Knowledge, Wisdom, Gifting (2)

So you are a person filled with knowledge. You have studied hard, filled your brain, impressed a lot of people; now what? Now what are you going to do with all that knowledge? What is it good for? How are you going to apply it? There are a lot of smart people in the world. There are a lot of people who love to read. There are a lot of information junkies but very few do anything with it. It's like they think it's just about them so they keep that knowledge to themselves, nullifying its purpose.

Gaining knowledge, kept in the context of our relationship with Yahweh is excellent, but it is useless without the wisdom to know how to apply it. But wisdom is not something that can be learned as it's source is Yahweh. Wisdom is only found in our LORD.

Here is the thing about wisdom: You need to know you need it. Second, you need to desire it, to seek for it. Third, you need to ask for it.

Solomon, in his instructions to his son, emphasized the great importance of wisdom and described it as honey:

My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 14:13-14)

Wisdom is a sustaining thing of life and he describes the lack of it like death:

The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom. (Proverbs 10:21)

We need to know that we need wisdom in order to honour God and fulfil our purpose.

In knowing that we need it we will begin to desire it, to seek for it. But we don't seek as the world does, because we seek only in the LORD who is the source of all wisdom:

For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints. (Proverbs 2:6-8)

But we must seek it. It doesn't just happen. It's like Solomon told his son, he has to "get" wisdom:

Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. (Proverbs 4:7-8)

The world tells us that wisdom comes from years of experience but that is wisdom as measured by the world. The wisdom of value is a gift from our LORD.

We know we need it, it is something we desire, so how do we obtain wisdom. James told us simply to ask:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)

Of course when we ask of our LORD the things he desires for us to have, they are ours. We act in faith that we have them and it is amazing what the LORD is able to accomplish through us. Don't expect it to look like it does in the world and don't expect the world to agree with you. The wisdom of the LORD is not based upon the principles of this world but upon Yahweh himself. It is amazing though the difference it makes when the LORD's wisdom is used to apply our knowledge.

You know you need it, you desire it, you have asked for it, now walk in it. Tomorrow we look at the third element of success: God's Gifting.

Do You Have A Plan?

Do you have a plan?

It is good to have a plan.

Most people don't.

Most people just exist. They are born, grow, gain some skills, get a job, make money, spend money, know some people, grow old and die. What's the point?

The point is that we are part of something that is far greater than our imagination. Most people don't see it, can't see it, will never see it because they are too busy existing instead of living. To live you must know the life giver. To live you must see his plan. To see his plan you must give your life. Risk it all. Give it all up so you can gain it all back.

The first step is to recognize that you know nothing about anything. The second step is to acknowledge God, his existence, his power and his authority. Then you have a decision to make about what you will do about what Jesus has offered.

The problem is that we reach a certain place in our life and we are satisfied with that. We have a job, a place to live, friends, food, entertainment and we are good. We exist. We never harm anyone. We contribute nothing. The world has no idea we exist and we are okay with that because we have our entertainment. Knowing God demands that we become so much more than mere existence.

Solomon to his son:

Search for wisdom
    as you would search for silver
    or hidden treasure.
5 Then you will understand
what it means to respect
    and to know the Lord God. (Proverbs 2:4-5)

Don`t just sit there, do something. Life is more than just existing. God has a plan for you. It is a good plan. It is a great plan. It is a plan to prosper you. To build you up. God is all about growth, producing, maturing, increasing.

Jesus told us:

So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. (Luke 11:9-10)

Nothing ever happens to people who sit and watch television all day; who expect society to wait on them; who considers themselves privileged and deserving. They eventually die and no one remembers them because no one knew them. But God knows those who seek him. He knows them by name, knows the number of hairs on their head, knows there deepest, darkest thoughts and desires, and he loves them. He loves them and, like any father, wants to see his children become more than they are; those who seek him.

Our Father`s plan is to bring us into maturity. The process is explained throughout his Word:

Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers,so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

A plan, a process, to grow us, increase us, to mature us until we are like Jesus. This is the same Jesus who promised us life in abundance. Does life feel abundant to you right now? Are you abundant with joy and peace? Do you experience the abundance of God's blessings, the security of your relationship with Jesus? Are you able to turn the television off and continue living, laughing, growing?

It is good to have a plan.

It is better to have God's plan.

It is better to know God and be known by him.

It is better to be known.