Wisdom Choice

Wisdom Choice

James 3: ¹³ Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom. ¹⁴ But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don't sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom. ¹⁵ Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic. ¹⁶ Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

 

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After being on academic probation, I decided to stop partying for a while and study. I got on the dean’s list that semester, so I felt pretty good about “my” achievement. I could not share the achievement with some people because I was still bitter over what happened.

 

• I made a choice to keep bitterness in my heart.
• I chose to remain wounded instead of trying to heal.
• As “smart” as people told me I was, I still did not have life together.

 

James addressed two types of wisdom. One came from the world and the other from above. He describes the wisdom of the world as unspiritual and demonic due to the lack of good deeds and peace.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s wisdom produces good deeds through me.
• GOD’s wisdom enables me to have peace that is beyond understanding.
• GOD’s wisdom is friendly, gentle and free from prejudice, so HE wants me to choose HIS way.

 

Removing GOD from anything is not wise. I mean, GOD is the creator of everything. HE made the people, places and things we study and hypothesize about. When I come up with a conclusion that GOD does not have anything to do with what I am observing, or I think human wisdom is greater than GOD, I get in deep trouble. GOD has an better path.

 

GOD desires that I choose to be gentle, compassionate and friendly so I can produce good deeds for HIM. The less I give credit to the world, the more GOD shows me HIS infinite wisdom. I am glad GOD produces the harvest, which is full of goodness.

 

Challenge

• What two types of wisdom does the writer discuss?
• Have you ever been jealous, bitter or selfish?
• Will you seek GOD’s wisdom by letting go of yours to obtain HIS today?

Turning Back

 

Turning Back

1 Timothy 1: ⁶ Some people have turned away from these and have lost their way in foolish discussions. ⁷ They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence.

 

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Host drunken parties and have sex afterwards seemed like a great idea. But after a while, something seemed missing. My life still felt empty. I slowly started praying, but tried to hold onto my party life. Something wasn’t working.

 

• I wanted to serve GOD and serve my lusts.
• I wanted to connect to the MODT HIGH with my sinful desires.
• I wanted to live with purity while being impure.

 

Paul tells Timothy, some people have turned away from a pure heart, clear conscience and genuine faith to pursue what felt right. They had turned away from GOD but wanted GOD’s promises.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to turn to HIM and drop the world’s philosophies.
• GOD sees my heart and is able to cleanse it of all unrighteousness.
• GOD always welcomes me back even when I turn away.

 

Trying to serve the world or myself causes problems with my relationship with GOD. I mean, GOD is love and HE is pure love. HE has no sin in HIM, I, on the other hand, have sin in me from birth. There is no way to get rid of my sin by my own power. BUT GOD has a remedy.

 

JESUS decided to save me from my sins. HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live in my heart to keep me safe from my sins. HE begs on my behalf when I fall and keeps me strong when I am tempted to turn away from GOD. I owe all to GOD and I gladly serve HIM.

 

Challenge

• What “way” is the writer speaking about?
• Have you ever known you were doing something wrong, yet tried to hold onto it and get GOD to do something for you?
• Will you serve GOD fully by turning back to HIM and allow HIM to help you with self-control today?

Foolishly Bold

Foolishly Bold

1 Corinthians 3: ¹⁶ Surely you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you! ¹⁷ God will destroy anyone who destroys God's temple. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are his temple.

 

¹⁸ You should not fool yourself. If any of you think that you are wise by this world's standards, you should become a fool, in order to be really wise. ¹⁹ For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in God's sight. As the scripture says, “God traps the wise in their cleverness”; ²⁰ and another scripture says, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless.” ²¹ No one, then, should boast about what human beings can do. Actually everything belongs to you: ²² Paul, Apollos, and Peter; this world, life and death, the present and the future—all these are yours, ²³ and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

 

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Worried about what people would think of me, I chose not to speak about JESUS. I was trying to reach a certain title in this particular company and I “needed” to behave a certain way. I could not jeopardize “my” journey upward. “I will show my relationship with JESUS when I get on top, then people will believe because I’m in charge” I thought to myself.

 

• There were times when I followed the ever changing ways of the world.
• There were times when I felt embarrassed about speaking up for JESUS.
• There were times when I worried about what humans would do if I spoke about JESUS.

 

Paul brings assuredness about GOD’s eternal protection. HE knows there will be some evil people who want to go against HIM and HIS people. HE also knows they will try to harm HIS people and vows to destroy those who bring harm on anyone who believes in JESUS.

 

• GOD wants me to know that I am HIS temple.
• GOD wants me to treat other people with the same holiness as I should treat myself.
• GOD wants me to become foolish to the world so HIS wisdom may shine all the brighter.

 

Leaving the pursuit of money, title and accolades may seem foolish to the world, but it is wise to GOD. I mean, the world raises questions about preservation of life based on its wisdom. GOD says “HE knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless.”

 

GOD has given everything to me because I belong to JESUS and JESUS belongs to GOD. I am glad I do not have to be scared of what the world thinks, because the world is mine because it belongs to JESUS.

 

• Are you worried about your future?
• Do you think humans are in control of you?
• Will you stop trying to use human wisdom and turn foolish by following JESUS so you can achieve true wisdom today?

I Don’t Mean to Brag But…

Jeremiah 9: ²³ This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
    or the strong boast of their strength
    or the rich boast of their riches,
²⁴ but let the one who boasts boast about this:
    that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
    justice and righteousness on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.

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After my meeting I asked “How do I get promoted.” “Manage upward” was the reply. “What does that mean?” I asked. “It’s a subtle way of telling your accomplishments without going overboard. Do this regularly and you will get ahead.” “Hmmm, I wonder if this would work everywhere.”

• There were times that I would brag about “my” accomplishments.
• There were times that I would speak about what “I” had done through “my” strength.
• There were times that I would talk about “my” wisdom so I could get ahead.

Boasting about my accomplishments in a subtle way worked. I moved up the ladder only to find the top floor filled with people who did the same. Egos ran rampant and after a while we were all “managing upwards” to ourselves, never once acknowledging GOD’s hand.

• GOD wants me to brag about the wonderful relationship I have with HIM.
• GOD wants me to boast about the LORD’s kindness.
• GOD wants me to show off HIS justice and righteousness everywhere I go.

Pointing my life towards me only yields temporary applause on earth. People will smile and give me accolades one day and move far away from me the next. GOD wants me to point my life towards HIS. HE delights when I bring more and more people to HIM and desires that I not be silent about my relationship with HIM. HE has shown me kindness beyond anything I could imagine. HE is a wonderful GOD!

• Are you trying to be in the spotlight?
• Do you feel it necessary to be recognized by everyone?
• Can you point your life towards GOD by giving HIM the credit for “your” accomplishments?
• Will you tell others about HIS kindness towards you?

Strange Ways Work

Psalm 18: ³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
³¹ For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
³² It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.

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With a car full of my stuff I turned down a semi-familiar street. I had only been to this town once so every street looked the same. I felt something say “Turn here.” I looked to the left and it was a one-way street headed in the opposite direction so I only had one way to turn. About one block later my quest ended with the apartment I sought out. Not only was it the perfect price, I discovered it was only blocks from my new job.

• My intuition can be faulty.
• My instinct can fail.
• My insight can be wrong.

Finding an apartment the way I found this one goes against logic. I mean one approach could be to go to my place of work then look within a certain radius of that location, comparing pricing until I found some within my range, and then executing a cost benefit of each one… whew! GOD had something different in mind.

• GOD wants me to not to be foolish rather depend on HIM for my decision making.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM first then proceed in the direction HE sends me.
• GOD wants me to take refuge in HIS way which sometimes may seem strange to everyone around me.

Conventional methods do not seem GOD’s style in my life. I mean HE has lifted me up to places I never should have been and taken me places I never should have gone. Like Noah building an Ark or Joshua marching around a city seven times and defeating it with a trumpet, GOD has me doing strange things that seem extremely unconventional to everyone around me.

HE makes me realize I must depend on HIM and seek HIS face daily in spite of what surrounds me. It is GOD who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

• Are you listening to GOD?
• Does HE have you doing something out of the ordinary that is beneficial to the kingdom and not harmful to others?
• Can you put your full trust in HIM today?

Stop Comparing to Others

Job 39: ¹³ “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
    though they cannot compare
    with the wings and feathers of the stork.
¹⁴ She lays her eggs on the ground
    and lets them warm in the sand,
¹⁵ unmindful that a foot may crush them,
    that some wild animal may trample them.
¹⁶ She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers;
    she cares not that her labor was in vain,
¹⁷ for God did not endow her with wisdom
    or give her a share of good sense.
¹⁸ Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
    she laughs at horse and rider.

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Self-conscious about my abilities, I crept into my half of the cubicle. I share a space with another college grad and we both were inexperienced. When introductions came around, I remember the genius acting people spewing out their credentials which made me feel thoroughly inadequate. “How am I going to make it here?” I asked myself.

• Sometimes I feel inadequate.
• Sometimes I feel lost.
• Sometimes I feel everyone else can do things better than me.

When I looked at what everyone else was doing I felt even worse. I mean it was nothing but brain power around me and I enjoyed one card game too many in college. BUT GOD saw something different.

• GOD said to me “Beautifully and wonderfully is how I made you.”
• GOD said to me “I made you in my likeness.”
• GOD said to me “I gave you a measure of faith and it is good.”

The selection process of my mind, body and soul was GOD’s. Whenever I compare myself to someone else, I am saying to GOD, “You don’t know what you are doing!” GOD gave me the ability to follow HIS wisdom and HIS might and not depend on mine. Once I realized this, I began to study and soon GOD elevated me up and out of the organization.

I realized, I need to focus on GOD’s wisdom, not mine.

• Are you feeling inadequate?
• Do you think other people are smarter, faster or stronger than you?
• Can you stop comparing yourself to others and focus on the greatness GOD has place in you?
• Will you stop trying to take credit and give GOD the praise that is due to HIM?

Age Does Not Mean Wisdom

Job 31: ⁷ I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’
⁸ But it is the spirit in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

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Seeking a mentor I ran into a person who seemed to withstand the test of time at the company. He provided his words. “When you drink on the company’s dime, don’t over drink. Never mess around with people in the company, especially with your boss’s spouse. Never steal the company’s money. This place is a jealous mistress.”

These words seemed to give lots of leeway into whatever I wanted to do, yet seemed to teach me nothing. Who should I listen to?

• Some of the advice I have heard may not have been the best.
• Some of the mentoring I have received has not been the best.
• Some of the guidance I have received may not have been the best.

Selfish motives, rebellious living and lust are things I have to listen for when accepting someone’s advice. If I blindly listen then I could get caught up in something I did not mean to. Where should I get my advice?

• GOD gave me a HIS word to follow written by harmoniously through many authors.
• GOD gave me HIS people who struggle to remain true to HIM.
• GOD gave me HIS SPIRIT to guide me to HIS way.

I always say “I hear GOD when HE tells me to do something I don’t want to do that would benefit HIS kingdom.” I mean who wants to give away their money instead of going on a lavish vacation or stop lusting over the world or serve instead of being served?” Yet when I slow down and listen to HIM it always works.

GOD’s methods are unconventional. Some things HE has me doing does not make sense to the world. BUT GOD sees my strange efforts and adds another reward in heaven. Listening to GOD means seeking HIS word through the Bible coupled with faulty humans coupled with the perfection of the HOLY SPIRIT. I will seek HIS truth.

• Are you confused?
• Have you been listening to faulty humans?
• Can you seek what GOD has to say, I mean really seek?
• Will you stop trying to find people who will tell you what you want to hear and seek what GOD wants to tell you?

Relying On My Wisdom

Job 28: ¹² But where can wisdom be found?
    Where does understanding dwell?
¹³ No mortal comprehends its worth;
    it cannot be found in the land of the living.
¹⁴ The deep says, “It is not in me”;
    the sea says, “It is not with me.”
¹⁵ It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
    nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

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²³ God understands the way to it
    and he alone knows where it dwells,
²⁴ for he views the ends of the earth
    and sees everything under the heavens.
²⁵ When he established the force of the wind
    and measured out the waters,
²⁶ when he made a decree for the rain
    and a path for the thunderstorm,
²⁷ then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
    he confirmed it and tested it.
²⁸ And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil is understanding.”

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I was the smartest, bravest person I knew. I mean I had just received my first promotion and I was now only twenty two levels beneath the CEO. I was confident in my world and no one could tell me otherwise.

• Sometimes I think more highly of myself.
• GOD wants me to value HIS power.

• Sometimes I think it’s my wisdom that got me where I am.
• GOD wants me to know it is only HIM who raises people up.

• Sometimes I think I can make it on my own.
• GOD wants me to rely on HIM and turn things over to HIM and let HIM do a marvelous work.

Seeking wisdom means seeking the fear of the LORD. I don’t mean to view GOD as a sadistic moniker rather I should place HIS values higher than my ambitions, relationships or status. GOD understands the way to wisdom. I will follow HIM to HIS fruit.

Where Advice Comes From

2 Kings 1: ² Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.”

³ But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’

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“Should I…” are the words I have said on many occasions. The problem with these unsure words is that they were pointed in the wrong direction. “Should I sneak out of the house?’ was pointed at other teens who had done this and “gotten away with it.”

• Sometimes I seek advice from those who are not following GOD in order to join the crowd.
• Sometimes I seek advice from the fearful and they add their worries on me.
• Sometimes I seek advice from the rich and powerful in order to be more like them.

GOD’s way is definitely not my way. HE does not want me to bow down to gods of money, power and fame so the source of my advice should be different.

• GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom first so HE can say “No” or “Yes” to my request.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM for everything since HE owns everything.
• GOD wants me to see if I am following HIS plan, not my own.

Even the tiniest decision can be run by GOD. HE can handle it. HE wants total dependence on HIM and reliance on HIS power. Authority is given once I ask GOD “what should I do in this situation?” When HE has first right of refusal then HIS guidance is far better than any human advice.

• Whose advice are you seeking?
• Do you check “churchy” advice by comparing it to what GOD says?
• In your prayers for situations and stuff, do you ask GOD “what do you want?”
• Can you seek what GOD wants for you today?

GOD knows science

1 Kings 4:²⁹ God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. ³⁰ Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 

³¹ He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. ³² He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. ³³ He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. ³⁴ From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

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Staring at the test, my mind raced. “Should I answer the question with my belief?” was my quandary. The question was steeped in evolution and, while I had not been in church, I was taught that GOD created everything. I answered the question the way I was supposed to and received a good grade, but felt a sense of loss, kinda like I betrayed GOD.

• I have strived to be “smart” but I was pointed in the wrong direction.
• I wanted to gain “knowledge” but it didn’t carry faith.
• I desired to “understand” but at the end of each road I was left with more questions.

In my opinion, belief in GOD isn’t as popular as it used to be. Scientific discoveries mixed with the endless possibility of money seem to drown out the message of GOD. It’s easy for me to blend in rather than stand out, BUT GOD wants recognition.

• GOD is the source of wisdom so I must credit HIM with all I know.
• GOD is the source of knowledge for it is HE who made everything.
• GOD is the source of understanding because HE sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live inside of me to lead and guide me in HIS ways.

Scholars, business people and those who are highly respected would scoff at my beliefs, approaches and practices. Instead of relying on the world, GOD wants me to ask HIM for direction first. HE even sends unlikely people my way and says “here is your person.” EVERY time I have listened to GOD’s strange ways, I came out on top!

• Are you seeking to be “smart” or “wise?”
• Is the knowledge you are seeking on GOD’s path?
• What will you do with the knowledge you acquire?
• Won’t you ask GOD for wisdom, knowledge and understanding so HE can use your talents for HIS purposes?

Ill intent seeks bad advice

2 Samuel 13: ³ Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. ⁴ He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”

Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

⁵ “Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’”

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After being told I would fail the class, I sought the advice of people who could help me. They asked the professors name and the location of the office. These were strange pieces of information, but I told them. They asked very clearly, “do you want the test?”

I considered it. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that I was performing so poorly in the class, that even having the test would not help me. “No” I answered pitifully.

• I can always find someone who will go along with my poor thinking.
• I can always get advice from people who do not have the best plan for me in mind.
• I can always obtain bad consultation from people of bad reputation.

The story of Amnon was tragic. Many were spiritually, emotionally and physically hurt all because of a plan that started off in the wrong direction followed by advice from a person with a poor reputation. It reminds me of many plans I have that were not blessed of GOD. Each plan failed miserably with not so good consequences. BUT GOD has a better plan.

• GOD wants me to follow HIS plan for they never fail.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS ways for they protect and keep me.
• GOD wants me to understand HIS love for me and others and to never mistreat souls who belong to HIM.

When my intentions are focused on GOD I can never fail.

• Are you planning something and getting advice from someone who is questionable?
• Are you providing advice without consulting GOD?
• Can you seek wisdom from a godly person, not just a churchy person?
• Won’t you test all advice to see if it aligns with what GOD says to do?

What kind of wisdom do I have?

James 3: ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

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Conflict seemed to be the center of discussion between our departments. There was no love lost between our group so when one of my employees complained about what “they” were doing I immediately sprang into action hoping I could flex a little muscle to get the issue resolved.

Little did I know “they” had already brought in the big guns and had swayed senior management toward their posture. The fight was over before it had started.

• My warring wisdom reaps a crop of conflict.
• My combative wisdom reaps a harvest of struggles.
• My confrontational wisdom reaps a defensive stance from that person rather than promoting unity.

“I’m right” and “they” are wrong leaves me seeking a much smaller group who wants to follow “my” thinking. Unfortunately I usually end up with a group of people with the same flawed thinking and we don’t go anywhere. I stand around looking at “them” blaming “them” for all the problems “I” am facing. Is my thinking too low?

• GOD says “ask ME for wisdom and I will give more than you can handle.”
• GOD says “MY wisdom seeks peace rather than being right all the time.”
• GOD says “MY wisdom seeks what the other person wants rather than blindly serving self.”
• GOD says “MY wisdom is full of mercy, submissive and good fruit rather than judgment and depletion.”
• GOD says “MY wisdom is impartial and sincere rather than thinking one group is better than another.”

GODLY wisdom says mankind is not changing rather it has always been in a fallen state and desperately needs a savior. Communities and neighborhoods do not “change” rather a new face that needs GOD appears and I must serve them the way GOD wants me to serve them, with GODLY wisdom.

• Do you think your country or neighborhood is “changing?”
• Do you see a big problem or a large opportunity to harvest more people?
• Have you looked at yourself to see if your heart needs to change toward other people?
• When have you actively sought to understand “that” person to win them over rather than trying to get them to conform to your ways?