Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Wisdom
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
There is a tendency to believe that wisdom is the domain of the Old Testament and power is the domain of the New. This dichotomy is not necessarily deliberate, but it is nevertheless destructive. Power in the hands of the unwise is a dangerous thing. Many, blessed with spiritual power, have shipwrecked their faith, their ministries, and sadly the lives of many innocent people, for a lack of wisdom
The apostle James starts his letter to Christians with the very practical matters of patience and wisdom. He is a firm believer in the power of the Spirit in believers to heal and deliver, as is evident in his letter. However, he does not lose sight of the very practical issues of the practice of faith and Christian living on a daily basis. This is where the matter of wisdom comes in.
Now, we all know that wisdom is different from knowledge. Knowledge which is information about things and situations and circumstances is vital. Wisdom, however, is critical. Wisdom being the proper or best application of knowledge. If you read a lot or have given it much thought none of this should really be new stuff.
Nevertheless, we spend very little time in church focused on wisdom, its development and application. Even when we are discussing the gifts of the Spirit we stumble on the matter of the “gift of wisdom” even though in the primary New Testament passage on the gifts of the Spirit wisdom is the first mentioned. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,” 1 Corinthians 12:7,8.
It is easy to get all excited about gifts of healings, of working miracles, of speaking in tongues, and of interpreting tongues. But wisdom and knowledge, not so much.
Part of the reason for this breakdown is teaching. Teaching in our Christian homes and teaching in our churches. Solomon is praised for his wisdom that was of global display. We know two things about Solomon’s wisdom, first that it was the one thing he asked God for.
“On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” 2 Chronicles 1:7-10
Second, his desire for wisdom was based on the teaching and instruction that he had received from his father King David. As we read through the early chapters of the Proverbs we get the sense of a father instructing his son, constantly starting out many expressions with the words, “My son.” By chapter 4 we get the background. “When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding!” Proverbs 4:3-5.
We continue to neglect the teaching of wisdom in our preaching and our teaching to our peril and to that of our members, particularly the young. In an age and time when knowledge is more available to overwhelming, it is critical that life be faced with wisdom, the knowledge we often already have.
A lot of wisdom comes from experience, there is no gainsaying that. But there is a wisdom from God that is spiritual and that is therefore not a function of experience. It is there that young Solomon went. He had tasks before him that he could not wait on the benefit of experience. And this is where James come in saying that the challenges before us require that we exercise wisdom now, we cannot wait on experience.
He essentially asserts that what seemed exclusive to Solomon is now the opportunity available to every believer in Jesus. Our relationship with God opens up for us access to receive wisdom from Him for the challenges before us. Ask, just like Solomon did.
Judgements based on wisdom must also form part of our decision making as we appoint ministers to roles of service in our churches. This was one of the benchmarks established by the apostles in the early church. “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:3,4.
The apostle Paul made the prayer for wisdom for the believers a feature of his intercession for them, he mentioned this in his letter to the Ephesian Christians as he outlined to them what his prayers were, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;” Ephesians 1:17-18.
We cannot do the work of the Lord without wisdom.
Think on these things:
- Have you been praying for wisdom from God?
- Do you see wisdom on display in the leadership and ministry that you receive?
- Is there teaching in your church that focuses on emphasises wisdom as a pursuit and as a gift of the Spirit?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today for wisdom from God.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex