the life of man is frail and short, God is eternal.

The author makes this point in another way in verse 4: “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.”

Time does not have the same meaning for God that it has for us.

For us, a thousand years is a time so long that we cannot really imagine experiencing it.

For God, a thousand years is no different from a very short period of time. He is eternal, above the time that He created.

The Psalmist then presents a series of contrasts or illustrations that show how brief and uncertain our lives are specially in comparison with the eternal God.

Our life is like a “watch in the night” (vs. 4).

A watch in the night is only four hours long. In the wee hours of the morning four hours may seem like an eternity, but in reality it soon passes. That’s our life.

Our lives are like a flood (vs. 5).

In the hill country of Texas they talk about “flash” floods. It can rain and the upstream creates a wall of water that comes and sweeping away everything in its path. That’s our life.

Life is like a dream in the night. (vs. 5).

Dreams seem to last all night but those who study them say they last only a few seconds. That’s our life.

Our life is like the grass that grows up in the springtime and then withers in the hot sun (vs. 5-6). That’s our life.

Ps. 90:10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble;

American life expectancy is about 77.

Psalm 90: 12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

It is not asking us to number/count our possessions, titles or accomplishments.

We tend to place too much attention on material things. Most of our New Year's resolutions had to do with things that will one day disappear.

According to a poll

Most Common New Year’s Resolutions for 2024 (Forbes Health/OnePoll survey)

Improved fitness (48%)

Improved finances (38%)

Improved mental health (36%)

Lose weight (34%)

Improved diet (32%)

What do you value most in life?

The question is not what you should value most.

The question is what do you value most in life?

The answer to that question is not found in what we say we value.

The answer is found in how we invest our lives—how we invest the precious minutes, hours, and days of our lives.

The most valuable thing you have is time.

Each one of us only have so much time to live out our life.

Psalm 90: 12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Gaining a heart of wisdom was a high priority for the author.

He considered that something worth pursuing in life.

And in that passage, he says a key factor in gaining that heart of wisdom is that we learn “to number our days.”

The Hebrew word for "number" is: to count, to divide into parts…

We recognize that we have only so many days in this life to gain that heart of wisdom. Then we don’t waste them on vain pursuits.

If we live our life knowing that our days are numbered, we’re going to make better decisions.

Whenever you think that you have more of something than you need, you tend to waste it!

Life is short! We must invest our time in that which is of eternal value.

All that glitters is not gold.

The vanities of this world are of much less value than "gaining a heart of wisdom" (Ps. 90:12).

Ephesians 5:15-16, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

“Time” is not chronos (chronology / time sequence)… it’s the word kairos which means “opportunity.”

Kairos means an appointed time in the purpose of God – it’s a window of opportunity when God can act.

One day at a time

Usually, we don't number our days; we number our years.

When you have a birthday and someone asks how old you are, you tell them your age in the number of years.

But we'd better number our days, because we live a day at a time.

"Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11).

God has ordained that the entire universe functions a day at a time.

Focus on your heart

We live from the heart.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." We need to take care of the heart. That's why Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

What is in your heart will direct your life.

Live by God's wisdom.

Wisdom is knowing and having discernment, so that we can apply the truth of the Word of God at the right time, in the right way, with the right motive.

Wisdom comes from the Word of God and from getting to know Him and ourselves better.

In the Hebrew mindset, wisdom was tied to the fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"

The fear of the Lord begins with an appreciation of his greatness and majesty.

But very few have learned to “count their days,” and do not realize how ephemeral their life is. Today they can measure the distance to the sun and the moon and the stars and the exact amount of time for light to reach them, but they have not learned to count their own days.

Moses gives the secret of making life count--live it a day at a time. You need God's help to apply His Word to your life. Live as though this may be your last day. Ask God for the wisdom you need and apply it by faith.

Psalm 90: 12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

A Testimony, Not a Title

One of my seminary professors said that when we did we should focus to leave a testimony, not a title. A pastor asked the college students from his church to share with the congregation about their college life. They told what degrees they were seeking and what they hoped to be in life. When they had finished, the pastor stood and said something very startling. He said, in essence, “One day, young ladies and gentlemen, you will die and they will carry you out to the cemetery and throw dirt in your face. Then the mourners will come back to church and have ham and potato salad and talk about you. When they do, what do you suppose they will say? They won’t talk about your titles or positions, but rather what you did in life to make the world a better place.”

Then he said, “The question I want to ask you is this: ‘When you die, will you leave a title, or will you leave a testimony?’”

That’s a question for every one of us.

If we are to live wisely, we need to heed these admonitions and focus on what’s important.

Live one day at a time

Focus on the heart

Live by God's wisdom