Friday: Further Study: The Call of Wisdom
Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, Hidden Treasure,
p. 111–114, in Christ’s Object Lessons; A Blessing in the Home,
p. 334, in Messages to Young People; Study of Physiology,
p. 197, 198, in Education; Ellen G. White Comments, p. 1156, in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3.
Psalm 36:9
The youth need to understand the deep truth underlying the Bible statement that with God is the fountain of life.
. Not only is He the originator of all, but He is the life of everything that lives. It is His life that we receive in the sunshine, in the pure, sweet air, in the food which builds up our bodies and sustains our strength. It is by His life that we exist, hour by hour, moment by moment. Except as perverted by sin, all His gifts tend to life, to health and joy.
— Ellen G. White, Education, p. 197, 198.
Many cherish the impression that devotion to God is detrimental to health and to cheerful happiness in the social relations of life. But those who walk in the path of wisdom and holiness find that
— Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1156.godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
They are alive to the enjoyment of life’s real pleasures.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? How can someone have a lot of knowledge and not wisdom? After all, who doesn’t know personally, or at least know about, some very knowledgeable people who seem to have no wisdom?
- Dwell more on the idea of
the fear of the LORD.
Ifthere is no fear in love
(1 John 4:18), how can we fear the Lord and still love Him? How do we reconcile the tension between justice and love inthe fear of the LORD
? - Why is being
wise in one’s own eyes
such a dangerous state to be in, especially when we consider how corrupt the human heart is, and how easy it is for us to rationalize just about any behavior we want? Think of those who have rationalized the worst of behaviors. How can we make sure we don’t do the same thing?
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Wisdom, unlike merchandise from a store is not something which once obtained may be stored for use when needed, but is current for the moment. The gift of wisdom from the All-wise One is effective as long as there is a connection with the Giver (James 1:17). When the connection is interrupted or broken one may only exercise common understanding.
Although acclaimed as the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 4:30-34) Solomon did not always exercise wisdom after being blessed with the gift by Jehovah. He lost his connection with the source of wisdom, fell into apostasy and exercised common judgment (1 Kings 11:4-8) with terrible results. Fortunately he returned to the God of his fathers and was able to share counsel from his own experiences (Ecclesiastes 12:8-14).
Something else to note is in the Proverbs Solomon often linked result to belief, attitude or actions. He seemed to be saying one measure of wisdom is the conclusion to which it leads (Proverbs 1:30-33). So wisdom includes an assessment beyond the moment, a look down the road, thinking ahead.
When we take a position or hold a belief it is wise to consider the implications. Ask the question, what is the end of the belief or ideas embraced? Is it consistent with God’s purpose, the restoration of His image in us? Does it contradict God’s already revealed will? Honestly facing the ‘so what’ question may help to purge errors from the mind which is determined to please God. And the Holy Spirit is eager to work with those who would cooperate.
Hugh,
Your points about Solomon are on target. Something else to consider is that during the times that he acted unwisely, those who looked to him for wisdom may have been impacted negatively by his behavior.
To whom much is given is much required...including wisdom.
Topic for discipline: Behaviour
An appropriate time spent in prayer would help improve a person's behaviour.
Paul's Conduct
For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, what we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
(Bible, Book of First Thessalonians, Chapter 1: verse9- 10).
Qualifications of Overseers
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober - minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach;
(Bible, Book of First Timothy, Chapter 3: verse 2).
An educated person who is not endowed with wisdom is filled with worldly facts. Lessons learned from life experiences, the Word of God, and those who have gone before provide knowledge that makes one wise.
In the world we are living,the real word for wisdom has been completely mistaken for worldly facts.for a better understand,the fear of God is the beggining of wisdom,wisdom to discern between good and bad,not the wisdom that people have meaning the knowledge of wordly aspects but the fear that guards children of God in the right path.wisdon comes with love and is not self sufficient,it is in humbleness and gentleness for it is only dependable upon God the Almighty.when one is wise,self will be dethroned.
Wisdom is knowing the difference between right and wrong, being able to understand scripture, being able to make the best choices - all based on the revelation of God's will in His Word as impressed on our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit.
Christ's Object lessons 111-114
Our salvation depends on a knowledge of the truth contained in the Scriptures. It is God's will that we should possess this. Search, O search the precious Bible with hungry hearts. Explore God's word as the miner explores the earth to find veins of gold. Never give up the search until you have ascertained your relation to God and His will in regard to you.
The Holy Spirit, sent from heaven by the benevolence of infinite love, takes the things of God and reveals them to every soul that has an implicit faith in Christ. By His power the vital truths upon which the salvation of the soul depends are impressed upon the mind, and the way of life is made so plain that none need err therein. As we study the Scriptures, we should pray for the light of God's Holy Spirit to shine upon the word, that we may see and appreciate its treasures.