Becoming wise allows us to make decisions according to God’s commands and helps us avoid heartache and pain. Wisdom leads us toward success, safety, and satisfaction. Welcome God and His presence as you tune in to our SUNDAY WORSHIP CELEBRATION!
EXAMPLES OF GOD’S UNCOMMON WISDOM THAT WILL PRODUCE UNCOMMON LIFE IN US
1. We will definitely harvest according to what we plant (Galatians 6:7-8)
2. Money cannot buy happiness, love, and most things really worth having (Luke 12:15)
Let’s abandon that way of thinking and living because it will only lead to frustration, disobedience, and more
3. It is better to be okay on the inside than successful on the outside When we are not okay, God’s wisdom tells us that it’s better to fix those issues as soon as possible instead of denying them and trying to cover up by outward success.
Let’s stop turning to externals to mask our pain. Cars, condos, houses, travels and fancy vacations cannot, expensive gadgets, and the like will not heal our inner wounds.
We will be wiser to go to God and to people who respect God and are able to help us fix our inner hurts, so that we can live healthy, holy, and happy lives to the glory of God. (Psalm 147:3)
4. Being kind is better than being right.
The Lord wants you and me to change. He wants us to be kinder, gentler, more open to hearing others, and more willing to lose. He wants us to be less concerned with being right for the sake of being right. (Philippians 4:5; Matthew 12:19-20)
5. Brokenness is the doorway to wholeness
By “brokenness” here, I mean being impacted very deeply and positively by the pain, disappointment, and other things that hurt us or failed to give us what we desired or felt we needed or deserved.
By “wholeness” here, we mean enjoying a sense of well-being that is also in line with God’s character and ways (being okay not just within yourself, but also in relationship with God and people).
When we live by God’s wisdom, we will not be so allergic to pain, disappointments, and the like. We will welcome them when they happen. We will accept troubles and sufferings instead of always running away from them. When God’s uncommon wisdom is welcome in our lives, we will be open to correction and discipline because they are the doorways to being fixed and made okay on the inside. They lead to godly character and relational maturity.
We become more godly, more peaceful, more joyful, more empathetic, more loving, and the like when we are “broken” on the inside. We become more tender, understanding, patient, generous, and more (Romans 8:28-29; James 1:2-4; Psalms 119:67)
6. Truth can be devastating but very liberating
Let’s welcome what God says in the Bible. Let’s be open to rebuke and correction. Let’s not be too quick to give reasons why we are almost never wrong.
When the Holy Spirit convicts us and when conscience bothers us, let’s listen. Not only listen, but let’s change. Let’s cut off wrong or unwise relationships, stop wrong habits or practices, give up our addictions, seek help for our depression, negotiate for our financial debts and start paying even with only small monthly amounts, etc.
The lies we believe will destroy us, but the truth of God we accept will set us free- free spiritually, free legally, free financially, free relationally, and more (James 1:25; 2 Timothy 3:7).
7. Forgiveness does not fix everything
There are things, relationships and hearts that once broken cannot be fully “fixed” by forgiveness. The wounds and the damage caused by our uncaring and unwise words can remain and even grow through time.
When we are living by the truth of God (which, by the way, includes being under the control of the Holy Spirit, especially, ideally, when we are “broken” before God), we will seek to avoid damage to others. We will be less callous, less reckless, and more mindful of the implications of what we are saying and doing to others.
The Lord also reminds you and me today that when we commit some really serious sins, we may be forgiven, but the consequences may haunt us as long as we are alive. Forgiveness may be granted, but the loss or damage can be permanent or irreversible. (Hebrews 12:17; Psalms 51:10-12)