Day 136: Confronted By A Shortage Of Wisdom?
Read: James 1:1 - 8
Sometimes as we drive down the road of life, we come to dangerous
intersections. Sometimes we refer to them as “forks in the road.” They
are those moments where a choice we make or don’t make sets us on a
course that could influence the rest of our journey. Do we stop or go.
Turn right or left. Go ahead or turn back. Do we take the highways or
the back country roads. Perhaps you feel like you are at a dangerous
intersection right now in your life. Perhaps there are a few decisions you
really do not want to make but you know that even if you do not do it
now, you know for certain that it is going to be just around the next
bend. "I wish I knew what that one right choice was!" "Why wont someone tell me?"
The Bible speaks to us about a divine resource we can utilize when we come to those intersections. It is called wisdom. There are many times when we will
approach one of those intersections and we will soon realize we have a
shortage of wisdom. This is the very situation James addresses in verses
5-8: 'Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to
all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But
let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the
surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not
expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable
in all his ways.' Tough words aren't they? Me indecisive? Me unstable? Umm?
This is one of those
passages in the Bible which speaks to us as a very good source of very
sound advice. We all need good advice from good sources to help us
resolve which choices represent the very best or at the very least, the
least dangerous of the everyday decisions we have to make. James has
just finished speaking about all the various trials we encounter in
life. These are the difficulties and afflictions that come our way.
Often times, these trials bring us to one of those intersections where
we feel lost and don’t know which way to go. We don’t understand the
cause of the trial or its purpose. We begin to feel acutely our shortage
of wisdom, become (gasp) indecisive, (gasp gasp) unstable too?
In this text, James tells
us what to do. I would summarize the theme of this text like this: Life
creates a demand for wisdom which God supplies when the conditions are
met. There is so much about one's life with God that is contrary to the
way the world works, contrary to what we watch, learn on TV, read on FaceBook and other social media. The world would have us take revenge when other wrong us. But God says
to turn it around and 'Love Your Enemy as You Love Yourself'. The world
says it's about your outward appearance. However, God says choosing to
develop your inward self is time far better spent. Which ones right?
Significant decisions when confronted by a shortage of wisdom, (gasp) instability?
Let Us Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and
kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they
shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us
further pray. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct
the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be
truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Jesus Christ Our
Lord. Amen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgM3nokGVqg
WHISPERS OF MY FATHER - ANCIENT WORDS by Michael W. Smith with Lyrics
www.youtube.com
https://www.facebook.com/WhispersofMyFather
Read: James 1:1 - 8
Sometimes as we drive down the road of life, we come to dangerous intersections. Sometimes we refer to them as “forks in the road.” They are those moments where a choice we make or don’t make sets us on a course that could influence the rest of our journey. Do we stop or go. Turn right or left. Go ahead or turn back. Do we take the highways or the back country roads. Perhaps you feel like you are at a dangerous intersection right now in your life. Perhaps there are a few decisions you really do not want to make but you know that even if you do not do it now, you know for certain that it is going to be just around the next bend. "I wish I knew what that one right choice was!" "Why wont someone tell me?"
The Bible speaks to us about a divine resource we can utilize when we come to those intersections. It is called wisdom. There are many times when we will approach one of those intersections and we will soon realize we have a shortage of wisdom. This is the very situation James addresses in verses 5-8: 'Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.' Tough words aren't they? Me indecisive? Me unstable? Umm?
This is one of those passages in the Bible which speaks to us as a very good source of very sound advice. We all need good advice from good sources to help us resolve which choices represent the very best or at the very least, the least dangerous of the everyday decisions we have to make. James has just finished speaking about all the various trials we encounter in life. These are the difficulties and afflictions that come our way. Often times, these trials bring us to one of those intersections where we feel lost and don’t know which way to go. We don’t understand the cause of the trial or its purpose. We begin to feel acutely our shortage of wisdom, become (gasp) indecisive, (gasp gasp) unstable too?
In this text, James tells us what to do. I would summarize the theme of this text like this: Life creates a demand for wisdom which God supplies when the conditions are met. There is so much about one's life with God that is contrary to the way the world works, contrary to what we watch, learn on TV, read on FaceBook and other social media. The world would have us take revenge when other wrong us. But God says to turn it around and 'Love Your Enemy as You Love Yourself'. The world says it's about your outward appearance. However, God says choosing to develop your inward self is time far better spent. Which ones right? Significant decisions when confronted by a shortage of wisdom, (gasp) instability?
Let Us Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us further pray. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgM3nokGVqg
WHISPERS OF MY FATHER - ANCIENT WORDS by Michael W. Smith with Lyrics
www.youtube.com
https://www.facebook.com/WhispersofMyFather
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