Word of Wisdom
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.” Proverbs 8:22-23
Wisdom is described as something that existed from the beginning and is the prized possession of the Lord. We know that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Word of God from the beginning. (John 1:1-2) Wisdom is part of the Word of God and it something that we can possess, indeed that we are encouraged to possess. Most people confuse the accumulation of knowledge (even Bible knowledge) and human experience (even Christian experience) with God's wisdom. God's wisdom is infinite, timeless and perfect, while human wisdom is limited, situational and flawed, which is why we need divine guidance in each of life's complexities. We may have encountered a circumstance many times in the past and know at a human level how to handle that circumstance. We have human wisdom based on human experience.
We perceive God's wisdom by the Holy Spirit and often (although not always) it is the opposite of what human wisdom and experience would say is right. We are actually in a stronger position to make wise decisions when we lack experience precisely because we must seek the Lord and wise counsel rather than rely on human wisdom. The Elect are designed to walk by faith in the wisdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit in every circumstance regardless of our past experiences. The reason for caution is that human wisdom often feels right in the moment, but many times will create huge unforeseen problems in the future. God's wisdom often feels like a loss in the moment, but will yield huge unforeseen blessings in the future. The Lord purposefully conceals HIs wisdom in a package that looks unpleasant as a means to test our submission to His divine will.
Proverbs 3:5-6 perfectly describes our strategy: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding [based on experience]; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Verse 7 is not as well known, and carries a direct warning: "Do not be wise in your own eyes [with human wisdom]; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. Verse 8 contains a promise: "It [God's wisdom] will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones." Health and strong bones are a long term result of a pattern of good decisions and right behaviors. James 3:14-17 describes the evil which we must depart from: “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." Human wisdom is based on pride, envy, and self-seeking which is the devil's playground. May the Lord help us to grow in wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit in all we do today.
Wisdom is described as something that existed from the beginning and is the prized possession of the Lord. We know that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Word of God from the beginning. (John 1:1-2) Wisdom is part of the Word of God and it something that we can possess, indeed that we are encouraged to possess. Most people confuse the accumulation of knowledge (even Bible knowledge) and human experience (even Christian experience) with God's wisdom. God's wisdom is infinite, timeless and perfect, while human wisdom is limited, situational and flawed, which is why we need divine guidance in each of life's complexities. We may have encountered a circumstance many times in the past and know at a human level how to handle that circumstance. We have human wisdom based on human experience.
We perceive God's wisdom by the Holy Spirit and often (although not always) it is the opposite of what human wisdom and experience would say is right. We are actually in a stronger position to make wise decisions when we lack experience precisely because we must seek the Lord and wise counsel rather than rely on human wisdom. The Elect are designed to walk by faith in the wisdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit in every circumstance regardless of our past experiences. The reason for caution is that human wisdom often feels right in the moment, but many times will create huge unforeseen problems in the future. God's wisdom often feels like a loss in the moment, but will yield huge unforeseen blessings in the future. The Lord purposefully conceals HIs wisdom in a package that looks unpleasant as a means to test our submission to His divine will.
Proverbs 3:5-6 perfectly describes our strategy: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding [based on experience]; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Verse 7 is not as well known, and carries a direct warning: "Do not be wise in your own eyes [with human wisdom]; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. Verse 8 contains a promise: "It [God's wisdom] will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones." Health and strong bones are a long term result of a pattern of good decisions and right behaviors. James 3:14-17 describes the evil which we must depart from: “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." Human wisdom is based on pride, envy, and self-seeking which is the devil's playground. May the Lord help us to grow in wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit in all we do today.