Overcoming Trials Through Wisdom

What is wisdom, and how do we get it? Does an education equal wisdom? Do degrees equal wisdom? Does knowledge equal wisdom? Does being older equal wisdom? No! One can have knowledge, one can be educated, one can hold numerous degrees, and one can have age, but those things do not automatically bring wisdom to us, even though that is what we have been led to believe in many instances.

The Meriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary defines wisdom as an accumulated philosophic or scientific learning; the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships; good sense; and challenging what is generally accepted beliefs; a wise attitude, belief, or course of action; the teachings of the ancient wise men.

But the Lexham Theological Dictionary defines wisdom as the quality of discerning what is true, what is ethically right, and what should be done in different situations.

Wisdom, knowledge, sense, insight, intellect, sageness, logical, discerning, perceptive, brilliant, genius, prudent. Regardless of what word we use, having the knowledge is only the first obstacle, we have to know what is to be done with the knowledge and how it should be applied.

I truly think this is where many colleges today have failed in their education of the next generations. Mom and I were discussing some of the professors I had in grad schools, extremely intelligent in their field but had no common sense. Lacked logic and application in the real world. I never will forget working with my students when I was teaching a lab at Tech, the test involved them having to use critical thinking, which was foreign to them. They were used to standardized tests and SOL’s, but it’s difficult to go out in a field and see an affected plant and go to a book that lists a/b/c/d as choices for the answer. They had to use their knowledge and use deductive reasoning to either rule out or affirm the possible choices of what was causing it.

Let’s look at an example of one who has lived, and was considered a genius, or at least those with high IQ’s. “The title of the most wise man to live is often attributed to William James Sidis, who was believed to have an IQ between 250 and 300. Despite his extraordinary intelligence, Sidis struggled to fit in with the world and ultimately spent his later years in seclusion. This is a reminder of the challenges faced by those with exceptional intelligence.” Now, it is not uncommon for those with high IQ’s to experience depression, anxiety, difficulty making connections with other people, becoming overloaded with thoughts and ideas, growing impatient with their own inefficiency and that of others, feeling isolated or misunderstood, or establishing a routine or following simple instructions.

So, I ask the question again, does possession of knowledge equate to wisdom? Especially if that knowledge cannot be used or transferred to the betterment of other people? And even if the knowledge is used to better others, at what price does it come?

Yet, wisdom is something that is highly sought after and rightly so, there is no problem with possessing knowledge as long as it is used properly and not detrimental. Even the Bible addresses one who sought wisdom, but from a different source - the Lord.

1 Kings 3:5–15 ESV

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

Note true wisdom came as a humble request to the Lord by a faithful servant that the Lord granted and more.

Now, how does this apply to us as Christians? Christianity involves much more than just possessing the knowledge of God’s Word. There has to be the ability to make practical applications to life and the problems it brings to it. God’s Word is like this puzzle, all the pieces are there, but it’s up to us to study them, find the pieces that connect together, and slowly but surely the picture becomes clear and complete. But we must be willing to ask God for wisdom, in the same manner as Solomon. Not out of selfishness, not for personal gain, but humbly as a faithful servant. James continues his discourse to believers concerning wisdom and lays out a plan for believers who lack wisdom to receive wisdom.

James 1:5–12 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Even when we don’t know what to do when we experience trials and tribulations of life every day, James gives us a way to persevere and conquer. Ask for wisdom from the source of wisdom.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I have been around some very intelligent people who possessed knowledge. As a matter of fact, some of you here I count as those who possess knowledge. But when we face trials in life, something other than a head full of knowledge is needed. Wisdom is also needed, and it is that wisdom that helps us not only see and know about life, but also see and know what to do when we face these trials of life. In other words, wisdom is not only seeing and knowing truth, but it is knowing what to do with that truth. Wisdom grasps the great truths of life. It sees the trials and temptations that surround life and death, God and man, time and eternity, good and evil—the deep things of the universe and of God. But wisdom not only grasps these facts, wisdom knows what to do about them, and it does it. Wisdom not only understands the trials and temptations, but it understands what to do with them and how to do it, and it does it. Wisdom acts and conquers and gains the victory over the trials and temptations.

Now, if we lack that kind of wisdom—if we do not understand—if we do not know how to conquer life or some trial and temptation—then there is one sure way to get the wisdom. Ask God. Not only does the Bible say to ask, it gives us the promise that God will GIVE us wisdom, and not only will He give us wisdom, He gives us and ABUNDANCE of wisdom! Now, I don’t know about you but I can’t imagine how we could lose on this proposition!

But, it comes with a stipulation - we must do one thing - we must ask inf faith and not doubt Him. We must believe that God loves us, that He cares for us, and that He will hear our prayers and meet those needs.

How many of us have ever approached our prayer time with God and said something to this effect: Lord, if it’s not too big an inconvenience; Lord, I know you can answer this prayer IF; Lord, I know you can move but I don’t know if you will… Do we ever doubt the Lord? God cannot answer the prayer of someone who doubts Him. If He did, He would be rewarding doubt - those who really do not believe or trust in Him fully. God cannot hear and answer a person who wavers in his faith. We must believe that God is, that He exists and that He does love and care for us and that He will hear and answer us when we ask for wisdom to face the trials and temptations of life.

After asking, by faith, for God to provide us with the wisdom to know HOW to act and react to our trials, we must be content with where He has us at this time in our lives.

Ouch. Now, this sounds like God won’t immediately remove all our trials and tribulations if we ask for the wisdom to deal with them by faith. You would be correct. You see, we also have to be content in our life regardless of where the Lord has put us.

First, the believer of lowly status is to rejoice in the Lord. This does not mean that he is to rejoice because he is poor, unhealthy, or crippled. It means that he rejoices in Christ despite the circumstances—no matter how terrible. This is too often not the case and instead we allow the circumstances we find ourselves in to destroy our joy and we question God.

Second, the believer of rich or high status in life is to rejoice in that he is made low by God. a rich or high person is not accepted by God because of who he is or what he has. His rich and high status means absolutely nothing to God. Even if he were the ruler and owner of the whole earth, it would mean nothing to God. What is such status or wealth in comparison to the whole universe? The rich and high have to approach God bare—as nothing and as having nothing—approach Him as a little child, poor and without anything. This is the only way God accepts any person; therefore, the rich and high are no p 230 better off than the poor and lowly. All men—no matter their status in life—stand before God as equals.

And regardless of how little or how much we have been given, we have to persevere. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

The word blessed means inward and spiritual joy and satisfaction; an inner assurance and confidence that carries one through all the trials and temptations of life no matter the pain, sorrow, loss, or grief. Simply stated, the person is secure in this life. He knows that God is looking after and caring for him and is going to deliver him from all the corruption and evil of this life including death, and give him life eternal.

In the end, we - believers - win. We will receive the crown of life when we pass from this life into heaven! The believer who endures the temptations of THIS life will be crowned with eternal life—life that will go on and on, never ending.

Closing

While the trials of life right now look bleak, may drag us down physically, mentally, spiritually, just imagine what it will be like when Jesus places the crown of life on our head. No more tears, no more pains, no more uncertainties, no more fears or doubts. Instead they are replaced with joy, peace, and blessings. But we must endure. We have to endure and persevere! What does it mean to endure? We must continue in our faith, even when we have hardships. Persevere simply means we are seen through to the other side. You see, our Lord suffered in this life, He was rejected in this life, He endured pain and ridicule. Yet He persevered. You see, He had to be tried and tested to be proven faithful, and so do we - we must endure to the end in order to persevere and inherit the crown of life.

Are you struggling? Does life have you down and out, questioning your own faith? Have the things of this world gotten you questioning if God will see you through? Then maybe today is the day you rededicate yourself to God, you put your faith and trust back into Him, so He can provide you with wisdom - how to endure and how to persevere. Call out to Him today, by faith!