"One should be careful from whence he/she seeks wisdom. There is only one voice that will never lead us astray; only one voice of genuine wisdom -- God's voice, the One who calls out promising to give wisdom liberally to those who seek it. To look elsewhere ultimately leads to a form of intellectual and spiritual insanity!"
- both of the above quotes are from Rev. Mark H. Creech, The Christian Post
There is no doubt about it! What is desperately needed in the world today is wisdom! What is desperately needed in the home, church, community, government, or nation is wisdom - God's wisdom!
So many are making wrong decisions because they are listening to the wrong "voices" or following foolish counsel.
The following illustration from The Christian Post aptly proves this point -
"Many years ago, when mules were still used on the farm, one young farmer's mule got sick. So he called his Uncle Joe, who once had a mule, and asked him what to do. 'Uncle Joe,' asked the young fellow, 'didn't your mule get sick one time?' 'Yep,' said Uncle Joe. 'What did you do?' asked the young man. 'Well, I fed mine turpentine,' said Uncle Joe. Immediately, the young man hung up the telephone and went and fed his mule turpentine. To his surprise, however, his mule died. The young farmer called his Uncle Joe right away. 'Uncle Joe,' he thundered over the telephone, 'I thought you said you fed your sick mule turpentine.' 'Yep,' said Uncle Joe, 'I did.' 'Well, I took your advice and it killed my mule,' said the young farmer. 'Yep, killed mine, too,' said Uncle Joe."
On a more serious note, when considering the dire need for wisdom in our day and time, weigh this thought carefully in your mind that there are evil leaders in the world today who have an agenda which they are feverishly seeking to enforce. On the surface, oftentimes, their objectives are not easily detected. It takes God's wisdom and discernment to see through their "dark" ways.
For the longest time, the church has had her focus on "the merchandise of silver" and the "gain" of "fine gold." However, Proverbs 3:13-14 "sets her straight" in saying - "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold."
In other words, this man is truly blessed who earnestly "finds" the true "wisdom" which consists in the knowledge and love of God and an entire conformity to His Word.
He draws this "wisdom" (with the bucket of prayer from God, the Fountain of all wisdom)...takes pains for it (draws it as one drawing ore out of the mine)...improves in it (makes five talents ten)... and does good with it (shares it with others for their instruction) - while all along exchanging the temporal for the more profitable eternal.
The Preacher's Homiletic Commentary had this to say in comment - "How many travel over land and sea to seek gold and silver, but stir neither hand nor foot to find the wisdom and knowledge of the truth which lie close at hand, and are better than gold and silver."
The question lies before all of us - from whence comes "wisdom"? Where is it found?
Daniel 2:20 pinpoints the only and true source by saying - "...wisdom and might are His..."
The Lord Jehovah, the only and true source of wisdom, "giveth wisdom" to the true believers and doers of His Word who seek after it.
Proverbs 2:6-7 tells us - "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous..."
Both Joseph and Daniel experienced how God had "laid up sound wisdom" for them as "the righteous." As they stood before their respective leaders (Pharaoh and King Nebuchadnezzar) of the heathen nations (Egypt and Babylon), they each looked to God for "wisdom" in a time of need. In answer, God had them glean from that which was already kept in store for them. (Genesis 41:16, 25,28; Daniel 2:18,19,28,29)
Do you realize that God has "laid up sound wisdom" that is readily available for when you need it?
Through "wisdom," God "gives" men the truth which brings stability of character and leads in the right way. This "wisdom" becomes the foundation of security and safety. Through it, they are able to defend themselves or are kept safe against the assaults of their enemies.
We see this demonstrated when Abraham delivered Lot. God gave Abraham the skill with which he planned and carried out the attack (as recorded in Genesis 14:14-16) and delivered his nephew safe and sound - despite the fact that he was sorely outnumbered.
God can do the same for you! He can "give" you "wisdom" - the strategy that you need to defeat your enemies!
In Daniel 2:21-22, we go on to read - "...He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him."
Many are asking at this time - what about the future which is hidden to man?
The Biblical Illustrator said - "While all knowledge comes from God, this is specially true of the knowledge of what is hidden and future... Whatever glimpses men have gotten into the future, have come from God. And how consolatory is it to reflect that God sees into the darkness of futurity."
Did you catch that?
"God sees into the darkness of futurity." He sees and foresees hidden things. He knows what is in the darkness and what is done in darkness. He knows the schemes drawn in privy councils and the thoughts of men's hearts.
Once again, the Bible says - "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous..." (Proverbs 2:6-7)
We see in 1 Kings 4:29-31 that"...God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore."
Can God do the same for you today? Indeed He can!
"God gave Solomon" knowledge, discernment, and very much insight. He "gave" him high powers of mind... great capacity for receiving...and the aptitude for communicating this knowledge. He "gave" him quickness of thought... a strong memory...and clearness of judgment. He "gave" him practical "wisdom" - the ability to decide what is prudent and the useful course to pursue... keenness of understanding in order to arrive at the correct solution of difficult and complicated problems...and the mental capacity to embrace the most diverse department of knowledge.
Wouldn't you like to have the same? You can - for the same God who "gave wisdom" to Solomon will do the same for you!
God "gave" him "largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore" whereby he had the genius and capacity to receive anything.
Consequently, he had a vast range of knowledge and the disposition to do good with it - being very free and communicative with it - having the gift of utterance as well as wisdom.
The Scriptures go on to tell us - "And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men...and his fame was in all nations round about." (1 Kings 4:30-31)
Imagine that! Solomon's "wisdom" was truer and more real than all the much praised wisdom of Egypt - which happened to be renowned as the seat of learning and sciences. His "wisdom" surpassed the wisdom of the best known philosophers. His counsel was much more valuable than theirs.
Furthermore, we must not overlook the fact that theirs was acquired while his was infused by God!
The Preacher's Homiletic Commentary said - "The knowledge which is divinely bestowed is superior to that which is acquired as the result of human labor..."
1 Kings 4:34 concludes with this - "And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."
It was as if all came to light their candle at Solomon's lamp and to borrow from him.
And that is how God wants to use you.
In Psalm 18:28, David said -"For Thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness."
As He did for Solomon, God wants to "light your candle" - "give you wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart" - so much so that people from all around will come to light their candle at your lamp.
There is no doubt about it! What is desperately needed in the world today is wisdom!
James 1:5 offers you one of the greatest promises in God's Holy Word when it says - "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, That giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Claim this promise and then get ready for God to send people your way to light their candle at your lamp!
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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