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To live wisely, we need to redefine what we mean by success. We need to abandon our quest for self-fulfillment, and abandon ourselves to Christ fulfillment (Pastor Daniel Villa, Church of God). This is in a nutshell what we need to realize in order to apply godly wisdom. The Scriptures from Proverbs shared this timeless reminder: The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:1-7 NIV
The Hebrew word translated "wisdom" is hochma, and it usually refers to some kind of skill or ability. It was originally used to describe the work of weavers who weave the elaborate garments of Aaron, the high priest. Wisdom is about weaving what is true and just versus the wisdom from this world filled with schemes and deception. J.I. Packer from his book Knowing God shared: Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Where does this power come from? Simply, it comes from God: All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should - Proverbs 2:6-7 (CEV).
Applying godly wisdom is what we need to fulfill God’s purpose for our life successfully. However, wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and it must always become the starting point to acquire wisdom, knowledge and instruction for successful life. Thus, James echoed it: If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom – James 3:12 (NLT). An individual that fears the Lord anchors all his ways to it without fail.
With this in mind, allow me to share two significant things to consider regarding applying wisdom for 2015: (a) ACCESS THE INDISPENSABLE VALUE OF WISDOM by gaining it, receiving it, and giving it. How? It is acquired by listening intentionally to God’s Word. It is by adding or compounding it through our daily experiences. It is acquired by getting guidance from the Lord to discern situations that arises. Somebody said, A wise man learns by the experience of others. An ordinary man learns by his own experience. A fool learns by nobody's experience. (b) AFFIRM THE INCOMPARABLE COST OF WISDOM by acknowledging God’s role; God’s guidance and God’s partnership in our life. David Seamans shared from the book Healing of Damages Emotions
a wonderful story to illustrate how God in His omnipotence and omnipresence can show how small we are compared to Him: Steinmetz was a dwarf, ugly and deformed, but he had one of the greatest minds in the field of electricity that the world has ever known. Steinmetz built the great generators for Henry Ford in his first plant in Dearborn, Michigan. One day these generators broke down and the plant came to a halt. They brought in ordinary mechanics and helpers who couldn't get the generators going again. They were losing money. Then Ford called Steinmetz. The genius came, seem to just putter around for a few hours, and then threw the switch that put the great Ford plant back into operation. "A few days later Henry Ford received a bill from Steinmetz for $10,000. Although Ford was a very rich man, he returned the bill with a note, 'Charlie, isn't this bill just a little high for a few hours of tinkering around on those motors?'" Steinmetz returned the bill to Ford. This time it read: 'For tinkering around on the motors: $10. For knowing where to tinker: $9,990. Total: $10,000.' Henry Ford paid the bill.
What can we say then? Wisdom is not “knowing good and evil” but wisdom knows how to differentiate from evil and it is the ability to sift through what is good and what is evil. Wisdom shows us clarity and we need today it more than ever. Keep acquiring it from God’s Word without fail.
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