Borrowed Wisdom

We’d all love to be wise sages, knowing exactly what to do each time a major life decision pops up. However, that kind of wisdom can take time to develop. Time spent in God’s word and time living through life. But what about the decisions you need to make in a month, next week, or right now? You don’t always have the time to discern what to do on your own. The good news is, God loves His children deeply and doesn’t leave us high and dry when it comes to accessing His wisdom. God has given us great wisdom in His Word, including watching the life and decisions of Jesus as He lived on earth. Definitely look in God’s Word for yourself, but also don’t be afraid to ask for help! That’s where Christian community comes in. You may not have the years and Bible knowledge to make the wisest and most informed decision, but you likely have people in your life who have knowledge and experience that you don’t! God can speak through these people as they listen to you and to Him. This happened in the Old Testament with King Rehoboam. He needed to decide how to handle taxes in the kingdom after his father Solomon passed away. Rehoboam asked for some time to decide, and he started in the right direction by consulting his father’s old advisors about what he should do. They gave him sage advice, telling him to take it easier on the people. Then Rehoboam asked his friends the same question. Now, these friends were around forty, which sounds old, but they were described with similar wording to that of younger boys, so these were not mature friends. (Remember, age doesn’t automatically grant wisdom.) These friends told the king to be even harsher with taxes. Rehoboam eventually went with the advice of the immature friends, and this foolish decision allowed the kingdom of Israel to fracture in two, with Rehoboam’s rival, Jeroboam, becoming the king of the other kingdom. When you have a big decision to make, don’t be afraid to ask for help. As you listen to people’s advice, look for solutions that agree with God’s Word, and lean on the Holy Spirit (who lives inside Christians) to help you discern what God is calling you to do. • Naomi Zylstra • What’s your process when you need to make a big decision? • Who are wise people in your life who exemplify the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Colossians 3:16 (NLT)

Read Verses:

1Kgs:12:1-1Kgs:12:17; Proverbs 15:22; Colossians 3:16