Embrace Wisdom

The Bible speaks of two kinds of wisdom—that which comes from above and that which is of this earth (James 3:15-17). There are some benefits in the hard-won wisdom that experience and pain has bought, but there are far greater and more lasting benefits when we learn and apply God’s wisdom before the pain.

Proverbs 4:7-9 tells us that when we embrace wisdom, we will have a crown of glory and honor. The trick is to embrace wisdom early in life.

King Solomon had the chance to embrace godly wisdom—but fell back on the seemingly easier worldly wisdom. Not only did it cause both Israel and himself continual pain, but Solomon additionally dug a hole so deep that he could not get out.

Embracing wisdom means recognizing and applying wisdom. Our emotions and feelings get in the way. They, too, are one of God’s gifts to the human race, but they are gifts that need to be controlled. That is character. And to know what to do and to be able to do it—that is wisdom.

Lack of Knowledge

It is absolutely amazing to have lived during the last 50 years and seen the changes that increased knowledge has brought. The more recent generations cannot conceive of a time when world travel was rare, TV and computers did not exist and college education was uncommon. We as a people have made huge strides in understanding our environment, and we have improved the living standards for much of the world.

Yet there remains a lack of knowledge about why we were created and what the destiny of mankind really is. That lack of knowledge is just as destructive as the ignorance that has led to famine, disease and war in the past. Ignorance is still with us on earth, and a byproduct is misery.

Our minds are the most wonderful gift God has given us. Using them, however, is up to us. The knowledge we now have in science has always been true—we just had not discovered it yet. The Bible is more available now than ever before, but few will discover the truth inside its pages. Will you?

Truth and Freedom

Jesus said the truth would set us free (John 8:32)—but truth of and by itself does not give freedom, because we have the uncanny knack of hiding from truth every time it diverges from our expectations. That means, in order to be free, we must understand and accept the truth.

Jesus made sure to practice what He preached. Just before He was captured and nailed to the cross, He asked God if there was any other way (Matthew 26:39). The truth was that this was the only way. Jesus accepted and faced that for all of us.

The path Jesus walked is the path we, too, must walk if we are to share eternity with Him. He not only died for us, He also set the footsteps we are to follow (1 John 2:6). Truth does not waver and change—it remains constant. We must acknowledge it and incorporate it into our thoughts and into our lives.

Once we have the habit of seeking and following truth, we will be on the road to eternal life—and what a beautiful highway to be on.

Feeding the Senses

The book of Ecclesiastes recounts King Solomon’s search for contentment and meaning in life—which led him to conclude that obeying God’s laws was the only way to live (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Solomon, during one part of his search, tried finding enjoyment in living life to the fullest and exercising his senses to the maximum. It didn’t work, and he learned the hard way that the consequences of some errors are irreversible.

God does not give us everything so that we may enjoy life; He gives us life so we may learn to enjoy everything the right way—the way that produces good for everyone. Not only that, but His offer of eternal life means that this joy, once found, will neither fade nor fail. The gift of eternal life requires the right steps in the here and now. Paul said to be content with what we have (Philippians 4:11). Learn to live so that you please God and help others enjoy life—that is the right path.

Make Me Happy!

Most people really do want to be happy. Our definition of what it means to be happy, however, is one important variable in that goal.

We sometimes think that if we had a million dollars we would be happy—but others who have the million have proven that the money alone does not make people happy. Sometimes we think if we had a more understanding mate we would be happy, or if we lived in a different part of the world—and so on and so forth.

We in America live in one of the most blessed nations on earth. People from other lands seek entry by desperate means—just to be here. We have freedom, plenty, peace and opportunities of all sorts. But the truth is, nothing will “make us happy”—that is something we choose to be by learning to be thankful and appreciative of our blessings (Psalm 100).

Johnson Oatman Jr. once wrote in a hymn, “Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God hath done!” Happiness is a choice—and it’s up to you.

Turn! Turn! Turn!

In the 1950s, Pete Seeger composed a song which The Byrds—and American rock band—would popularize some 10 years later: “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).”

The lyrics of this song are taken almost entirely from the text of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, the introduction of which states, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

We in America have been greatly blessed. We can build and we can break down, we can dance and we can mourn. But will this last? As a country, we have not been obeying our Maker.

We call evil good and good evil. God’s commandments are no longer being upheld—but there yet remains hope. In Jonah 3:8-9 we read, “Let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” And God did relent and spare ancient Nineveh.

We pray that our country will turn away from evil and return to obey our God. And if not our nation, then at least we as individuals can change.