May 05, 2017
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Rash reactions are never best.
In the moment, when we're swimming in emotions and anger threatens to pull
us under, a sudden outburst feels best. But if we give in, we say
and do things we wish we'd never said or done.
I remember, years ago, a certain man would write railing letters to me.
Sometimes he'd sign them; often he didn't. I knew his handwriting, and I'd
usually toss his letter aside with a shrug. But one day, in a weak moment,
it got to me. The fuse lit, and BOOM! I grabbed his letter and wrote a scorching response. I spent over two hours on it—I mean I set the
record straight and put that guy in his place!
I handed the letter to my executive assistant and said to her, "Here, type
this up." She typed it, then returned and said, "Do you mind if I make a
comment?"
"No," I answered.
Then she suggested, "I would sleep on that letter before I sent it. I think
you'd be wise to just spend tonight thinking about it."
She couldn't have been more correct! Her thinking was that after a night's
sleep, I would see the situation more clearly—through the eyes of wisdom.
Dictionaries offer multiple options, but really, wisdom has a
simple definition: Looking at life from God's point of view.
If we could see life as God sees it, we'd be able to see through
problems to what's right and good, not just at problems and how we
feel about them.
Wouldn't you like to see your problems from God's point of view? You can .
. . through the lens of His Word! More often than not, the book of Proverbs
offers a good starting place. This eye-opening Old Testament book teaches
us that wisdom is available.
Wisdom shouts in the street,
She cries out in the public square. (Proverbs 1:20)
Wisdom cries for your attention: "I want to be a part of you. Let me in!"
Wisdom is knocking at your door, right now!
However, wisdom won't barge in. It stands within reach, but you can choose
to keep it at arm's length. Wisdom can be spurned. Like a jilted
lover, lady wisdom weeps:
"I called you so often, but you wouldn't come.
I reached out to you, but no one paid attention."
(1:24)
Our problem is not the availability of wisdom; rather, it's our
lack of passion for it. Remember impetuous Samson, that he-man with a
she-weakness? He spurned wisdom's resistance to Delilah's seductions, and
disaster came. Reject wisdom and "calamity overtakes you like a storm"
(1:27).
Unlike Samson, Solomon initially and passionately pursued wisdom. When God
invited the young king to ask for anything he wished, Solomon requested "an
understanding heart . . . to know the difference between right and wrong"
(1 Kings 3:9). God honored his request and gave him "a wise and
understanding heart" (3:12).
God still doles out a generous supply of wisdom to people with a passion
for it. But you must ask for it (James 1:5)! And once you receive it, cling
to it. Follow it. Don't let your passion fade! Why? Just ask Solomon.
True wisdom originates from outside our rashly impulsive natures. Wisdom
comes from God Himself—straight from His heart . . . through His Word . . .
to where we live.
Need wisdom in dealing with a critic? An irrational ex-spouse? A
back-talking teen? A lifelong struggle with anxiety?
- Saturate your mind with God's Word.
- Have an attentive ear to God's voice.
- Request divine understanding from God's heart.
- Seek wisdom with passion and then put it into practice!
The wisdom you need will be at hand precisely when you need it.
By the way, I found a proverb for the next time I'm tempted to cross swords
with a critic:
There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
(Proverbs 12:18, NASB)
How helpful is that! Had I recalled that bit of godly counsel in the
moment, God's wisdom would have clarified my vision, calmed my heart . . .
and I wouldn't have wasted my time on that letter! (By the way, thanks to
my assistant's wise counsel, I never sent my rash letter.)
So, open the Book . . . God's book of wisdom, His Word. And your eyes will
open to wisdom. You'll never waste your time doing that. I promise.