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A Way of Seeing

Goal:

To understand the essence of spiritual wisdom. What it is, what to do to gain it and how to know
when you have got it.

Scripture Basis:
Proverbs 1-9, Eph 5:15, Col 1:9 & 4:5 Col 3:16, 2 Tim 3:15-17,
Eccl 3:11 & 7:13-14 & 8:17 & 11:5, Eccl 2:24-26 & James 3:17

References:

Packers "Knowing God", chapter 10

Inclusion Activity:

Can you define wisdom? The dictionary definitions look like this.

  1. The power of right and true discernment
  2. Good practical common sense or
  3. A high degree of knowledge or learning.

How about spiritual wisdom? The kind the Bible talks about. Is this the same thing or is their a difference. Take a minute and think about it. .......

Well, if you are like me, this stands as a difficult question. Perhaps if we spend some time looking at scripture relating to wisdom we can find the answer. First lets go to James. James 1:5 tells us God is willing to give us wisdom if we ask for it.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.. James 1:5 (NIV)

But is asking the only step we must take to get it. In school before we can take a class we must have the necessary prerequisites. Are there any prerequisites to spiritual wisdom? Yes there are.

First one must learn to revere God. We are told that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" in Psalm 111:10 as well as in many other passages such as Prov 9:10 / Job 28:28 Prov 1:7 / Prov 15:3 Do you fear God? Why? Why Not?

Secondly one must learn to receive God's Word. Two references stand out. Colossions 3:16 says "Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in all wisdom".

2 Tim 3:15-16 says..

" and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness".

How much time do you spend "receiving" God's Word. Yes that means reading it!

Well once we have identified and taken up the prerequisites how do we recognize wisdom from God when it shows up? The following stories serve to help us recognize spiritual wisdom.

The Back Door: Two concepts of wisdom ..

1. The Air Traffic Controller

How many of you watch air traffic as it moves in and out of the valley airports while waiting for a flight? (students answer) From your vantage point on the ground or terminal you get only a general (rough) idea of what the overall plan for departures and arrivals are. If however you are privileged enough to be taken up into the main control tower, (have any of you done this?) well now you will then be able to see the radar screens, hear the controllers discuss their strategies and the communications with the pilots. Now you begin to see the whole air traffic situation from the viewpoint of those who control it. Now you see why one plane should wait while another goes, why one turns left and another circles.

Key Message: It is common for Christians today to feel if they were really walking close to God, they would be able to discern the real purpose of everything that's happened to them. It would be clear every moment just how God was "making all things work together for good". And when they can't understand why, they become frustrated.

The entire book of Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon, described as the wisest man, vanquishes this concept that the gift of wisdom is "wide knowledge of purpose" or "seeing from the viewpoint of the controller". Read Eccl 3:11, 7:13-14, 8:17, 11:5. Well if being able to discern the purpose of all aspects of our life is not spiritual wisdom what is? Lets try another example.

2. The Wise Driver

Have you ever heard of someone being called a wise driver. When you learned to drive what was important? What was it that mattered? Most would say what matters most is driving in a safe or appropriate way. When you drive do you ever frustrate yourself trying to understand why a road narrows or turns a particular way? Or do you even think about why a Van is parked where it is, or why the person in front of you drives the way he does.? Usually not much .. Those who drive wisely simply see and do the best thing in each situation that presents itself. What matters most is the speed and appropriateness of your reactions to things and the soundness of your judgment.

Now the effect of God's gift of Wisdom is to enable us to do just this in each aspect of our lives. The following verses shows us what the gift of spiritual wisdom truly enables;

Summary:

The effect of God's gift of wisdom is not to make us all knowing but rather to make us more humble, more joyful, more godly, more quick sighted to His will and more resolute in doing it. It also makes us less troubled by, not less sensitive to, but less bewildered by the painful things of which our life in this fallen world is full.