Wisdom
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Jam 1:5 (NIV)
James gives some very sage advice to the Christians of his time. Scattered abroad after the stoning of Stephen, the members of the new church were unsure of many things. Therefore, we should not be surprised to see wisdom in the context it is presented:
Testing of faith in trials leads to: Perseverance, Maturity and Completeness
Let me paraphrase James:
Christians do not let the trials get you down. Stand fast and face the trials in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you persevere, you will mature and your faith will be made complete. However, you need to remember this can’t be done on your understanding. You need the understanding only God can provide – ask Him for that wisdom. The wisdom only He can provide!
Don’t miss the importance of that concept. A footnote in the NIV suggests “wisdom is not just acquired information, but practical insight with spiritual implications.” You see, it is not just the attainment of cognitive processes. Wisdom combines the intellect and the motivation of heart as that person seeks and follows God.
Since the Epistle of James has a writing style very similar to Proverbs, it makes sense to look there for some additional insight into wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV) – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…”
Proverbs 2 begins with the moral benefits of wisdom – “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
As I read those verses, I can’t help but think about tablets of the heart and discernment that only the Spirit can provide. Do the “words of my mouth and meditations of my heart” please the Lord? You see, it is the godly wisdom I need, not the book knowledge!
Proverbs 4:7 (NIV) – “Wisdom is supreme; therefore, get wisdom.” The translation of supreme is “to get first.” So, in the context of this discussion, I must seek God first in all things. As I go forward and read the word, I begin to become a doer of word, and I experience the goodness of God on a personal level.
Listen again to James implore the Jewish Christians – “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God…” not for wisdom sake, but for the edification and glorification of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Before going to sleep tonight, read Proverbs 9:10-12 for more insight into the wisdom provided by the Lord.
Be Blessed
posted by Pastor Dean Goneau @ 6:30 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Oh, what an incredible gift wisdom is to us!! Wisdom allows us to navigate thru this dangerous and tricky world where the big 3 are constantly looking to take us down. (world, flesh, devil). I was struck by Solomon's statement that even thru all of his foolish hedonistic pursuits, that he never lost his wisdom. I think I understand what he meant. I think he knew that the wisdom was truly a gift, well he must have since he asked for it as a little boy and God responded magnanimously by giving him everything else to boot!! But he was amazed at God's grace in that after essentially running away from the One who provided it all, that God did not rescind that gift. And isn't it that way for all of us? We deserve nothing but receive everything!! How can we possibly do any less in terms of our relationships to others than what that grace extended has done to us and for us. WE MUST not judge and receive others as Christ would. The old WWJD is not just a slogan but I must make it my way of life. Too often I have been judgmental and critical!! (sorry for the long response Dean)
Sometimes I find that just simply laying the giants before the Lord at His feet in humility is the best Wisdom of all. It will relieve all the foolishness of life from us to allow God to move. After all isn't the battle His and we simply complicate it. When we learn to stand we learn wisdom and when we learn to lean on Him we gain wisdom. When we learn to do it all His was even when it may be hard - we gain wisdom. Yeah! It's hard at times but the rewards are great and again we learn wisdom and gain strength. We grow, and face the fears of life, (giants), not be tossed to and fro by lifes rough seas.
I certainly agree with what you (anonymous) wrote, but would like to comment on one thing. Many Christians only seek God when they face the "Giants," but that, in my opinion, is not wisdom. I know that is not what you meant in your comment, so please do not be offended. However, I felt led to point out that wisdom is seeking God as hard with the "small things" as we do with the "giants." I think Dick makes a good point about the "big 3" constantly taking us down. We most definity need wisdom in dealing with all facets of that attack. Paul consistantly wrote of a Spirit led life, which is one of divine guidance and teaching. It is there where we gain our wisdom. Notably, book knowledge will not be much help when dealing with the trinity of evil (1 John 2:16), and we need wisdom every moment of our day as we walk the minefields around us.
Wisdom can be a tricky thing when we think we have it. Without relying on the Holy Spirit we will tend to lean on our own variation of "wisdom" instead of God's wisdom that he gives to us through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ecclesiastes 1:16-17 states, "I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind."
In this regard it is important that we follow Proverbs 3:5-6 and trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our path.
You are correct anonymous when you say that the battle is the Lords. At one point in my life (sad to say) I sort of thought of my life and God as a partnership. I really needed Him, but He also needed me to do stuff for Him. Thru a series of crushing life events, He lovingly showed me that it is really 99.999999% Him and .00000001% me and the older I get the more His numbers go up. It is all about His grace and mercy towards us that we are even alive for we deserve nothing. A scripture came to mind about letting Him win the battle and receiving all of the glory (as He rightly should).
I would cite a couple of examples of God gaining the victory, the first thru His servants (Israel) obeying His command and literally doing the fighting. 2 Samuel 5:17-25 where David inquired of the Lord and obeyed Him striking down the Phillistines.
The second is 2 Chronicles 20 where King Jehoshaphat was being overwhelmed by a vast army and they were terrified. "14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' " In this case, the numbers were so overwhelming that annihilation was certain, so God did all of the work.
And you know as far as I'm concerned, (as stated earlier) He always does nearly all of the work. Does He not provide us with everything, life, breath, intellect, etc, etc. He gives it all so that we can give it all back to bless Him and others. To me its that simple.
A wise man fears the Lord and submits to His sovereign reign. Wisdom begins at this point and creates a willing and subservient attitude that longs to lean on God. This level of understanding is hard to explain, yet it truly is powerful. The world sees it as somthing completely foreign since it is counter to the world's view of knowledge and understanding. Man has been taught to lean on society's paradigm for wisdom. Unfortunately, many people in the church (yes, Christians) follow that world model and never truly experience the completeness of God's wisdom invoked in an individual's life. It begins and ends with God -- Romans 8:29 tells us that those "God foreknew, He predestined to be confromed to the image of His son." The potter at the wheel gave us "the truth, the way and the life." In that, we see Jesus always looking upward to His Father seeking wisdom and will. Yes, it all begins with God.
I love all the comments that were made concerning wisdom. Wisdom IS a teacher for us all. James chapter one says to ask for it and that God would give it to us without reproach. Proverbs 1:7 says that the "fear of the Lord" is the begining of wisdom. Proverbs 3:7 reminds us not to be wise in our own eyes but to fear the Lord. Proverbs Chapter 4 teaches us that wisdom is "the principal" thing and teaches us that wisdom is a teacher laying down boundaries for our lives to keep us from wickedness. The difficult thing I believe is the human emotion part that feeds off of experience and feelings, desires unchecked that can and will lead us into sin. Even the Lord scattered the people because He saw that when they put their energy together focused in one passion that there was nothing that they could not accomplish (Genesis 11:1-9). Godly wisdom is our teacher and keeps our human passion and expression in check and aligned in Christ as we submit to it.
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