Sunday, 8 July 2018

What Characterizes Godly Wisdom And Who Has Historically Shown It

By Carol Evans


The world today seems to be changing in ways that are not always positive. Civility seems to be at an all time low. Technology, as wonderful as it is, brings out the worst in a large segment of the population. Taking a moment to stop and think about what characterizes Godly wisdom, and how well we exhibit those characteristics, can change the way we see the world and ourselves.

Wisdom is a term that encompasses many elements. Theologians say we know God is wise because of the goals He establishes and the means He creates to achieve them. Men are wise when they follow God's commands. According to the Book of Proverbs becoming wise starts by fearing the Lord. The Book of James lists a series of traits that demonstrate Godlike judgment.

Jesus Christ was the epitome of humility. The greatest example of this is the fact that He died for us. He endured incredible shame, humiliation, scorn, and ridicule on His way to Golgotha. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked that the burden be passed from Him, but He accepted God's will without anger or question. Jesus took the form of a servant and gave up His power for the sake of others.

Consideration is one virtue found in those who are wise. Considerate people have empathy toward others. They have a smile for everyone. Having a pleasant demeanor doesn't just lighten the load of their day, it lightens the load of everyone they have contact with during the day. Considerate people have good manners. This is more than please and thank you. It is the willingness to treat everyone the way they wish to be treated.

Wise people love peace. These are folks who solve problems and create unity instead of division. After Christ, many consider Mohandas Gandhi to have been the most peace loving man who ever lived. He lived out his commitment to nonviolence both publicly and privately.

Merciful people are compassionate, quick to forgive, and kind to others. Patrick Ferguson, a British soldier during the Revolutionary War is a famous example of someone showing mercy on the battlefield. This expert marksman had General George Washington in his sights, except he believed you should not shot someone who can't see you. His conscious required that he stand up so he could be seen rather than ambushing an enemy soldier. If it had not been for his mercy, George Washington might not have survived the war.

Wise people are sincere. They aren't false or dishonest. These are individuals you can count on to tell you what they think, in a respectful way, resist gossiping, and not judging. Everyone knows people who say one thing when you are in the room and something else after you have left.

The path to wisdom can be bumpy. Most fail repeatedly to live up to the examples wise women and men set. That's not an excuse to stop trying. Every day is a new beginning with a new chance to get it right.




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