Wisdom Needed

 

Since realizing I’ve a touch of both ADHD and autism, I can see more clearly how these affect life. For one thing, people with autism tend to not read other people very well, so some of them will over-analyze in the attempt to understand. I do that, yet for a long time thought that meant I was understanding others. But much research and making a long list of possibilities is not the same as getting it right. 

This also explains the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowing a lot of facts is not the same as knowing what to do with that information. Wisdom goes farther and becomes action. 

Proverbs states this difference many times and the NT gives this example:

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:1–3)

Being filled with information about any topic could make me an expert in that topic, yet “expert” is sometimes humorously defined as ex means a “has-been” and “pert” means “a drip under pressure.” The above verse says why this is likely — knowledge can puff me up. 

Puff is from a Greek word that means to inflate, be proud, arrogant, haughty. Not at all like Jesus, even though He knows all things. In other words, if I make ‘gathering information’ my goal in life, I will mess with God’s goal of transforming me into the image of His Son. However, because of what Jesus has done, wisdom is available to me. All I have to do is ask God for it:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

This morning I read a prayer that could sound like autism, but certainly sounds like humility. The author tells of matters that confuse him then asks God to show him the difference between a healthy costly investment in people’s lives versus an unhealthy entanglement and becoming enmeshed. He knows he should love as Jesus loves, but sometimes does not know what that looks like. I can relate to this request. He asks for wisdom to discern the difference between rightly validating the emotions of others and trying to “fix” them rather than love them. I relate to this also.

He also asks for wisdom about his own emotions. His list is not the same as mine, yet I also wonder why some things frustrate me one day and not the next, or not today but will tomorrow. He asks for help to listen to others and understand, rather than rushing to judgment or rush out of their story too fast.

PRAY: Dear Lord, just knowing You will give wisdom to those who ask is such a comfort. However, too often my pride gets in the way and I fumble with making a search for more knowledge only to wind up with a to-do list of choices rather than Your wise choice. I am so thankful for this reminder that You grant wisdom freely and generously. I do long for the time when terror is terrified and there will be no more tears, or brokenness or barrenness, or  heartaches or even heartburn, and no more human trafficking or even human tooth decay, no more war or even aggravation, no more evil or even envy, no more poverty or even pouting, and no more “not yet,” “not enough,” or “not now.” Those things I know and understand to be my hope. Grant me the wisdom to live in what are now the perplexities and negatives of this current life along with my current tests and trials. May You grant me the knowledge I need and the wisdom to know what to do with it, but most of all the grace to obey whatever You say to me. Amen.

God’s love is not blind nor ignorant

 

Our new refugee friends love Jesus. Their love for Him is obvious in their love for people. Each one is quick to notice needs and help where they can. Their example plus verses about love and knowledge show how love works through knowing needs. This knowledge is revealed by God just as love is given by God.

The knowledge of God’s will is not the same as gathering information in research. It is more like that quiet voice that says, “Give her $100” or “Take Mary a loaf of bread” or any other action that demonstrates the love of God in practical ways. This prayer links love with knowledge:

. . . we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God . . . . (Colossians 1:9–12)

Love is motivated by knowledge or discernment from God, but knowing a whole lot of information is useless without love. What He shows me must produce love for others:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge . . .  but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

The NT connects revealed truth to love. It uses the word “mystery” to speak of what God reveals in the truths of redemption. For instance,

For I want you to know . . . . (so) hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:1–3)

Prior to that, Colossians 1:26-27 says the mystery hidden for ages and generations is “now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We need a revelation from God to know spiritual mysteries and truths.

The mystery was made known to me by revelation . . . . When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are . . . . partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God . . . so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:1–10)

Knowledge can refer to collecting information, but if this is all it does, it is useless without love. “We know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:1–3)

The knowledge that results in love is illustrated by the devotional author considering “a choice between going to a Bible class or helping a neighbor with some immediate need.” He says the better choice is to help your neighbor because we will have other opportunities to learn the Word, but it might be some time before having a chance to show Christian love to a neighbor. However, the story of Mary and Martha says the other choice might be the best one (see Luke 10:38-42). Knowing His will and responding in love to Him and to others means having a listening and discerning heart.

PRAY: Jesus, I need to hear from You often and discern Your will in each case. Go or stay? Speak or be silent? Talk or listen? Give me what I need to know that I may love like You want me to love.

PONDER: Today will be filled with options. Think of ways to show love to others based on the knowledge God reveals to me.