How To Be Wise
How God Answered My Prayer
Recently I’ve learned to set aside a separate time to think—as in think about my plans and projects, think about new strategies, and the like. The reason is because I’m an overthinker, and if I begin thinking, especially at the start of the day, then you can bet it’s downhill from there.
Yesterday I was doing a lot of thinking. It was just one of those days that a bunch of ideas were coming in. And as I was trying to entertain all these ideas, I was praying to God, “Lord, please, give me wisdom, according to Your will, on what to do with these ideas.” But after praying that, my dad called me to say that he was putting me in charge with something, and his request made me feel angry.
I don’t like feeling angry over insignificant things, so I was perplexed about my own reaction. When the conversation was done with, I confessed it immediately to God, and asked Him to humble me. Then I proceeded to look for verses on humility. I was surprised by what I found.
The Meekness of Wisdom
Left and right, I would find that humility would just be right beside, or a few words away from wisdom.
📖 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)
📖 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:33)
It seems that wisdom cannot come apart from humility. Wisdom comes through and to a humble spirit, and it makes me think that a lot of us miss that. I also found it interesting that God answered my prayer for wisdom this way—by humbling me.
Isn’t it beautiful that God delights to give wisdom to the humble? God gives wisdom not to just anyone, but to people who will use it in selflessness and love. All the while, this world seeks wisdom to puff itself up, but Jesus walked this earth as wisdom clothed in meekness.
So how exactly does one become humble?
Humility is the fear of the LORD
📖 Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)
To fear the LORD is to be humble. Here are some ways to think about it:
Humility is having the awareness that we are nothing before the LORD. We are dust, and vapor in the wind—here one moment, and gone the next.
Humility is acknowledging the God is in full control. Whether a good day or a bad day, He is sovereign.
Humility is surrendering our will to His. It is obeying Him because we have faith in the truth of His word, despite our limited understanding of it.
Humility is seeking the glory of God, rather than our own glory.
Humility is constant communion with God through prayer, knowing that we can do nothing apart from Christ.
Humility is confessing our sins to God who is the only One we sin against every time we do. It is repenting not because we are experiencing the consequences of sin, but because we understand that He was and is always good to us.
Humility isn’t just a state that you turn on within yourself. Humility is the effect of a right understanding of and relationship with God. When you fix your eyes on Jesus and who He is, the natural response is humility—always.
Are You Wise?
📖 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (James 3:13-17)
James says that the wise and understanding do not merely know a lot, but are marked by good deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. True wisdom is supposed to humble us, and cause us to be selfless and loving.
Everyone wants to make wise decisions. But the Christians have the advantage of a clear roadmap to it. Whether at home or at work, realize that true wisdom doesn’t merely stay in your head, but is displayed through actions.
So are you wise? Then you must also be pure in Christ, a peacemaker, gentle, submissive, merciful and fruitful, impartial, and sincere.
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We are vessels made to be occupied by one thing only. We can deny self and choose Christ, or deny Christ and choose self. It will always be one or the other.