When my children were growing up there were uncomfortable moments in our home when Dad had the responsibility of telling them the truth. How could I be so mean as to infringe on their ‘pursuit of happiness?’ Was I hindering their self-expression, stunting their emotional and psychological health by compelling them to obedience? One example: knowing that a well-rounded life would serve them so much better as they reached adulthood, I limited their involvement in organized sports to one in the school year. “Choose one,” I told them, “because you will not go from football, to basketball, to baseball and miss out on other parts of life.” Oh, what a cruel Dad they thought, but 2 decades later those high school teams are largely forgotten, but family ties and spiritual development they cultivated are of great value! What they could not possible grasp at age 15 now makes a lot of sense.
Our Father reveals His will for us and asks our obedience! At times His demands seem meaningless, as if He were intent on robbing us of some pleasure just because He is God. So, what will we do? Will we whine like children, pleading for our own way? Will we arrogantly refuse His will, sure that we know better than He does? Will we mistakenly substitute our wisdom for His? I surely pray that we do not! The cost of refusing His will is steep. Numerous stories from the Scripture show us the consequence of willfulness. Israel approached the entry to Canaan, the Promised Land, directed by the Lord to go in and take possession of it. The majority of the people heard a report about the obstacles they would encounter and said, “We won’t go!” It seemed a reasonable choice, by human standards. But, their willfulness cost them their lives and led to a generation living in the desert as nomads. David loved Bathsheba. They really clicked. She made him laugh, he delighted her. But there was an inconvenient fact- she was married to Uriah! David ‘solved the problem’ and took Bathsheba to be his wife. But, God, despite loving him deeply, told the king that his willfulness would bring unending strife to his household and it did.
God’s wisdom will come to those who humbly accept Him and live with willing obedience. Many, appearing wise, will mock them for their ‘foolishness.’ Consider this: "We speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:7-12, NIV)
The wisdom of God is unyielding to fad or fashion, transcends cultures and ages. It demands much of us but returns eternal rewards of holiness and peace with God. James teaches us that one of the marks of godly wisdom is humility. Those who are walking with God will stand strong but not in arrogant pride. "Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom." (James 3:13-14, The Message)
Are you walking wisely? Are you humbly seeking to hear and know God, led by the voice of His Spirit? Jesus gives us our word from the Word - "But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” (Luke 7:35, NIV) Or, in other words, “wisdom’s proof is revealed in what comes after.”
Let’s walk wisely in an age of self-willed people who refuse the wisdom of God to their own sorrow.
_____________
In the secret, in the quiet place,
In the stillness You are there.
In the secret, in the quiet hour,
I wait, only for You
'Cause I want to know You more.
I want to know You.
I want to hear Your voice.
I want to know You more.
I want to touch You,
I want to see Your face.
I want to know You more.
I am reaching for the highest goal
That I might receive the prize.
Pressing onward,
Pushing every hindrance aside,
Out of my way.
'Cause I want to know You more.
Andy Park
© 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
CCLI License # 810055
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