Knowledge That Leads to Wisdom

We spend a lot of time trying to prove our worth. In this endeavor, we ignore advice and seek little instruction. It becomes important to us to demonstrate that we can do it on our own. At the same time, countless numbers of us also seek to become “influencers” by using social media to demonstrate the breadth of our knowledge and worth.

Proverbs 19:20-21 says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” We may think that we know certain subjects well, but we can always find someone who knows the subject more thoroughly. More knowledge and wisdom is always available to us and we will be wise to seek it out. It is good to devise plans, but we must always seek the LORD’s purpose, or our plans will certainly not lead to the greater good of God’s will.

Good For the No-Good

Do we cheer when good comes to those whom we dislike or even just disagree with? Or do we only cheer when misfortune strikes these people? Do we rejoice a little when someone of the other political party is disgraced? Do we feel joy when the team we hate loses? When someone who has hurt us suffers, do we feel like they deserve the pain? Jonah was angry at God when God was merciful to the people of Ninevah. Jonah hated these people for the atrocities that they had committed against Jonah’s people.

Jonah 4:2 says, “And he prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” God is gracious, merciful, and loving, even for those whom we disagree with or dislike. God will not withhold His love and compassion, even from those whom we dismiss as unworthy.

Stubborn

Some of us can be stubborn at times. We think that we know the right way to do something, until we are proven wrong. To keep us safe and to teach us, various people have had to discipline us. The discipline may come in the form of forceful correction, a driving ticket, or the removal of some privileges.

Psalm 94:12-14 says, “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage.” Sometimes, the only way that God can teach His people is through discipline. But along with the discipline, God promises to give us rest from our troubles. He also promises that He will not forsake us or abandon us to struggle on our own.

I Need Something More

Have you ever made an agreement with someone to provide a service or product? Then, when they deliver the service or product, you are disappointed. You ask them to make some modifications. The modifications are made, but it still seems not right. This request and modification process goes on through several tries, but you are still not satisfied. We do the same sort of thing with life. We search for something that will satisfy us, but nothing quite delivers what we need. That’s because we are looking in the wrong place for the satisfaction of our needs.

Psalm 63:1-2 says, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.   So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.” God created us to have an intimate relationship with Him, so close that we become desperate to always be near to Him. Nothing else will satisfy our hearts.

Sure Footed Faith

Have you seen pictures of goats or other animals on the steep faces of mountains. They can get to places that you wonder how in the world that they got there. On the other hand, my steps are not so secure. I have tripped and fallen many times over the last few years. I don’t trust myself to hike some places that I consider dangerous.

Habakkuk 3:19 says, “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” Security and hope come from God. We can endure hardships and proceed in sure footed faith and in the knowledge that God will give us all we need and protect us from evil.