Honesty and Wisdom

honesty2It is probably safe to say that if you are lying to yourself, you’re not being wise. Nevertheless, men lie to themselves everyday. Yes, ladies, this devotion is mostly for men, but please eavesdrop and you’ll be able to help the man in your life become wiser. How so? By being honest with him. Both men and women would agree that honesty in a relationship is a must.

It is also a requirement for the man seeking wisdom. Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying (or writing) that “honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” I like that for a number of reasons.

First, honesty implies truth; they are actually synonymous. So where do turn to find truth? Yes, the Bible of course.

    “And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that the first wise decision a man can make is to give his life to Jesus Christ. Have you done that yet? If not, that’s not very wise of you. May I suggest you open your Bible or visit Bible.com and read the Gospel of John in the New Testament? Now that would be a very wise decision.

The second reason I like Jefferson’s quote is that if we’re honest with ourselves, then we can actually know the truth. Truth is not some analogous concept that is determined only by what each of us think it is. Truth can be known and lived out:

    “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” (Hosea 14:9)

The Prophet Hosea shows us the third reason I like Jefferson’s quote; honesty implies righteousness. It implies doing the right thing. Sir, if you are caught in your besetting sin, take it from someone who knows, you cannot be righteous. Righteousness means being right with God. Confess and repent of your sin now and get right with God. Until righteousness is achieved, honesty will always elude you.

Honesty is the first sign of spiritual maturity. After all, only the immature try to get away with lying. Spiritual maturity makes you a sponge for wisdom, and not just any wisdom but Biblical wisdom:

    “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)

Wow, had the rulers of Paul’s time known the wisdom of God, they would not have crucified Jesus. Think about that for a moment. How many poor decisions that you made in your life brought you and others great pain and sorrow? Now imagine having Biblical wisdom prior to making those decisions? How different would your life be right now? Of course you can’t turn back the clock and have a “do-over,” but you can have a fresh start. Wisdom is available to the most simple man in the world, if he will just seek her. Speaking of wisdom, Solomon writes:

    “‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’ As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him.” (Proverbs 9:4)

I want to close this with a simple prayer from Scripture that no matter our level of spiritual maturity, we need to all offer Moses’ prayer up to the Lord daily. If this would be part of our daily prayers, then I know that God would honor our honest pleas for wisdom. I invite you to join me:

    “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2014 David Jeffers

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