Articles
The Wisdom of God
God’s abilities are infinitely greater than that of our own. When we embrace God’s wisdom, His power alone gives us ability beyond ourselves. With God’s wisdom, we have more power to trust in His ways, more power to love others as He loves, and more power to bear fruit for the glory of God. “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Trials are opportunities to trust in God and build our spiritual endurance. As James would say, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). James also references Job’s trial. In the end, faith and endurance allows Job to see God. “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5).
Besides the ability to trust in God and His ways, when we embrace God’s wisdom we will also grow in our ability to love as He loves. As we remind ourselves of the mercy and grace given so freely to us, we will in return want to give that same abundant mercy and love to others. His ability will help us train our eyes to see valuable individual souls that were created in His image. Stephen demonstrated this love through his attitude towards those who were stoning Him while proclaiming the gospel: "Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them'" (Acts 7:60)!
God’s wisdom also gives us the ability to produce the good fruit of righteousness so God may be glorified. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed…” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Paul also speaks of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Peter encourages us to “keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).
God’s wisdom gives us ability beyond ourselves for greater trust, greater love and greater yields of righteous fruit. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).
Let us ask God daily for His wisdom. Let us pray that His wisdom will be evident to all in our attitudes and actions of trust, love and righteousness.
