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That’s how I picture wisdom working.

The Proverbs spell out comparisons: a wise man and a fool, a good man and a wicked man, truth and falsehood, obedience and rebellion, industry and laziness, prudence and presumption, thoughtfulness and selfishness. Off or on. Right or left. They help us see the differences so that we’re left with clear-cut choices, instead of some blob of gray full of compromises and exceptions.

The Bible doesn’t tell me what ratings of movies I should see or not see, but it does tell me what to think about, and what corrupt things do to my mind. The Bible doesn’t spell out the names of the people I should hang around with, but it does tell me a lot about relationships and how they’ll affect me.

Wisdom from God is a tool that helps me make right choices. In a world where people are convinced it can’t be done, I have the tool to discern right from wrong and good from evil. Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.

Wisdom is also a tool that helps me make sense of what life dishes out.

James 1:2-5 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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.

The context of this passage makes it pretty clear: sometimes, in order to be able to do vv2-3, we need wisdom. How can we consider trials of many kinds joy? How can we look at the lemon life hands us and still speak about it in positive terms? Life is hard. We need to handle it with wisdom.

Conclusion: At my brother-in-law David’s funeral, it was encouraging to hear the impact his witness had over his last few months. (Aug 2004) It helped my faith grow to hear someone speak openly about his confidence in God even if he were to die. 4 weeks before he died, his last Sunday at church, he went forward at decision time and spoke to his church family in Rolla, MO. He thanked them for their prayers, but he also pointed out to them that we too often expect God to work miracles and don’t accept what we get. He reminded them how Paul prayed for some thorn in his flesh to be removed, but how God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

His last 2 weeks, David’s lungs were overcome by tumors. But rather than questioning why God didn’t heal him, David was instead telling his family he felt sorry for them because he was going to be in heaven and they’d be stuck here for now. He made that journey 7 years ago, July 28.

David believed that God’s grace was sufficient for him, even if that’s all he had. He and my sister kept repeating a phrase: God is great, God is good, and that’s that.

What makes a person able to do that? Wisdom. Wisdom that gives us the ability to make sense of life at its best…and its worst.