Choosing Wisdom

 

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)

I have been thinking a lot lately about how we get to choose the lives we want to live (maybe not what actually happens!), and that we have choices on how we react and choose our responses.  How do you react when trouble comes or when good times come? Do you act in wisdom or foolishness, emotion or anger? Every moment of every day, you are making choices that either support your well-being or negate it. God gave us wisdom to experience life and the everyday “stuff” that we have to react to. When we see others around us losing their cool, we can choose to react differently because foolishness leads to disorder and chaos, but making wise choices leads to joyous and satisfying outcomes. Wisdom lives inside how we choose, and there is no getting away from the fact that we will have to deal with something as long as we are alive on this earth and in this world.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ...” (Proverbs 3:13-18)

We can turn to God’s Word for help with every challenge, healing for every hurt, and comfort for every burden. When we consider God’s goodness, wisdom, and knowledge—we find great comfort and encouragement! God’s wisdom as Creator is designed into all things, skillfully visible so that we have the joyful privilege of discovering it. If we have the wisdom from above (God's wisdom), things usually turn out much more smoothly. To have wisdom that comes from God we must ask it from God, and when we ask, we must ask faithfully and without any doubt.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Proverbs 3:5-6 was one of my first memorization verses, but it wasn’t until later in life that I realized trusting God, when our path in life grows muddy, is not an easy task! Weariness, busyness and hurt can cause us to trip and even fall, and we wonder how we will ever get up again. However, I also (even later) learned that when we trust God with our lives even when at times it makes no sense, we receive wisdom and the ability to know the difference, the ability to discern right from wrong, good from bad, sound judgment, etc. The wisdom of depending on God will bring results in our lives that can surprise us! And then when it comes to all the stuff in life, we'll be ready when the really big decisions come that often define the course of our lives.