With the topic of wisdom weighing heavily on my heart, I decided that I would continue this week just as I have the last two. I hope you’ll read the other posts in this series, but if not, you won’t be lost starting here. For easy access, here are the links to the first two posts in the Wisdom Series: “A ‘Wisdomous’ Wish” and “A ‘Wisdomous’ Request”.
I wonder if I’m alone in this, but isn’t there always that one person that just brings out your worst side? Have you heard the saying that goes along the lines of “You’re testing the Jesus in me”? All of this focus I’ve had on wisdom lately, God’s wisdom, has been perfectly timed – it’s interesting how God works it out that way. I recently mentioned a saying my husband is known to bring up: “People of grace extend grace and operate in grace” (“Where’s the Wrath”). That’s definitely easier said than done. Walking in wisdom is essential if you don’t want to allow someone to get the better of your temper and is absolutely necessary if you want to extend and operate in grace.
Remember the class clowns from school? They always made us laugh. Once upon a daydream, I wished I’d had the guts to be as bold as them. It was continuous entertainment, but when that student was absent, the teacher’s relief was almost palpable – the atmosphere had changed. I’ve noticed that I also gauge who I spend my time with based on how the atmosphere associated with each individual typically is. There are some that require more of me than others; restraint and patience… laughter and peace. Reminds me of the movie (are you surprised?), “Kate & Leopold“. Leopold is having a dialog with himself in the mirror as he’s being prepared to announce who he’s chosen to marry. He’s far from interested in any of the candidates he’s to choose from, but he’s being told to pick a wife based on her bank account. Some of his sarcasm comes out when he says, “…you light up a room simply by leaving it…” That’s just harsh… but oh, so true at times.
In this life, we will encounter the people that light up a room by leaving it. We will be faced with tough choices on how to respond to the less “wisdomous” individuals out there, whether directly or indirectly in our life. And before going any further, I want to offer caution to everyone reading this (including me): be grace-filled and be quick to forgive. It would be counter-productive to allow bitterness to take root.
Foolishness, immaturity, and arrogance are nothing to laugh at when trying to navigate through life. All three, while defined a bit differently, are rarely found without the others. Unfortunately, those who are described as any of these will not only not listen to wisdom, but they will mock it. Foolishness, immaturity, and arrogance can be found everywhere – school, work, home, and even the church. These traits can be found in complete strangers all the way to members of our own family. This is why we need to be grace-filled and quick to forgive.
“Criticize a person who is rude and shows no respect, and you will only get insults. Correct the wicked, and you will only get hurt. Don’t correct such people, or they will hate you. But correct those who are wise, and they will love you. Teach the wise, and they will become wiser. Instruct those who live right, and they will gain more knowledge.” Proverbs 9:7-9 (ERV)
Without disqualifying anyone, I want to remind you that no one knows your relationship with God better than you and God. I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been part of the church since I was in the womb, but It’s just been in the last 12 years that I went on a search for a more personal relationship with God; one not ordered upon me or dictated to be part of my life. Growing up, I had been taught the Bible ad nauseam… a great deal turned out to resemble religion instead of gospel. The atmosphere didn’t always seem to welcome question after question and I didn’t even know what questions to ask. All I knew was that my spirit wasn’t satisfied – it wasn’t at rest. Walking without the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit, I arrogantly made foolish and immature choices, but they were my choices. Scripture tells us,
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” I Corinthians 1:25 (NIV)
There is a vast difference between God’s wisdom and the world’s wisdom. The world’s wisdom, as we’ve seen in the past few months, not only incites fear, but also breeds hatred, selfishness rises, factions are formed, and injustices become numerous and socially acceptable. God’s wisdom on the other hand looks vastly different:
“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ERV)
It’s unclear as to who said it first, but this has become a fairly popular saying: “You can’t fix stupid”. Well, my God is bigger than any “stupid” out there including, but not limited to, the foolish, immature, and arrogant. There are times when wisdom urges us to speak and other times to be silent; times to move and other times to remain still. There are times to keep the welcome mat out and your words kept in. God has instructed us to:
“…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11 abridged (NIV)
Two of the devil’s greatest schemes are to slander the credibility of the church and to cause division in our homes. The world hates the church and the majority of morals we raise based on God’s Word. Instead of standing strong, we’ve seen the church make compromises. The world accepts divorce and doesn’t even flinch with the sorrow inflicted by it. It seems to be an attractive option when compared to the sacrifices that would have to made in order to have a lasting marriage. The devil is always trying to steal our peace and kill our joy. Here’s another example of foolish thinking vs. wisdom walking: “God sent this pandemic – crippling our finances, causing fear, and killing indiscriminately so that we would turn back to Him…” That’s foolishness and fear speaking. Wisdom that comes through walking in the Spirit refutes that way of thinking with scripture. Jesus said,
“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life – life that is full and good.” John 10:10 (ERV)
God has provided everything we could possibly need to navigate through this life as victors instead of victims. All of His promises for a blessed life (Deuteronomy 28:1-13) are “Yes” because of our redemption through Christ (II Corinthians 1:20 & Galatians 3:13-14). We have, at our fingertips, His Word. What does God’s Word have to offer?
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Without faith, (faith is believing in the One who saved us) it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). God’s wisdom requires faith (James 1:5-8) and one cannot have rest in God without faith (Hebrews 4:2). So how do we get this faith that we need in order to rest in God and walk in His uncompromising wisdom as victors instead of victims – having a life that is full and good?
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (KJV)
If anyone has been looking for a manual for life, look no further than the Bible. It may sound cliché, but the answer to any and all of your questions can be found within its pages. Another movie quote (I know, I know) comes from “A Time to Kill”. The main character, a lawyer name Jake Brigance, is giving his closing argument and says, “…it is incumbent upon us [lawyers] not to just talk about the truth but to actually seek it, to find it, to live it…” It is an essential responsibility for Christians to not just talk about God’s wisdom, but to seek it, to find it, and to live it.
Before I close this series out, I want to share one more scripture. Solomon has just become king of Israel, replacing his father, David. He was a young teenager – by our standards not even old enough to drive – and God told him to ask for anything he wanted with the assurance that God would give it to him. Solomon asked for wisdom; a discerning heart so that he could distinguish between right and wrong and successfully govern God’s people. This is how God responded:
“The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for – both riches and honor – so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” I Kings 3:10-14 (NIV)
God wants to see the blessings from Deuteronomy overtake you, He wants you to walk in victory and not defeat, and He wants you to live a full and good life. And finally, He wants to give you the wisdom needed in order to experience all of those. But we have to choose. Blessings and curses are before you; you can choose life or death – choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)!