WISDOM
13th Mar 2019
A few days ago a friend wrote to me about ‘wisdom’, knowing that for a believer it is different than natural wisdom - this is what he said, “My old understanding was, I had to climb a mountain and find a great sage in a cave and be his apprentice for many years before I received my “wisdom certificate”. His real question was, how do I receive wisdom from God?
Wisdom is part of the ‘salvation package’ - 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God - that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”
When Jesus comes to live inside of us he brings, his presence, forgiveness, righteousness and wisdom. Paul expands on this when he speaks about the ‘mystery’ that he has been commissioned to declare to the church. Colossians 2:2-3 says, “…in order that they may know the the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Wisdom is a supernatural gift freely available to all believers. The question is, are we using this wisdom, or do we rely on our own natural experience and human understanding? James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.”
God wants to give us that wisdom in our life choices, in the decisions we make day by day, in our relationships with our family, in giving us words to say in challenging situations, in leading us as we pray for others and impart words of knowledge and wisdom.
He is also able to give practical wisdom. At one time when Joyce was trying to get crayon and biro marks off a bedroom wall, was getting nowhere, until she asked God for wisdom and he said ‘use methylated spirit’ and off they came.
James 3:13-18 gives a great description of the two kinds of wisdom, and the book of Proverbs is full of godly wisdom.
God’s wisdom is available to every believer, don’t rely on your own puny human resources.
by Charles Sibthorpe
