The Search For Wisdom

The people who know their God will display strength and take action.
–Daniel 11:32

In order to gain situational awareness, we need to understand the times we are living in, but we also need wisdom. I am going to give you two definitions of wisdom. The first definition of wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s point of view. How do you gain that kind of wisdom? It begins by having the proper attitude. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” There is no wisdom apart from God and the pursuit of Him. Once you have the right attitude, you then have to look for wisdom. In Proverbs, the depository of wisdom, you have not only examples of what wise people do, but also what the fool does. Another place to look is in the people you work for. I will never forget a conversation I had with my predecessor, Dr. W. A. Criswell, back when I was a youth minister. He said, “Robert, one day you’re going to have your own staff as a pastor. If you want to know how to run a staff, just watch what I do, then do the opposite!” You can learn from both the strengths and weaknesses of other people.

Also, listen to those who are wise. If you want to be wise, surround yourself with people who are wise. Psalm 1:1 says, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God” (TLB). We need to be careful that we hang around wise people who fear God, instead of people who scoff at the things of God. Do you know people, even Christians, who are scoffers? They make fun of things that happen in God’s house or with God’s people. They are cynical, questioning other people and their motives. If you want to be wise and be successful, do not hang around with scoffers–surround yourself with godly people.

Finally, ask for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” But wisdom is not something we just accumulate–it is something we act on. Here is the second definition of wisdom: a skill to live your life according to God’s plan. Exodus 28:3 says there was a group of Israelites whom God endowed with wisdom so that they could weave the garments for Aaron, the high priest. The weavers could not just get close to following the pattern for the garments; they had to follow it precisely or be struck dead. So they were given the wisdom to follow God’s pattern precisely. That is really what wisdom is: it is the ability to know and then follow God’s plan for your marriage, for your finances, for your friendships, for every area of your life. Daniel 11:32 says, “The people who know their God will display strength and take action.” If we are going to live wisely in this world, we have to have situational awareness, and that comes from the gift of wisdom.

Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Survival Tip #2: Gain Situational Awareness” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2019.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org. Scripture quotation marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

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