Where is Wisdom When I Need It?

I recently started reading the Book of Proverbs again in my morning prayer and devotional time.  It has always been one of my favorite books in the Bible. It is easy to read and understand for the most part, and I admit that I need the wisdom that it offers. I REALLY need it.

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.”

The Lord God offers wisdom, discretion, and understanding to those who want it. Do I see a hand raised? Yes, I see that hand!

Below is some motivation to read and dig into the wisdom books of the Bible, which includes:  Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, some psalms, and probably the Song of Songs.

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I fit in the description above of those needing to obtain wisdom and instruction. If you’re one who needs to drink of the wisdom of heaven, open these Books and have at it. Solomon is called the ‘wisest man who has ever lived.’ I think we can all learn from this guy.

A Plan

The Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters. One plan is to read through one chapter a day corresponding with the day of the month. When a proverb jumps off the page at you, or if you’re snagged by one of them, stop and gain from its lesson(s). Write down what it is telling you. We are more apt to retain when we write.

Just as important as reading from these wisdom books is … praying for wisdom, discretion, and understanding. You and I are dependent upon the Omniscient God–the All-knowing One.

To answer this blog’s title question

The foremost place is in the Scriptures, revealed by the Spirit of God, and available to those who need it.

A helpful hint to go along with the answer to the question

Don’t wait until you need it, by then you’re a step or two or eight behind the cue ball. Prepare and begin engaging with wisdom today.

BTW:  Wisdom is more valuable than riches or physical health. Just thought I’d give you a preview of coming attractions, that is, if you’re going to read Solomon’s writings.

Recognizing Legitimate and Illegitimate Guilt, Shame, and Regret

The last two weeks I filled the pulpit for a pastor friend of mine. Keeping up this blog took a back seat, needless to say.  I’ve known the pastor for over a decade and he is a true shepherd through and through. I have preached from pulpits from the west coast to the east coast, both as a pastor and guest speaker, ministering God’s Word. When I’ve stood in front of a local body of believers who have a biblical shepherd who cares for them and disciples them in and according to the Scriptures, there is a freedom from the pulpit and a warmth and joy poured upon you from the congregation.

I have also preached in local churches where it was more difficult to deliver the Word of God than wade through a tar pit … wearing snowshoes.

The message I brought this last Sunday was out of 2 Corinthians 7:8-12 on the subject of Guilt, Shame, and Regret (GSR).  What’s more commonly tagged: “godly sorrow.” It is clear in the OT and NT that there is both a legitimate and illegitimate GSR. One leads to repentance and produces diligence, zeal, fear, and vindication among other godly responses, whereas Illegitimate GSR goes too far and will drown you (2 Cor. 2:7), smoother you, and drive you away from Christ.

Some of the common lies from illegitimate guilt, shame, and regret are:

  • Jesus won’t forgive you. You’ve gone too far.
  • You’ve committed the unpardonable sin.
  • God won’t listen to your prayers; you’re not worthy.
  • How could God love you after what you’ve done?
  • How could God love you after what has happened to you?

If you hear these lies, go to the Gospel. Don’t wait for Sunday morning. Don’t wait for a sign. Preach the Gospel to yourself and rely on the work of Jesus Christ.

A Third Side

There is another side, another approach/view of guilt, shame, and regret that sadly is alive in our American Christian culture.  It is popularized by the “positive gospel” preachers and by a miss understanding of who we become in Christ. It goes something like:  “If you feel guilty about something, rebuke it, ignore it, and cast it down because it is not of God.” Then a person is to make a quick confession of “There is therefore now NO condemnation …” from Romans 8:1. Basically, it is taught that “GSR is an attack on your faith and who you are in Christ.”  But the truth is the opposite of that statement.

  • One writer called this “Preaching a False-Positive.”
  • This type of theology denies sin.
  • I John 1:8-2:2 rebukes the believer who says they do not sin and/or has no sin.
  • This theology denies the propitiation of Christ.
  • It denies reality.

The Legitimate Work of Guilt, Shame, and Regret

All GSR should lead us to restoration at the Cross and that is where it should stop. If you are haunted or beaten up by GSR, then it has turned from legitimate GSR into a Mr. Hyde. If this is happening, preach the Gospel to your Mr. Hyde and “cling to the old rugged cross”—to the Gospel that saves.

Remember the promise:  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall receive comfort.”  This is speaking to the believer who mourns over his/her sin with GSR.  Sincere, heart-felt repentance includes accepting the guilt of your sin; being ashamed of your sin; and regretting your sinfulness. Faith in your repentance will bring comfort, restoration, and zeal.

“Evidence that you truly repented and sought Christ is that you are still repenting daily and seeking Christ.”

What Peace We Often Forfeit

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) — 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 

You’ve probably heard a dozen or so sermons on this scripture, as I have.  Consider this a “reminder post” of an essential Biblical exercise of faith and love, or love and faith, if you prefer that order.

We’re told not to be anxious about anything or IN anything because we can take our cares to a heavenly Father. But wait … why? We’ve become pretty good at stressing, being anxious, and worrying, so why stop practicing something we’re good at, right? I mean, when you’re good, you ARE GOOD!

When I was in school the worst case of anxiety that I had to deal with could usually be cured by stopping by the Sunoco gas station and getting a cold Mountain Dew for ten cents.  If the anxiety was peaking, I’d ask for the latest STP decal for my bicycle. All was made good.

stp367

Today, Mountain Dew is no longer ten cents and STP stickers … ?  You can’t do the dew like ya used to.

Back to my point

 Even though we don’t have to be anxious, we practice anyway. We like to quote from the Epistle of James and say that we’re “doers of the Word” but we placed an exception to this rule because we find it too easy to practice anxiousness and worry (and fear and etc.).  What we should be doing is encouraging one another to stop practicing such faithlessness in our heavenly Father and practice Philippians 4:6-7.

My wife pointed out the verse from an old hymn. Like so many of the old hymns there is a treasure that we tend to sing right through without drinking from its well.

 What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Back to Scripture

We know Philippians 4:6 and can probably quote it, right? We’re told to take our anxiety somewhere specific—“to God.”  When you’re worried, anxious, and doing some old-fashioned ‘fretting’:

  • Don’t take it out on your spouse or children.
  • Don’t take it to work with you.
  • Don’t throw it in with some gossip and share your downer with others; and
  • Don’t do a Flip Wilson excuse or use Adam’s excuse that he gave to God in the Garden of Eden.

Take your anxiety; fears; hopelessness; cares; worries; and heartaches TO GOD in prayer.  Take them, all of them to God.

I’ve heard people yell at the Devil about their problems. I’ve heard people dumping their complaints on others.  When we pass the blame onto someone/something else, we are throwing off our responsibilities rather than taking them on. Even if … even if … the Devil is to blame (says Flip Wilson), the scripture tells us that we are to go to God, not to the Devil, with our problems. As far as sharing your “Debbie-Downers” with others, outside of fishing for pity you’re not going to catch much on that hook. Take your troubles to the Almighty God.

BTW: I’m not saying that your troubles will go away.  They may be in your life for a purpose, perhaps to change you rather than the circumstance. But, verse 7 does hold some good news to those who lean to live out verse 6.

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) — 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

If the above didn’t help, try this rebuke from Bob Newhart:

Abusing The Goodness of God

James 1:16–17 (NKJV) — “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

When I think about the goodness of God there is an immediate overwhelming within. I know so little and yet in the microscopic glimpse of the nature of God I am left in speechless awe. Goodness is but one attribute of God and yet its depths leave us with a mix of thoughts and feelings–humbled, encouraged, loved, and joyful and wanting to know more.

God is good and from Him all goodness flows. Where else can it come from? There is no other living God. He has repeatedly announced that He alone is God and there is no other god besides Him. There is no other source for goodness, mercy, grace, and love to originate from. How grateful that He is good.

One of the challenges that we have in this life is that too often we use feelings and experiences to define reality and truth. When we do this, we fail to see and use God’s definition of goodness. His Word and His ways teach us the depths of what good is, and how to be good, including what  is and isn’t good. It is when we use other standards, criteria, or measurements to define and determine what is good that at the very least we miss the goodness of God. At the worst we abuse His goodness.

How is the Goodness of God Abused?

  1. The most common way is by thinking that goodness originates from within us or others, rather than the Originator—God (James 1:16–17). How can a created being, whose whole existence is dependent upon its Creator originate any goodness from itself … since “all good” gifts comes from Him? Any good that is within us and that we express is from God. It is because of God that we are able to be good to do so. He enables us to know and distinguish good from bad and to love good rather evil. For those who despise good and prefer to do evil and harm to others do not reflect the goodness of God, but as Jesus Christ said, “They are of their father, the devil.” We must remind ourselves that ‘God is summurn bonum, the chiefest good’;
  2. Forbid ourselves from partaking and enjoying God’s goodness, and as some, create rules to keep others from enjoying His goodness (1 Timothy 4:1–5). How does this happen? By not accepting everything that God has created as being good. The biblical context above gives a few examples of man abusing God’s good gifts.
  3. When we consider something that is of God as being merely, sorta, kinda good, or not good at all, for ourselves or someone else, then we have robbed Him of glory that is due Him. This applies to people that He puts in our lives, and also to things, events, and circumstances (Luke 7:33-35). Just because we cannot currently see good in something or see God’s usefulness and purpose for something does not mean that it is not good from Him. How shallow is that deduction? For example, it wasn’t until 2009 that medical science realized the good purpose of the spleen in healing after a heart attack. It wasn’t too long ago that science considered the spleen a useless organ of the evolutionary process. Not anymore. If God created it, it is good and has its purpose, whether we have discovered it or not.
  4. Accusing God of not being “as good as He could be” when evil is manifested in our world. Evil does not negate the goodness of God. We must learn to look for God in the midst of tragedy, pain, and sorrow. He is present. His goodness is faithful and He is faithful in His goodness–a lesson to imitate as His beloved children;
  5. We err by limiting God’s goodness as being solely benevolent. His goodness is also wise, righteous, just, holy, and in perfect agreement with the rest of His other divine attributes. One attribute does not contradict another. Each of His attributes perfectly expresses the others. As Paul Helm (emeritus professor at the University of London) wrote, “But the goodness of God has a deeper and richer (and more mysterious) character than benevolence alone.”; and
  6. We fail when we do not attribute the small graces in our daily lives to His goodness working in us and towards us and for us.

Building a Treasure Chest

When you read or hear something that arrests your heart, what do you do? Let’s say that it is something profound that causes you to stop your thinking process and ponder. You recognize these types of thoughts as something convicting—humbling or encouraging, or inspiring, or even greater? Does this happen very often? I think that it should, and if it isn’t, then I’d argue that you’ve become stagnant.

Did that sting?

From a prayer in The Valley of Vision:  “Help me to honour thee by believing before I feel, for great is the sin if I make feeling a cause of faith.”

If you have followed my blog or read one my books, you know that Scripture is all this and more. I’m going to presume that Scripture is a give-me on this subject, and goes without saying. This is about other types of treasures.

“A mystery of the Word of God; it fills you up and satisfies you, while leaving you hungry and unsatisfied.” – Pastor Johnny Hunt

By the way, I’m not talking about something only on an academic level. I am referring to something that includes the intellect but keeps going deeper. Let’s be clear here, I’m not referring to cotton candy snippets of positive thinking and self-esteem pill popping.

Does it challenge what you believe or how you see things or how you act or think? Does it bring reality to light, humble, inspire, or confirm and at the same time stir your heart God-ward? This is the stuff that enlarges your view and understanding of God, the work of Christ, and your walk with Him—the rich stuff. These treasures will vary in power and depth, length and affect, and they are good, so good.

“Most of the unhappiness in your life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

What do you do when you come across one of these gems? Do you write it down so that you can return to it like a cool spring fed well? Do you ponder for a moment and say, “huh” and more on? I encourage you to have place where you write these types of gems down so you can visit them periodically and especially when you need them to stir your soul. Perhaps the pages on the inside of your Bible—front and back; a small journal; or note cards.

From one of my favorite books—The Cross of Christ (John R.W. Stott): “The essential background to the cross, therefore, is a balanced understanding of the gravity of sin and the majesty of God. If we diminish either, we thereby diminish the cross.”