To Recognize The Significant

We should seek wisdom not because of what it can do for us, but for what it is. King Solomon says about the value of wisdom:

    “My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.” (Proverbs 2:1-9)

Wisdom is valuable, more valuable than any precious stone found because it teaches us good from evil and keeps us on the path of righteousness. It gives us the discernment we seek.

We must search for it with a right heart; not to prove how smart we are about things biblical but because we want to know how to apply biblical principles to our lives.

If you find reading the Bible a chore or something to accomplish, or boring even, you are not approaching it with a right heart. And please understand that I am not saying we should not approach the Bible for understanding and knowledge; we should. However, the ultimate end of our search is to find wisdom.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor and theologian, said this about wisdom:

    “To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward events. It is to perceive the essential nature of things. The best-informed man is not necessarily the wisest. Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge he will lose sight of what is essential. But on the other hand, knowledge of an apparently trivial detail quite often makes it possible to see into the depth of things. And so the wise man will seek to acquire the best possible knowledge about events, but always without becoming dependent upon this knowledge. To recognize the significant in the factual is wisdom.”

That last sentence really stuck out to me. Therein lies the secret to finding wisdom. In this day of advanced technology facts are readily available to anyone with access to the Internet. The search engine Bing has a funny commercial where a friend asks another if he found the information about a particular subject, and the other man goes into this long robotic diatribe of miscellaneous facts, all barely related to the original inquiry. We can overload our minds like that, even with biblical knowledge.

I told my wife last night that I believe 95% of CHURCHED people rarely open their Bibles and rely more on devotionals, radio programs and podcasts, and television shows. I would venture to guess that they only open their Bibles when their pastor tells them to on Sunday morning. Is it any wonder American Christendom is in the state it is?

I know that reading the Bible can be an overwhelming task and most times we feel so inadequate because we do not understand most of what we are reading. Remember from yesterday when I said my breakthrough came? It came when I sought wisdom with my heart; it became the desire of my heart. Remember the Holy Spirit? He is your teacher and the psalmist knew we are inadequate on our own to understand biblical principles:

    “Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.” (Psalm 119:27)

I need the Holy Spirit’s help in understanding my Bible if I truly want to meditate on God’s Word. If that is your heart’s desire then ask Him and you shall receive!

    “Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” (Psalm 119:34)

Would it not make sense that if I want my heart to be right about attaining biblical wisdom that I would go to my Creator for it?

    “Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.” (Psalm 119:73)

The problem for many of us is that we approach God and His Word like we do church. What does it have to offer me? Is the worship music the style that I like? Do they have ministries that serve my needs? Oh wow, look they have a coffee shop!

Beloved, none of these things by themselves are bad but if they are the focus of why you attend church, then you are not coming as a servant but as one to be served. So it is with our approach to biblical wisdom and it is completely backwards of what is expected of us:

    “I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.” (Psalm 119:125)

You see the progression there? Lord, because I am your servant (person), give me understanding (petition), that I may know Your testimonies (purpose). You the person must be right and come with the right petition for the right purpose.

That is how we know we are asking with a right heart. It comes down to our manner and our motive.

So during this busy weekend, I encourage you, no…I am assigning you to read Psalm 119 from your Bibles…just that psalm will do. Of course if you want to read more than by all means do, but Psalm 119 is long yet it is lovely. You will be blessed.

Have a great weekend and please remember to go to church on Sunday.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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