WISDOM FOR DAILY LIVING

It’s easy to label a quiet road you hardly ever encounter traffic congestion, street hawkers, or run into potholes, as a pretty safe road. So anytime you have somewhere to go, that road is your preferred choice. Until you discover that this supposedly free from danger road isn’t as safe as you thought, until you one day find yourself late for an important appointment, standing helpless on this road with a flat tyre and damaged car rims because you just ran into a deep pothole on a road you had considered “safe”.

There are unexpected and hidden dangers all around us. Life is full of spiritual and physical potholes. Without the help, leading and wisdom of God, a person may find himself entering into one pothole after another and experiencing damage to not just your car tyres, but to different areas of your life. This is why when we set out each day we can’t afford to go empty and alone. We must set out with divine wisdom. Wisdom can shield us from so many dangers and troubles of life. Wisdom from above can help you handle difficult cases and people like it helped Solomon know the true mother of a child when two women came to him and both claimed to be the mother of the child in question (1 Kings 3:16-28). Divine wisdom is not just about being brilliant or having human intelligence, it comes with the fear of God.  Proverbs 9:10 tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. No matter the distinctions, top honors and awards a person has, you can’t say such a person is wise if the person doesn’t fear God, if the person doesn’t shun and avoid those things that aren’t pleasing to God. When the wisdom of God is at work, overcoming sin is less of a struggle or problem. When the wisdom of God is guiding you, you have the sense to avoid roads, friends, relationships, businesses, contracts, conversations and habits that can land you in the potholes of life.

There’s a lot of subtle deception out there and we desperately need God’s wisdom to overcome all the satanic tricks we are bombarded with each day. Jeremiah 9:6 says we live in the midst of deception. There are false prophets masquerading as apostles of light, smooth talkers that can get you to do anything, even things offensive to God. We must never forget that the cunning and crafty serpent is still on the loose. Sadly, many people because of lack of wisdom are being led astray the same way Eve was deceived. Divine wisdom is what we need to be shielded from phonies, fraudsters and all those who mislead.

If you were given an opportunity today to receive just one request from God, what would you ask for? Would it be to get married before the end of this year, to receive an American green card, the death of all your enemies, the latest and most expensive smart phone, a mansion in a highbrow area of town and another in your village, or a major financial breakthrough? Solomon wanted all of these and much more but when such an opportunity was given him, he realized that riches does not equate to success. You need more than money to properly handle your day to day responsibilities. Besides, you can have all the money in the world and still be empty and unfulfilled (1 Kings 3:5-15). In fact, there are so many people who belong to the cream de le cream of society, people who can afford state of the art gadgets but are still envious of the person next door who all the person seems to have is a stable relationship with God. Solomon realized that the principal most important thing is to have wisdom . When you have wisdom, you have a right foundation and proper structure put in place to receive not just wealth but many other good things in life that money can’t buy.

Wisdom is precious, wisdom is of greater value than costly jewels, but wisdom is not a rare, scarce commodity that’s hard to get. Wisdom is actually calling out each day to us to embrace her (Proverbs 8:1-11). We ignore wisdom’s call by ignoring those simple things we can do to fill our lives with divine wisdom. The bible in James 1:5 says “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.” Wisdom comes to those who are honest enough to acknowledge their ignorance and limitations and then ask for God’s help and direction or ask those who know more about that field or issue than they do. Wisdom comes to those who are willing to listen and learn (Proverbs 9:9).Wisdom comes to those who are hungry and desperate for Christ, the One in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3).

We can’t live a successful, fruitful and fulfilled life without the wisdom of God. Everyday we make dozens of choices. Some good, some bad, some very disastrous. Only the wisdom of God can guide us on the proper step to take, way to go in the midst of so many seemingly good options. The wisdom of God is sounder, stronger and deeper than a good education. Lives, families, destinies and nations are properly shaped and built through wisdom (Proverbs 24:3). It’s good to be educated and we should aspire to grow in knowledge. However, a good education will at best give us opportunities for a higher and better source of income but it can’t guarantee us a close relationship with God and eternal life with Him. It is a strong and solid relationship with Jesus, the Wisdom of God, feeding daily on God’s word, and discernment from God’s Spirit that fills us with wisdom that keeps us steps ahead of the enemy’s plans, helps us live for God’s glory, and prepares us to reign with Christ. With all the dangers that surround us, it’s risky not to have divine wisdom. Don’t go a day without wisdom; don’t go a day disconnected from Christ and the word of God, don’t live a life empty and void of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Clay Banks on Unsplash

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