Handling Matters Wisely

"He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he." (Proverbs 16: 20)

"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)

Life is full of decisions that require a good deal of wisdom. If we are to "find good" in life, we must have wisdom. Alas for the many decisions that have been made foolishly!

Solomon is a good example for us to follow. God gave that man the right to ask of him one thing. Solomon asked not for wealth, fame or long life; he asked for wisdom.

"In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days." (I Kings 3: 5-13)

Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. It is not simply a knowledge of facts. Generally, wisdom comes with age and experience. Therefore the young are to seek wisdom from their elders, from people who have experienced and seen much. But, above all this, men should seek wisdom from God, and his Son Jesus, from him who is infinite in wisdom and understanding. In Jesus, wrote Paul, "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3) "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." (Psalm 147: 5)

Wisdom to live from day to day is important, but the greatest wisdom that men need is in the area of their knowledge of God.

"A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident." (Proverbs 14: 16)

"For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." (Jeremiah 4: 22)

To be wise to do evil is really no wisdom at all, but foolishness. It is a "wisdom from below" and one that is "devilish." (James 3: 15) So Paul exhorted the early Christians, saying:

"I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." (Romans 16: 19)

We need that wisdom that saves us. The "Holy Scriptures," said Paul, "are able to make wise unto salvation." (II Timothy 3: 15) When one is wise in this sense, they learn to "fear the Lord," for "the fear of the Lord is the principal part of wisdom." (Proverbs 9: 10)

Fools will go to hell, the wise will go to heaven. This does not imply that men save themselves, for the wisdom that saves is not from men but from the Lord. When sinners come to Christ and seek heavenly wisdom from him, wisdom about life and the after-life, they can be assured that the Lord will grant it to them, just as he did to Solomon. All this excludes boasting. We are saved not by our own manufactured wisdom, but by the wisdom of Christ imparted to those who genuinely seek it from his hand.

Sinners who have rejected the Lord and his wisdom will spend an eternity crying "How foolish I have been"! They will rue their failures to apply their hearts to the wisdom of scripture.

Friend, are you wise to salvation? wise to that which is good?