Genuine wisdom from God does not come to us as it seems to by rolling dice, spinning a wheel or shaking an "eight ball" to receive a yes or no answer.
God imparts wisdom as He sees fit and when He sees fit!
On the surface, this may seem blunt or harsh. But God does not do so because He enjoys making us squirm. He makes us wait with a deep sense of love and compassion. By virtue of His infinite wisdom, He makes us wait because He is absolutely certain it is for our best!
For example, we don't want our children to drive merely because they have the required physical and mental capabilities. Probably most 10 year olds have the needed skills. But they lack the maturity and sense of responsibility to take a powerful machine like a car out on the road.
With today's advances, a car can almost seem like a toy. But a driver must have an awareness of how potentially dangerous a car can be. He or she must also learn that a car requires maintenance and must be driven more cautiously in bad weather. Cars will be ticketed for being parked in the wrong place and drivers ticketed for moving violations. There are also driver's license fees, license plates, insurance, etc. In short, there is a lot to know about driving beside knowing how to put the car in "D" and drive away!
Are you willing to wait for God's wisdom in God's timing?
God also knows that there is a lot more going on in our lives than the needs that we feel are most urgent right now. These "felt needs" have a way of crying out loudly to us and coming to the forefront in our lives. Just as a teenager can't wait to drive, we can't wait for God to address the needs in our lives that we consider the most pressing!
But like a good parent who will not let his teenage son or daughter drive until he or she is ready, God will work in us to build wisdom in our lives, mercifully and lovingly. He wants that wisdom to grow in us until the perfect time when He knows we are ready!
The parent's goal for his children is that they do learn to drive. God's goal is that our prayers and needs are answered. But both the parent and God know that granting our wishes and prayers in the wrong timing will result in a curse for us and not a blessing!
A Well-Rounded Theology!
In a different era in America, an educated person was very valuable to many employers. What the employee majored in was less important than the fact that they had received a well-rounded education. As the he old saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you will feed him for one meal. Teach him to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime!"
The theology and doctrine God builds in us will not only help us through one crisis but will impart a deeper, richer wisdom into us which will prepare us for many crises to come!
When you study the Word of God, hide it in your heart as David did!
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:9-11
When your pastor speaks, listen carefully and hide what he says in your heart and it will come to the surface when it is needed!
When other Christians speak, do the same!
Do not always look for the quick answers available in shallow theology. Allow God to develop a rich, strong and biblical theology in your heart, trusting that He will meet our needs in His perfect timing!
Certainly we should seek God for wisdom for the day and even the moment, but we should also be patient to allow God to grow us and build His ways into our thinking and move us to the next grade when we are ready!
Next…
"Preparation"
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