The Blessing of Applying Godly Wisdom

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To live wisely, we need to redefine what we mean by success. We need to abandon our quest for self-fulfillment, and abandon ourselves to Christ fulfillment (Pastor Daniel Villa, Church of God). This is in a nutshell what we need to realize in order to apply godly wisdom. The Scriptures from Proverbs shared this timeless reminder: The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:1-7 NIV

The Hebrew word translated "wisdom" is hochma, and it usually refers to some kind of skill or ability. It was originally used to describe the work of weavers who weave the elaborate garments of Aaron, the high priest. Wisdom is about weaving what is true and just versus the wisdom from this world filled with schemes and deception.  J.I. Packer from his book Knowing God shared: Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Where does this power come from? Simply, it comes from God: All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should - Proverbs 2:6-7 (CEV).

Applying godly wisdom is what we need to fulfill God’s purpose for our life successfully. However, wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and it must always become the starting point to acquire wisdom, knowledge and instruction for successful life. Thus, James echoed it: If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom – James 3:12 (NLT). An individual that fears the Lord anchors all his ways to it without fail.

With this in mind, allow me to share two significant things to consider regarding applying wisdom for 2015: (a) ACCESS THE INDISPENSABLE VALUE OF WISDOM by gaining it, receiving it, and giving it. How? It is acquired by listening intentionally to God’s Word. It is by adding or compounding it through our daily experiences. It is acquired by getting guidance from the Lord to discern situations that arises. Somebody said, A wise man learns by the experience of others. An ordinary man learns by his own experience. A fool learns by nobody's experience. (b) AFFIRM THE INCOMPARABLE COST OF WISDOM by acknowledging God’s role; God’s guidance and God’s partnership in our life. David Seamans shared from the book Healing of Damages Emotions
a wonderful story to illustrate how God in His omnipotence and omnipresence can show how small we are compared to Him: Steinmetz was a dwarf, ugly and deformed, but he had one of the greatest minds in the field of electricity that the world has ever known. Steinmetz built the great generators for Henry Ford in his first plant in Dearborn, Michigan. One day these generators broke down and the plant came to a halt. They brought in ordinary mechanics and helpers who couldn't get the generators going again. They were losing money. Then Ford called Steinmetz. The genius came, seem to just putter around for a few hours, and then threw the switch that put the great Ford plant back into operation.  "A few days later Henry Ford received a bill from Steinmetz for $10,000. Although Ford was a very rich man, he returned the bill with a note, 'Charlie, isn't this bill just a little high for a few hours of tinkering around on those motors?'" Steinmetz returned the bill to Ford. This time it read: 'For tinkering around on the motors: $10. For knowing where to tinker: $9,990. Total: $10,000.' Henry Ford paid the bill.

What can we say then? Wisdom is not “knowing good and evil” but wisdom knows how to differentiate from evil and it is the ability to sift through what is good and what is evil. Wisdom shows us clarity and we need today it more than ever. Keep acquiring it from God’s Word without fail.

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GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR GREATER THINGS

The uncertainty that many feels nowadays cannot be overlooked. More than ever, what God promised in His Word needed to be reinforced today in the hearts of many. When the Jewish people was taken as captives to Babylon, God spoke to prophet Jeremiah to remind Him of His promise: This is what the Lord says, “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile” (Jeremiah 29: 10-14).  In a nutshell, God holds time in His Hands yet He waits patiently to produce the greater things out of what is best at the moment. Remember that God’s timing is always perfect and never too late and He will produce the greater things He has promised to those who patiently waits for its fulfillment.

It might seem overwhelming but seeing a brief overview of God’s plan can provide comfort in such uncertainties: (1) God’s Plan for Humanity So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:26-28; (2) God’s Plan for Humanity’s Redemption: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15; (3) God’s Plan for Humanity through Abraham: The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:1-3; (4) God’s Plan for Humanity through a Messiah: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7; (5) God’s Plan for Humanity through Jesus: She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21-23; (6) God’s Plan for Humanity through the Great Commission: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20; (7) God’s Plan for Humanity Restored: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22: 1-5)

How then we should view the things that are happening around us? See them with eyes of hope in what God will do when His plans are fulfilled in His own time. Somebody said, “When you have nothing left but God, then you become aware that God is enough.” Moreover, don’t lose sight of what God has in store; you might miss it when you settle for the best when He is preparing the greater things ahead. Stay on the course and follow specifically His instructions. You will never go wrong when you trust Him wholeheartedly.

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A Picture of God’s Love and Mercy

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied.  "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman's son. ~Luis Palau, Experiencing God's Forgiveness, Multnomah Press, 1984.

The parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about God’s redemptive grace and mercy through the perspective of the father.  It was a story about a father’s unconditional love and forgiveness towards his wayward son.  It was clearly about God seeking sinners. In Luke 15, Jesus tells about the youngest son coming to his father to ask for his inheritance before the right time.  According to the Old Testament laws in Deuteronomy 21:17, the youngest son would only receive one-third of the father’s inheritance. 

Here’s the scenario that may offend people hearing this story: the young son came to his father to ask for his inheritance and it was like he was saying, “I wish you were dead!” This was an insult to the father. In the minds of the Jewish leaders listening, they understood that this would not have received the young son back into the family.  As a matter of fact, in the ancient Jewish culture, he would have been disowned and would not have been allowed to return as part of the father’s family.

The strong element of disbelief and disappointment felt by the audience of this story often is lost for the modern day reader. The Jewish audience might have asked how a son can be so cruel as to ask for an inheritance before his father’s death. They realized that money was more important to the younger son than his relationship with his father.  

After getting what he wanted, the son left and wasted everything he received but decided to return back home at the end. When he did, being not far off from his father’s house, his father saw the son approaching, indicating that he had been watching for him, runs to him and embraced him with open arms. According to Jewish tradition, the Jews considered this highly undignified in their culture. The patriarch never ran or never made the first move in such a situation. 

The prodigal son came back with nothing to offer; yet his father received him with much joy and celebration. His father showed His unconditional love and accepted him back into the family without any interrogation and even restored him to his former state. Looking at it from God’s perspective, the actions of the father reflected God’s great mercy and incomprehensible grace towards any sinner with genuine repentance from their sin and humility before a loving God. Here are three important lessons to learn from this parable: (a) God reaches out when sinners lose their way; (b) God responds to sinners when they repent wholeheartedly; (c) God reveals His Divine Love when sinners return to Him with humility.

Richard C. Halverson summarized it this way: There is nothing you can to do make God love you more! There is nothing you can do to make God love you less! His love is Unconditional, Impartial, Everlasting, Infinite, Perfect!  

Here’s an article in National Geographic several years ago that provided a penetrating picture of God's character: After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast.

 Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live...

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge..." (Psalms 91:4)  Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you and then be different because of it.

God will never abandon us even when we totally abandon Him and He will accept us when we return to him again. Believe it and let others know about it!

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God’s Love: A Story of Reconciliation

The Gospel of Luke shared a wonderful story of God’s love and His plan of reconciliation towards a lost humanity through the story of the prodigal son and his Father:  “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate (Luke 15: 17-24).

The prodigal son awakened from his miserable state after squandering what he had gained. He came to realize his utter condition and took a good hard look at his situation working in a pigsty. He was filled with repentance of what he’s done. It was no mere sentimental regret, no momentary flash of sorrow for a bad past. It was a decision to be made coupled with a long and weary journey to be undertaken in going back home to face his father. And without any second thoughts, he resolved to come home sad, suffering, ragged, destitute, but still safe. It was a hard choice to go back home with his pride thrown out the door and to face his father begging for his mercy. For he thought, the servants have a better life than him and to become a servant in his father’s house is better than the life he would leave behind—feeding swine and living in a pigsty.

When he reached home, his father run towards him while he was still a long way off “…his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. What! In all his filth? Yes. In all his rags? Yes. In all his haggard, shattered wretchedness? Yes. It did not end there but after the embrace and the kiss that his father gave him, he uttered his humble confession and acknowledgement of his sin against heaven, i.e., God and his father. But as if his father did not hear his plea. Instead, his father called out for the best robe placed on him by the Father and the ring that signified his position was being restored as son. It is important to note that the prodigal son returned home without shoes, a sign of having become extremely destitute because in ancient biblical times only servants and slaves went barefoot.  Therefore, when the Father ordered shoes to be brought out and put on the prodigal's feet, he was not to be treated as a servant but as a son with all the entitlements.

It did not end there because the father’s joy cannot be contained with the return of the prodigal son. A fattened calf, reserved for festive occasion was killed and everyone in the father’s household was invited to join in the joyous occasion. It was a huge celebration that everyone present felt and shared with the father.

From this story, what is the message we can learn today? God’s loving arms is always open to those that return with a humble and repentant heart. He does not reject us but lovingly surrounds us of His love and mercy. How did God do it for us? God’s love was manifested through His Son Jesus and we were reconciled when He stretched out His hand at the cross for our restoration as sons and daughters again. This is the entire message of the Easter season.

Sandra Micelotti showed an excellent picture of what God, our loving Father do when we return like the prodigal son: “Forgiveness would be empty without restoration to the privileges forfeited by sin. Therefore, if you bear the name son or daughter through having received Jesus as Lord and Savior by the power of the Holy Spirit you have found favor with the Father.”

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Blessing of Honor

To many, honor is such a big word reserved only for those that occupy any position of authority.

However, understanding this word would dramatically improve our perspective of seeing it for special occasions only but to be applied on a daily basis. As a noun, honor in the Bible means “esteem, value, or great respect.” To honor someone is to value him highly or bestow value upon him. The Bible exhorts us to express honor and esteem toward certain people: our parents, the aged, and those in authority. Thus, honor is the value of something that causes everything around it to elevate while dishonor is to treat something as common that causes everything around it to go down. Giving honor and becoming an honorable person is something we need to achieve.

In order to understand the difference between a hypocrite and an honorable person, it is important to define them. A hypocrite is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions contradict stated beliefs. An honorable person acts in accordance with or characterized by principles of honor; upright; of high rank, dignity, or distinction; noble, illustrious, or distinguished; worthy of honor and high respect; estimable; creditable; bringing honor or credit; consistent with honor.  In knowing the difference between these two, we can therefore choose carefully our attitude towards people we encounter.

How to become honorable? Allow me to share three biblical characters that epitomize this attitude. First, we need to imitate the attitude of Jabez in preserving one’s honor: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore him with pain." Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested” (NIV). The Bible says that Jabez was an honorable man—more honorable than the rest of his family. Why was that? It‘s because Jabez was not content with being average. He saw himself not just for who he was, but also for who he could be with God's blessings upon him (Stan Coffey). Mark Twain describes it concisely: “It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.” 

Next is to be like Daniel, who cared for his body as God’s Temple in preserving God’s honor: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (ESV). We are to honor God in our acknowledgment that the gift of eternal life was given through Jesus Christ and Him alone. In recognition of this truth, we give honor and respect to our Savior through our humble adoration and obedience to His will. As such, He will honor us when He seats us on His throne in heaven. Thomas Carlyle describes it clearly: “Show me the man you honor and I will know what kind of man you are.” 

Lastly, like Jesus, let us follow His attitude in honoring others at every opportunity: Phil 2:3-8 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” With the example that Jesus did for us during His lifetime and at the cross of Calvary, we must never lose sight of giving honor and becoming honorable at the same time, as it is not an option but an opportunity that people longs to see as God’s people.

When we fully understand the blessing of honor and its application, we can be assured that it would flow without fail, as God fulfills His promise to honor those that honors Him and others, as a result.

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