Americans watched the return of Donald Trump to the White House with mixed emotions yesterday. Some were elated. Some were sad. I watched the ceremony with rapt attention, wondering what is next for our nation, praying for those who will shaping national policy. Will this Administration match ambitious intelligence with true wisdom? Will the promised changes be formed in godly wisdom or be reactionary in nature?
Do you know it is possible to be correct but without wisdom?
A person can be smart, quite capable, yet lacking wisdom that shapes a good and
godly course for life. I recall too many choices, especially in my youth, when
I knew the Bible’s truth, but failing to understand how to gently bring it to my
world. I had genuine convictions but failed miserably to match those ‘truths’
with the kind of love that applied them gently. I was often so right, I was
wrong!
Christian, these are days when we must know how to ‘correctly
handle the Word of Truth.’ The Bible commands humility, reminding us to remain
in loving relationships, with a worshipful attitude as we move through life. "Let
the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and
counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16, NLT) These
things are at the core of the best life!
Remember an exile from Jerusalem named Daniel? He was incredibly capable! He
survived being carried from his homeland by an invading empire, set to become a
virtual slave in a foreign land. But God’s Spirit rested on him and gave him
true insight. He served four kings in Babylon as a counselor. Daniel never got carried away with pride
because He always remembered the Source of his strength, his insight, and his
influence.
We learn a great deal about humility in a prayer of Daniel which he prayed when
called before the powerful leader of the empire to give counsel. “Praise be
to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times
and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and
knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what
lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of
my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what
we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” (Daniel
2:20-23, NIV)
In this season of change in our nation, there is a great need for humble, wise Christians who will give thoughtful spiritual counsel, not just to our leadership, but to the ordinary people with who we live. We must not allow ourselves to lean only on our intelligence or our instincts. We need insight, heavenly wisdom that cannot be deceived.
Pray with me for a heart of humility like that of Daniel and for the wisdom that will allow us to bring God’s message to our world in a way that will point them to Jesus and life eternal!
The word from the Word calls us to true humility before God, promising that kind of living will ultimately produce ‘a harvest of righteousness.’
” If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is
also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is
full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always
sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap
a harvest of righteousness.” (James
3, NLT)
Lord, make us more than smart, truly wise. Amen
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