God Gives Wisdom to the Teachable

Chuckle: A police recruit was asked during the exam, "What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?" he answered: "Call for backup."

Quote: “First of all that I would crave, as the richest of heaven's blessings, wisdom from my Heavenly Father bestowed daily.” --Emma Hale Smith

"If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5 NIV).

Man's wisdom is not enough. It is limited, partial wisdom. T.S. Elliot put it so beautifully when he said in "The Rock": "All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance, All our ignorance brings us nearer to death, But nearness to death no nearer to God." Then he asks the question that hangs over this whole generation: "Where is the life we have lost in living?" Illustrations for Biblical Preaching; Edited by Michael P. Green

If we want to experience Godly wisdom instead of depending on our own limited wisdom, We must first have a teachable spirit. Before we can be teachable, we must acknowledge a need to be taught. We've all heard the old adage, "There is none so blind as those who will not see." The same is true about those who don't realize their need for divine wisdom and refuse to be taught by our Lord. They just muddle along trying to solve life's problems solely with their own strength and abilities -- and wonder why things go so horribly wrong.

Each day, our prayer should be: "Lord, I don't have the wisdom to rear my children; or the wisdom to be a godly husband/wife; or the wisdom to run my business; or the wisdom to teach these children in Sunday School. Lord, I desperately need your wisdom in every aspect of my life." A wise person is always listening, always learning, always seeking, always acquiring counsel from God and other wise godly people. "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance" (Proverbs 1:5 NIV). A proud spirit is not teachable -- not open to being taught. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2 NIV).

Education is a wonderful tool to be valued and sought by us all, but educated people are not necessarily wise. Some of the wisest people I have known had relatively little formal education. Yet, they were able to handle the trials of life with confidence, assurance and contentment. The wise not only have their facts in order, but have their lives in order as well. They are teachable, and understand from whom they should be learning -- our Lord himself. "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (I Peter 5:5 NIV). There is another great verse in Psalm 111:10 NIV: "The fear (awe) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Today, let's make a new commitment to allow God to teach you and me each day from his abundant source of wisdom? Will you claim his promise that he will generously give His wisdom to all who sincerely ask for it?

Love, Jerry & Dotse