Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air ~ Job 28:20-21.
Preamble:
Times come when we are faced with tough decisions that could eventually define some important details of our future in our family life, career, ministry, business, etcetera. If we get it right in such instances, we could be reaching forth to stardom, but if we get it wrong, the consequences might be catastrophic.
The bottom line is that real life isn't always straight-jacketed, and we must get used to that fact. However, if we diligently followGod’s wisdom, we cannot live like paupers in life, but make headway, come what may.
Wisdom teaches us what to do to get results. Wisdom distinguishes, and once you get it, you’ll begin to outsmart even the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Ephesians 3:8-10).
More so, wisdom makes you truly tactical; pure wisdom enables you to make your points without duress. Albeit, true wisdom is quite hard to come by; hence, many people don’t have it.
Anyone who desires to obtain divine wisdom will have two elemental hurdles to cross and overcome, viz: divine wisdom is priceless, and it is characteristically hiddenfrom mortal men/women (Job 28:13-22).
How then can we obtain wisdom, especially the wisdom from above? Basically, the fact that wisdom is priceless isn’t bad news. It only suggests that the rich has no special advantage over the poor, and the poor shouldn’t admit any special disadvantage when it comes to getting divine wisdom.
Again, the fact that wisdom is not confined to any particular geographical location on earth also means that our education, acquired knowledge of exact science and profound research may not help us to obtain real wisdom. Hence, even egg-heads aren’t always wise, just like money and organizational positions don’t necessarily confer on anyone the wisdom from above.
How To Attract And Obtain The Wisdom of God
Fundamentally, it’s sheer foolishness to start seeking someone or something whose identity you don’t even know, and cannot recognize. It’s expedient, therefore, to first fully know and understand who or what divine wisdom is before seeking it.
In our previous article on this subject, we articulated the fact that God’s wisdom is a divine personality: Jesus Christ(1Corinthians 1:23-24). And, in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).
Thence, the believers can draw from, explore and harness the treasures of divine wisdom in three primary ways: the Word of God, our affinity/sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and various other practical lifestreams of wisdom and inspiration.
The Word of God is the divine and perfect revelation of God’s mind, will, and counsel to mankind (Psalm 19:7-8). No one should expect to be wise and right in all dealings and judgments without prayerfully, diligently, and constantly imbibing, and applying God’s principles in His Word (Psalm 119:98-100).
We should regularly delve into the Word, and ask God for wisdom several times daily (James 1:5). Some decisions will comerightly once we pray for God's wisdom(Proverbs 2:6). Other difficult ones will require extended seasons of prayer and fasting.
We also can draw from the treasures of divine wisdom by listening to and obeying the Voice, the leading or prompting of the Holy Spirit. He’s the“Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). When we wholeheartedly abide and walk in God’s Word, and submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we’ll be enabled to operate in the fullness of divine wisdom.
Meanwhile, the place of character and personality traits shouldn’t be ignored in our course towards divine wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 9:10). Be aware that every idol in the heart is a stumbling-block to the will of God (Ezekiel 14:4).
In addition, you must qualify the people who have close access to your life-space, especially your inner, core group. This is very important because you will seldom rise above the quality of people who surround you. For instance, people who are stuck in the past can't embrace their future, and they won't want you to find yours either.
Take a careful look at your closest friends.How spiritual, experienced, mature, disciplined, diligent, focused or successful are they? Who are your counselors and advisers? Whose books are you reading? All these are vital to your streams of wisdom.
Yes indeed, your present experiences areimportant parts of your life’s journey. You may not always be able to change the direction of the wind, but you can always readjust your sails to reach your destinationthrough the various streams of experiences, both yours and from other people.
The more you learn, the more you earn! Nevertheless, you can’t know it all. That’s why we have consultants, engineers, physicians, parents, pastors, financial planners, lawyers, etcetera, to support us with their experiences which we don't have, but which we badly need.
Very importantly, there’s also a stream of wisdom that flows directly from pain. Every great success story has a hidden chapter, and every person faces battles no one else notices. Those unseen challenges and/or emotional exhaustion don’t get celebrated, but they are very crucial to our growth and development.
They’re sometimes the needed foundation of success, especially when they’re well padded with pure patience (Romans 5:3-5). Pain is a powerful teacher in wisdom, bothyour own pain and that of others. However,it's always better to learn from the pain of others.
For instance, when you see the troublesthat others are facing because they had poor boundaries, burned their candles at both ends, became uncharitable and unteachable, cut corners, chose to be wise-after-events, are incorrigible or became impervious to corrections, you’ll quickly avoid those paths at all costs.
Beloved friends, when these streams of wisdom flow into your lives, they form a mighty river of wisdom that can bless every aspect of your destinies, and indeed, the entire world around you (Psalm 46:4).
Happily, you’re probably just a step of faith away from divine wisdom. God, knowing that we can never deserve, or pay for His wisdom, offered Jesus Christ — the Wisdom of God — to us as a free gift (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
It costs absolutely nothing in terms of monetary, intellectual, moral or spiritual capital to receive Christ; He’s freely available to all mankind (Ephesians 2:8). Nevertheless, God will not compel anyone to receive or embrace Him.
Anyone who desires to attract, obtain and retain God’s wisdom must be willing to repent of his/her sinful ways, and receive Jesus Christ by faith, confessing Him as his/her Lord and Saviour, and walking in His footsteps (Romans 10:7-13).
Thereafter, such a believer will now have hidden within him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ Jesus. You won’t miss this, in Jesus name. Amen. Happy Sunday!
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Archbishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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