Seek Wisdom for Renewed Hope
by Christine Davis, YadaFactor Coach
Wisdom. Is it the same as being smart? The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom, and I believe God’s wisdom is an amazing source of hope for Christians.
In First Kings, Solomon succeeded his father David as King of Israel. He was a very young man, and he lacked the life experience he knew he needed. Near the beginning of his rule, God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon asked for God to give him a “discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” God agreed to give him “a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never be anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” Moreover, God gave Solomon what he did not ask for, including wealth and honor, because He was pleased with the request. Under Solomon’s rule, the great temple was built, and he ruled wisely and justly.
In the book of Daniel, some of the smartest, strongest, and handsomest young men of Israel were taken captive into Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. They were given the finest training and education Babylon had to offer, in hopes of their serving Babylon well. Four of these men, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, accepted everything the king offered to them, except for eating the king’s rich food. I believe their decision to eat only vegetables and water was wisdom from God, a daily reminder that their true citizenship was not in Babylon but in Israel, worshiping the one true God. When their faith was put to the test, these men refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar or his false gods. Again, God granted them wisdom. As a result, God spared them from death in a fiery furnace and from the mouths of lions.
The book of Proverbs consists of writings by Solomon containing bits of knowledge and wisdom across a wide variety of topics, but most frequently about man’s relationship with God and with his fellow man. Over and over again, the book urges the reader to get knowledge and to desire “her” above all else. People from far and wide flocked to King Solomon to ask him questions about all kinds of topics, and the book was preserved as scripture by the Jewish people because they recognized the value of the wisdom it contained.
At the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he promised us “another Comforter” who would be with us always – The Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 1:17, Paul prays that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” This indwelling Holy Spirit, which we receive at the moment of our conversion, gives us indwelling wisdom. Here are my favorite verses in the whole Bible, James 1:5-8:
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double minded and unstable in all they do.
This passage is a clear promise that God will give us wisdom if we ask for it, provided we receive it in faith, believing and not doubting wisdom has been given. Using the Yada practice of reordering vertically, we bring our concern to God. We pray for wisdom and listen fiercely as we read scripture. We read, journal, and pray, wrestling truth fully, until we “know that we know” God’s wisdom has been given. Then, we act in faith, obedient to God’s revealed wisdom and not doubting it.
The hope and freedom this practice creates is truly miraculous. Should we buy that house? Marry that man? Go back to school? Accept that responsibility? God is ready and willing to give us an answer. I have to wonder why we all don’t have more peace, and I would have to guess that it’s because we do indeed doubt when he reveals His wisdom. For me, the best solution is to allow enough time to listen. More Yada!
Why do you suppose only a few received wisdom in the past, and now all believers are given access to God’s wisdom? Could it be God’s wisdom provides the hope to which we need to hold fast, both now and in the days and years ahead? These are troubled times. There are going to be hard choices to be made. I am grateful that I don’t have to rely on my own wisdom as I face a very uncertain world. God’s wisdom is a priceless treasure. She is worth more than gold or silver. Let us seek her, Yada sisters and brothers, hoping and trusting in the wisdom found in our precious Lord Jesus Christ!
