Need Wisdom?

By Pastor Teck Uy

Many are suffering today because of their failure to deal with their issues in life. Looking at them, they are not ordinary people. Some are successful business people while others are accomplished professionals. In fact, a number of them are even involved in counselling others in the very areas where they themselves are struggling. What seems to be the problem? Certainly, it is not the lack of knowledge that is the issue here because they are very knowledgeable. Instead, these people are lacking in wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge in a practical way in a given situation. Therefore, the wisdom that we need to deal with our own issues in life is different from the wisdom that we need to effectively carry out our duties in our chosen career. This is the reason why even successful managers in the office could be the worst manager at home as a husband or father.

When King Solomon was anointed king over Israel, he was young and lacking the wisdom to govern. When God asked him what he wanted, he said, “Give your servant wisdom to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 King 3:9) Having specifically asked for wisdom to govern, Solomon excelled in governing Israel as king. Similarly, if we have personal challenges in life, we should also ask for specific wisdom to handle these. In his epistle, James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). God fully understands our need to have specific wisdom to deal with every situation in life and he will give this to us if we only admit our need for it.

By having the right wisdom, the apostle Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). What appears to be a hopeless situation in the beginning will bring about great blessings in the end if we have the wisdom to handle our situations. Many of the new ideas and inventions that we now see are the result of problems that someone faced in the past. It was by the wisdom he received from God to resolve his problem that he thought of the idea and came out with the new invention.

If we have the right wisdom, the apostle James expects us to treat problems as opportunities to grow. He said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). Trials and problems will surely come and we should welcome these as part of our Christian growth. Jesus himself emphasized the need to persevere when he said that “he who endures to the end will be saved’ (Matt. 24:13). The only time we could say that we are maturing as believers is when we are able to overcome our challenges.

The apostle Paul said, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes. 5:16-18). Trials and problems should not be able to dampen our spirit. While it might seem impossible to rejoice and give thanks in the midst of trials, it is by the prayers that are offered to God continually that will allow us to do so. Our fervent prayers serve as the fuel for our rejoicing and thanksgiving to God. Surely the devil cannot stand seeing us rejoicing and giving thanks in the midst of all the afflictions that he will throw on us. He will surely depart from us and leave us alone.

The wisdom that we need to overcome our problems and challenges in life is not the wisdom of this world. Instead, it is the wisdom that comes from God. The apostle Paul said, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). Indeed, Jesus, the wisdom from God, is all that we need to overcome all our problems. He is not only the Saviour of our soul but of our total being. He is able to save us from all the oppressions of life. Therefore, as we face trials of many kinds, let us ask God for wisdom to handle these. Let us not trust in our own wisdom and be a casualty. But when we ask, we “must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do” (James 1:6-8). Let us face our trials with joy. Hallelujah!