Life, Death, and Learning Wisdom

You may know this verse in the NIV or ESV version: “Teach us to number our days…”

Irony? Maybe. God’s way of preparing me for the news to come? Maybe.

Or a timely reminder to keep a right perspective?

I think the key is in the last phrase, “so that we may grow in wisdom.” At some level, and especially as time passes, the brevity of life becomes more real to us. We lose loved ones, experience miscarriages, endure illnesses, watch friends self-destruct … we know life is fragile.

I think wisdom grows from experience (Job 12:12), which usually happens over a long time, so young people who have endured much seem wise “beyond their years.”

How do you number your days? What can we do to realize the brevity of life? What does wisdom look like for you? The list of answers will be as long and varied as those who read this. I have a few ideas to get us started.

• Every morning, thank God for sustaining you through the night. Give him credit for your every breath.
• Praise God for the sunrise (and sunset), and remember that their daily recurrence reflects his eternal faithfulness.
• Love well. Say it, show it, encourage it.
• Get to know God, and you’ll understand your place in the world better. He’s in charge, we aren’t. Which, for some of us controlling-type people, means we can relax.
• Remember Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”
• Discover your gifts and pursue work that uses them in service to others.
• “Number your days”: acknowledge that death comes to us all, that this life now will end, that our next breath is not guaranteed. And in that knowledge, live each day in right relationship with God, trusting Jesus’s sacrifice on your behalf was all God needed to forgive and reconcile you to himself.
• Be humble: “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice” (Prv. 13:10).
• When we realize that we aren’t the center of the universe, may we look around for someone to serve, someone to love, someone to comfort, someone to encourage. Let’s be people who “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

Chris and Amy, I grieve with you. Shannon, I rejoice with you. John, I love you. And, Nate, I’m so glad you came home last night. Mom, what a joy to be with you and all our family last week for Christmas. Sandi, Rebecca, and Mary—I still smile remembering our lunch before the holidays (#thingsIcannottweet is my new favorite). Courtney and Donny, our time with you guys always brings us joy. Jesus, thank you for another day. Help me to spend my time well.

I’m just getting started. How will you number your days?