WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 31ST, 2021
TOPIC: WHY YOU NEED THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE
BY T. O. BANSO
“Give me wisdom and knowledge to rule them properly, for who is able to govern this great nation of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10 New Living Translation).
The Bible says that we should be careful how we live, not as fools but as those who are wise (Ephesians 5:15). But the Bible also tells us that there is earthly wisdom and there is heavenly wisdom (wisdom from above) (James 3:13-17).
It does mean that not everything that presents itself as wisdom is. The wisdom of this world, according to the Bible, is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:19). The implication is that God does not want us to live based on the wisdom He has declared as foolishness.
Proverbs 3:7a says you should not be wise in your own eyes. The Bible warns, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12 New King James Version). Some erroneously believe they are wise but, by Bible standards, they are fools.
Also, some pretend to be wise but know they’re not. Yet, others have received the wisdom from above, which God wants His children to have. There is another group: those who know they lack the wisdom from above and desire and diligently seek it.
James 1:5-6 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (New King James Version).
Fools are not likely to appreciate the wisdom from above. Proverbs 1:22b says fools hate knowledge. Those who don’t value the wisdom from above will not see their need for it. Why did Solomon request wisdom from God when He appeared to him in a dream by night and told him to ask Him what He should give him? (1 Kings 3:5). It was because he valued wisdom.
Most probably, he appreciated wisdom because his father had taught him its importance. He said in Proverbs 4:3-5 “When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me, and said to me: ‘Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth” (New King James Version).
Solomon said further that his father told him about wisdom, “Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you” (verses 6-9 New King James Version).
I assume that David made an impact on Solomon regarding wisdom such that he knew that it was imperative for success in life, especially in his office as king. It appeared that he had some measure of wisdom to recognize the need for wisdom from God when he became the king.
Before he died, David gave us an indication that Solomon was wise. When he told him how to deal with Joab, his army commander, he said, “Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace” (1 Kings 2:6 New King James Version).
Also concerning how to deal with Shimei who had cursed him, he said, “Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood” (1 Kings 2:9 New King James Version). It takes a wise person to pursue the wisdom from above.
Why do you need the wisdom from above?
1. It will preserve you and help you to live wisely. God wants you to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise (Ephesians 5:15). Therefore, you need the wisdom from above. This will preserve you as you won’t live like fools. Fools die for lack of wisdom (Proverbs 10:21). Wisdom will give you long life (Proverbs 9:11). The wisdom from above will save you from evil people, from those whose speech is corrupt (Proverbs 2:12).
2. Nothing is more valuable than wisdom. Proverbs 8:11 says wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. It is better to get wisdom than gold (Proverbs 16:16a). Wisdom is better than strength and the weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:16a, 18a).
3. It helps you to carry out the assignment God has ordained or commanded. God filled Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan with wisdom from above for the service of the sanctuary to do according to all that He had commanded (Exodus 35:30-35, 36:1-2). In Ezra 7:25-26, Ezra was to perform his assignment according to his God-given wisdom. Proverbs 24:3a says through wisdom a house is built. God-given assignments require the wisdom from above to succeed.
4. It helps you to govern well. The reason Solomon asked God for wisdom was so that he would be able to govern God’s people. He told God, “Give me wisdom and knowledge to rule them properly, for who is able to govern this great nation of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10 New Living Translation).
Solomon governed his people with wisdom and his fame spread abroad. The Bible in 1 Kings 4:29-30, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt” (New King James Version). Because of Solomon’s wisdom, all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart (2 Chronicles 9:23).
5. It will help you to be proficient, efficient, competent, skillful, and successful. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says if the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success. Lack of wisdom makes one a mediocrity.
Huram was not a mediocre person. He was a craftsman skilled in bronze work. He was an expert. He was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. King Solomon brought him from Tyre and he did all his work (1 Kings 7:13-14).
6. It enables you to execute wise judgment. In 1 Kings 3:16-28, Solomon executed wise judgment between two women. Only the wisdom from above could have come up with the judgment he gave. 1 Kings 3:28 says, “And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice” (New King James Version).
7. It makes peaceful relationships with others possible. God wants us to live in peace with others and the wisdom from above makes this possible particularly as regards difficult people. 1 Kings 5:12 says the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
You need the wisdom from above to live in peace with others. The Bible says the wisdom from above is peaceable (James 3:17). Romans 12:18 says if it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. This includes non-Christians. Walk in peace towards them (Colossians 4:5). “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews12:14 New King James Version).
8. It makes one cheerful, amiable, and strong. Ecclesiastes 8:1b says a man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed. The wisdom from above will make someone attractive to others as kings and people were attracted to Solomon to hear his wisdom. Wisdom “beautifies a man in the eyes of his friends” and “emboldens a man against his adversaries, their attempts and their scorn” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition).
You need the wisdom from above. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom (Proverbs 4:7). Get the wisdom from above.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you
PRAYER POINTS: I shall not be wise in my own eyes. Father, I receive the wisdom from above. Wisdom brings success. I receive wisdom to fulfil my destiny and succeed in all my endeavours in Jesus’ name. Father, deliver all those who are living as fools and let them receive the wisdom from above.
(For over 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
