Ask For Wisdom
Would you consider yourself wise? On what standard or metric would you base that answer?
A general view of wisdom is that it come with age or experience as we learn how not to repeat previous mistakes. In other words, it is the acquisition of life perspective and understanding born on the back of past mistakes, failures, or learning experiences that better equip us to live our lives moving forward or offer sage advice to others. While there may be some truth to that process, I think that would be a fundamentally incomplete view of wisdom.
The Bible speaks often of wisdom, and we have whole books categorized as wisdom literature. In them we find that Biblical wisdom is not simply the accrual of life experience and perspective, but it is a deepening love and understanding ofGod’s truth as we apply it and obediently submit our lives to His instruction. Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. A rightly ordered life and foundation for wisdom begins with an acknowledgement and understanding of who has ultimate authority. In the same way that it is wise for children to have a healthy fear and respect for the authority of their parents as they are lovingly brought up through training and discipline, we find the source of wisdom as we humbly submit in fear and reverence to our loving Father and Creator. We agree with Job as he ponders in Ch. 28, “Where shall wisdom be found?” to ultimately conclude, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding”.
We see this direct association throughout the Bible on this topic: wisdom is demonstrated by knowledge of the truth and walking in righteousness, while foolishness rejects truth and authority and lives according to selfishness and pride. May we be a people who out of our fear and love of the Lord, and our obedience to His word, abound in wisdom. May we align our lives according to the truth; may we make decisions and counsel others out of an overflow of grace from our time spent meditating on Scripture and continuing steadfastly in prayer.
Remembering that we have access to the source of all wisdom, and that as a good Father he desires to give good gifts to us, as we see in James 1 that “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him”.
So church- Ask! Ask the God of the universe who is pleased to give generously to those who ask in faith. Ask for wisdom for that upcoming decision, that difficult relationship, that persistent temptation toward sin, or the confusion that exists living in a fallen world. Ask that you would grow in your love and understanding of God’s word as it shapes our understanding and increases our dependency on the source of wisdom, relying on the Spirit at work within us, to live wisely in this world to the praise and glory of our Father in heaven.
