How to Let Wisdom Guide You

May 17 – How to Let Wisdom Guide You               James 3:13-18
 
When we think of Wisdom, what comes to mind?  Someone who is well respected? Someone Older?  Someone well educated.  Is wisdom learned, trained in us, or is one just born with wisdom?  Where does wisdom come from?  How do we find it? 
 
In the scripture for this week we read that Wisdom is from Above.  James 3: 13-18 talks about wisdom from above, and also addresses earthly wisdom.  Rick Howerton in his illustration that we watched this week in RNM, gave us insight on Mining for Wisdom versus Advice Giving.  Every one of us has given advice to another.  Howerton cautions us regarding advice giving.  Advice giving is when someone gives their opinion or tells what someone else told them to do.  Might that be earthly wisdom?  On the other hand, Howerton says together we should journey towards wisdom learned from the scriptures, that’s wisdom from above.
 
In the message this week we heard Pastor George explain that having knowledge is good.  In hearing, listening, learning, we gather knowledge. Let us be cautious in who or what we are gathering our knowledge from.   It is taking what we know, the knowledge and applying it.  What flows out of us is our true wisdom, he said.  Pastor George referenced Matthew 7;15 ….it’s our fruit from the tree of our life that we are known for.  We are told to get a picture of what Jesus is like. As Jesus tells us, Follow Me.   Sunday, we sang the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, that is what we need to do Lord, turn our eyes to you.  Another way of saying this is, Lord teach us your Word.  The Holy Scripture it is there that we find the wisdom to guide us.
 
Another RNM series we watched this week was “Wisdom Literature” by Tim Mackie.  He shared his insight on the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job.  These books are books of wisdom.  Wisdom says Mackie, is a moral law of the universe, a force that everyone can access.  Wisdom is used to develop the skill of a good life.   He began with the book of Proverbs.  He classifies Proverbs as a brilliant young teacher.  In reading through Proverbs, we learn about living, about God’s definition of good and evil, learning those boundary lines and not crossing them.  Ultimately Mackie says that wisdom begins with the Fear of the Lord, a healthy respect for the Lord.  That God is wise and just.  Then we looked at what the book of Ecclesiastes offers.  Mackie refers to this book as the critic.  The book begins with a lot of gloom and doom.  Life is referred to as meaningless, life under the sun is meaningless.  Life is short, here today, gone tomorrow. Soon we will all join the dead, but until then we are in what is referred to as the Race of Life. We will live through life’s random chances, uncontrollable, confusing, the meaning of life is never really clear.   Through the end of the book Mackie asks the question, “What does it look like to live well in this world?  His answer was, the right thing to do is Fear the Lord, as we learn in Proverbs, and from Ecclesiastes we learned that we can’t control life, one only has control over one thing – your attitude towards the present moment.  We are to be humble; all is in God’s hand anyway. Life has meaning even when you cannot make sense of it.  Fear the Lord and keep His commandments.  Then Mackie goes on to the book of Job.  He likens the book of Job to a weathered old man who’s seen a lot in his day.   Job, a friend of God, living the good life but then loses everything.  Why?  Was he obeying God just to get what Job wanted in life?  Did Job finally get what he deserved?  Job defends his innocence – Job is humble – he lives in the peace and Fear of the Lord.  No matter what comes he knows that he can trust God.  God says I am in control of the universe and its complexities. Trust Me.  Combining all three of these books together we learn of lessons of Living the Good Life. 
 
God’s Word is for us. Reading it, learning from it, applying it, mining it for How to Let Wisdom Guide You.  The Bible gives us wisdom on all aspects of our lives. Regardless what you want to know more of – growing up, adulthood, marriage, child rearing, finances, relationships, friendship, stewardship, anything……. The wisdom you need to know can be found in God’s Word.  One of those topics we viewed this week was Financial Wisdom by Alex Cook.  Yes, there is a right way to handle money and Alex addressed those wisdom points.  In summary he gave the Foundation of Wise Management of Money.  Some of his points were to have a right attitude towards money; a heart right thinking; right priorities with goals and visions; simple living, finding contentment; and most importantly having an Eternal Focus. Cook references Matthew 19: 29-30… “Eternity is our reward for what we’ve done in this life.” As Pastor George referenced, what fruit are you offering to the world, in this life?  Another verse reference often is Hebrews 12: 1-3 … “don’t grow weary, run the race, fix your eyes on Jesus.” We all can use that as a focal point for life
 
As we find ourselves doing life there will be times that we embark on a new adventure, nervous, not really sure how to proceed, or we may find ourselves in the middle of an adventure struggling through, then there is a time when one door closes so to speak, and we’re awaiting another to open. What are we to do? Wisdom is necessary in every stage and age of life.  Looking for some earthly advice? Or are you now going to take the time mining for wisdom.  As we asked in the beginning, when you think of Wisdom what comes to mind? 
 
Larry & Darlene