Bible Reading: Job 23; Jam. 1:1-9
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” – James 1:5 (KJV)
Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. A lot of people can gather knowledge about an issue, event, place or someone but a few are able to apply the knowledge correctly to achieve the desired result.
In 1 Kings 3:16-27, two harlots came to the king arguing as to who owns a living child and a dead child. While everyone around got the details of the event, it was King Solomon that was able to apply the knowledge correctly to come up with a decision that brought up the true mother of the child. The source of such wisdom is God Almighty. That is why we need to be closer to God to have such wisdom.
The bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV): “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” Thus, you need to be in touch with God regularly to be able to correctly apply knowledge to your benefit or benefit of other people or environment.
Some years ago, I wanted to leave banking and was thinking of what to do in view of what I had learnt over the years in the industry. Then I called on God to show me the way and he answered by revealing to me one manufacturing outfit that was almost bankrupt and that I should go there and transform the institution. The company was almost moribund and by the time I met the Managing Director, he said he had done all he could and was planning to resign after six months as nothing appeared to have worked in the company. Well I told him our company was ready to come and invest in the business and he asked whether I was dire because two or three other potential investors that had come earlier ended leaving immediately they saw the books.
Well my new company ended up investing in the company and it became our best investment for years! There was a great opportunity in the company that were not revealed to many but God chose to reveal that opportunity to us. Wisdom is a function of the type of knowledge that you have. If your knowledge is from above, your wisdom will be highly beneficial. Such wisdom is referred to in James 3:17 (KJV): “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
How do you get this wisdom? It’s by the fear of God. Psalm 111:10 (KJV): The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments : his praise endureth for ever.
This fear is out of reverence; knowing that God can do all things, knows all things and can be everywhere and nothing is impossible for him. Thereafter, we should ask him for wisdom just like Solomon asked in 1 Kings 3:9 and he was given.
God is ready to give you if only you will ask in reverence. James 1:5 (KJV) says: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Prayer: Father, fill me with wisdom and an understanding heart in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero