The Wisdom of the Lord

How wise the Lord is, is found throughout the Scriptures, the Word of the Word. And where do I find His wisdom a comfort? Especially in the Gospels. Take this from the Sermon on the Mount for example: "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt. 6:34; NAS).

He was not speaking theoretically here. He was around 31 years of age, perhaps, and anyone who has lived that long has known the troubles a day can bring. But He was also speaking as God the Son, commanding us to not be anxious. And those of us who are His adopted children can rest, knowing if we have a tomorrow, He has already gone before us to that day, being the eternal God.

Latter in Matthew 11, we have this sweet call from Him: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:239-30; NAS).

Wisdom gleaned from Jeremiah, among others

This passage has been on my mind recently: "Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Wisdom, might, and riches can either be gifts or traps. Think back to what Eve's thought process was in Genesis 3: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food [might], and that it was a delight to the eyes [riches], and that the tree was desired to make one wise [wisdom], she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her and he ate" (Genesis 3:6; bracketed notes mine).

First John 2 reiterates this warning: "Do not love the world nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

Let us give thanks if we, by God's grace, understand and know Him--the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth--and trust His provision, whatever it may be.

Let us pray this prayer from Proverbs 30: "Two things I asked of you, do not refuse me before I die. Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:7-9).

Wisdom from Above: a Look at James 3

"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealous and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:13-18).
Here James compares heavenly wisdom with that which is earthly, and challenges us to prove which one we are using by looking at our behavior. Do our deeds (James is big on this throughout his letter) show the gentleness of wisdom or reveal bitter jealousy and selfish ambition? This is downright personal and challenges our motivations--well, mine anyway--when it comes to what is behind what I do (or don't do).
Motivated by selfish ambition, bitter jealousy, the outcome is disorder and every evil thing. "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, producing good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." "Without hypocrisy"--bam! If we think we are being pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, producing good fruits, unwavering, yet there is hypocrisy somewhere in that mix, we need a heart check and repentance.