Wisdom For Your Tomorrows Of Life

WISDOM FOR YOUR TOMORROWS OF LIFE

The technician who upgraded our Internet and TV service declared the new control mechanism with which he replaced our old one the greatest ever. “That little device,” he said, “is so intelligent that no human being will ever be able to think what it thinks - as perfect as perfect can be” to which I responded, “Well, then, I’ll nickname it ‘God’!”

He then suggested that making the most of what “God” can do depends on us effectively utilizing Apps (application possibilities) stored on our computer. So, as is the case in all other areas of life, responsibility for searching for knowledge, and successfully applying it, lies with the seekers and finders! In terms of the things of God, Jesus’ advice was, “Seek, and ye shall find.” Seek and find wisdom!

Now hear this: “Effectively applying knowledge for the common good” is a widely accepted definition of wisdom; those who consistently seek, find and apply are said to be wise; now - as I look at this group - I see wisdom personified! So, I would like to pose several questions to all of you “Wise Old Owls":

Who was (is) the wisest person you’ve ever known, and why?

What was the wisest choice you ever made?

What was the wisest advice you ever received?

What was the wisest advice you ever gave? Now, for the biggie:

Do you feel that you have outlived a need for wisdom?

It might surprise you to know that Solomon left us a wise saying for such a stage of life as ours: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning.” (Eccl. 7:8)

The home stretch of life brings us to terms with reality – full disclosure. Idealistic “day dreams” are no more. The whole truth stares us in the face. There are no more unrealistic goals to strive for. There is no lack of awareness of how things really are. Delusions are a thing of the past. Expectations are not as high as they once were. A complete picture has developed, so that we no longer “see through a glass darkly” but anticipate seeing our Lord face to face. Folks,

We have arrived at that point in our allotted years when spiritual maturity enables true wisdom: “the God-given ability to see life with objectivity and to handle life with stability.” A rarity reserved for old age!

The search for true wisdom was described at a ripe old age by Solomon – the king whose request for wisdom had been granted: Proverbs 2:1-6 and 3:5-7 . . .

In our search for, and discovery of, true wisdom, we have learned that the only reliable source of the wisdom we need is Father God. Father God knows best!

One of society’s biggest problems is that we look for wisdom in the wrong places – horoscopes, gossip columns, fortune cookies, and various “isms” whose proud practitioners present themselves as humble persons, thus are admired and followed by seekers of a way other than “the” way, - when there is no wiser way than God’s Way! Using our A-B-C-D-E Formula, let’s summarize what it takes to make us wise, or wiser:

Acknowledge who the source of wisdom is not and is! Based on revelations of truth - received through God’s Word, observed in the lives of Bible characters, experienced personally – we have learned: God is infinitely all-knowing plus all-wise.

His ways are always best and He never makes mistakes. We the created make mistakes, not God the Creator. We humans sin, but not God our Maker. Yet, God’s Grace is sufficient for guiding us through the valleys . . . the shadows dim . . . the dark nights of the soul - because, as John says, “God is Light”!

Believe wholeheartedly in the availability and validity of God’s wisdom! Start each day with this thought: Tons of knowledge are available to me (more information out there to be had in one year than the previous five thousand years combined), yet, even with all that readily available knowledge, I need God’s wise counsel. So, I ask Thee, O Lord:

Be Thou my guardian, and show me the way - one day at a time. Ease the tension that exists within me between ‘trusting my waning competence’ and ‘trusting your sustaining wisdom’.”

Conform to God’s “conditions” for receiving godly wisdom! Solomon identified six “conditions” which we can summarize thusly: Listen attentively to the Master Teacher - accept His teachings as valid, commit them to memory, and focus on them constantly.

Cultivate a yearning in your heart for true wisdom in much the same way we would plead to God for deliverance from trouble. Seek it as one seeks for lost money or hidden treasure (Luke 15:8-10).

Remember the advice Jesus gave? “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” Folks: We need to put on our yoke of humility for receiving a word from the Lord each and every day just as surely as my sister was ordered this past week by a doctor to wear her support hose every day, not just when she takes a notion! Intensively seek and follow the Great Physician’s wise guidance!