573 - Seeking Wisdom with Faith#
(JP Text Group - shalom compilation)
Peace be with you, dear family, and welcome. Today is Sunday, and we will look at God's words together.
The topic of sharing is: Seeking Wisdom with Faith
2 Chronicles 1:7-13:
7 That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches, or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches, and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” 13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.
Let us pray together first
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for giving us the beginning of a new week. We are willing to come before you to know you more in truth. We seek wisdom from you with faith, for you are wisdom itself, and all wisdom and understanding come from you. We want to be victorious in our lives, so we come before you to receive your provision. Help us to receive what we need from today’s words, and provide for us in due time. In the name of Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
Some say, “Isn’t it enough to have faith? With faith, everything can be accomplished.” If we look closely at the lives of those who say this, many are disappointed, and many things end in failure. Where is the lack? They lack wisdom.
Wisdom is different from knowledge. Knowledge can be accumulated through study; as long as a person works hard and is willing to learn, they can accumulate a lot of knowledge. For example, there are many professions in the world, and anyone can learn them if they put their heart into it. An institution once said that if someone focuses and studies hard in a certain field for eight years, they will become a remarkable figure in that industry. This is called knowledge, and practice makes perfect.
So many craftsmen are very skilled and can perform tasks with great proficiency. We might wonder how they never make mistakes. In fact, this is the result of years of repetition. Knowledge in the world can be learned through hard work.
But wisdom is different from knowledge. Even if a person has knowledge, it does not mean they have wisdom, because wisdom is the flexible application of knowledge in certain areas. Many people learn knowledge that is dead knowledge, rigidly applied, and theoretical, with no practical use. Therefore, a wise person surpasses one who merely has knowledge.
A person with knowledge does not necessarily have wisdom, but a wise person not only benefits themselves but can also bring benefits to others. The manifestation of wisdom is often seen in life, where they can overcome various problems. Such a person is wise.
As children of God, from God's perspective, He hopes we live a different life on earth, a life that can be victorious in all things, Amen. This can be a beautiful testimony to the world, allowing them to see that the God we believe in has power, authority, and glory.
However, in reality, many of God's children do not live out such glory. It is not that they lack faith; many pursue faith every day and diligently study the Bible, yet they still fail in many things. What they lack is wisdom, and this wisdom needs to be sought from God with faith. How can one obtain wisdom?
Genesis 3:6-7:
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Through this passage, we see that when the serpent tempted the woman, he told her, “If you eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will gain wisdom.” Eve looked around and saw that the fruit looked good to eat, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, so she took some and ate it. Eve wanted to gain wisdom, and the serpent deceived her into thinking that eating the fruit would give her wisdom.
We might say, “Eve really wasn’t thinking straight; how could she believe that eating a fruit would give her wisdom?” We might laugh at her. But how many people in today’s world walk the same path as Eve? The world tells you that you can gain wisdom this way, make money that way, or improve your spiritual life this way, and people follow these paths because they seem so simple.
What we tell everyone is that every day you need to read the Bible and meditate on God's words; there are no shortcuts, and it cannot be accomplished in a short time. People do not like to hear this; they want quick results. Just like Eve, she hoped for a quick solution: “If I eat this fruit, I will have wisdom.” But wisdom does not come this way; wisdom comes from God. After they ate, their eyes were opened, but did they gain wisdom or lose it? In fact, they lost wisdom. They not only lost wisdom but also lost the glory that came from God and all the authority He had given them. After their eyes were opened, they realized they were naked, and they made themselves loincloths from fig leaves.
From today’s perspective, how could fig leaves serve as clothing? Yet Adam and Eve did just that. Before they sinned and disobeyed God's word, they would not have done this. Therefore, in a sense, they actually lost wisdom.
So, dear family, do not believe anyone who tells you there is a shortcut to faith or to gaining God's wisdom. There are no shortcuts; many things require our pursuit. Where did Solomon's wisdom come from? How did it come about?
Let’s look at verses 7-10:
7 That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
After Solomon became king of Israel, he was still young and had never been a king before, so he felt somewhat uneasy. He did not know how to proceed. David had instructed him before his death to rely on God, for without reliance on God, everything would be lost. At that time, Solomon took this to heart, so he offered sacrifices to God at Gibeon.
In the Old Testament, offering sacrifices to God was similar to how we worship Him and pray today, except that sacrifices required offerings and the shedding of blood. After this was done, it was as if Solomon sought help from God, and that night, God appeared to Solomon.
God said to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” This was a promise from God. You know, when Jesus came to preach on earth, He also asked some people, “What do you want me to do for you?” God has also given us such a promise: whatever you need, you can come before Him and ask, so that your joy may be complete. Therefore, we do not need to envy Solomon; God truly loved him.
When God asked him, “What do you want me to give you?” Solomon was not being polite; he genuinely felt the need for wisdom to govern so many people. So he said to God, “You have shown great kindness to my father David and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed.” Thus, Solomon prayed to God, presenting God's promise back to Him.
We have emphasized many times that when we pray to our Heavenly Father, we must pray within His promises, meaning we can pray within the scope of what God has promised us. If God has not promised something, do not pray for it; it is of no use.
For example, God has given us the authority to heal, to bring salvation and good news to others, but many people pray, “Lord, send down a thunderbolt to strike down my opponent; I can’t bear to watch them anymore.” God will not fulfill such prayers.
Solomon prayed to God because God had given him such a promise. Now that he had become king of Israel, asking for wisdom was very important. If a person becomes king without wisdom, they might not last long on the throne. Solomon knew he lacked in this area.
But everyone must remember that this does not mean Solomon lacked knowledge of governance. Having knowledge does not necessarily mean one can govern well, but having wisdom from God can make all the difference. Where did Solomon's wisdom come from? If we only read this passage literally, it seems that he had a dream that night, and God appeared to him in the dream, saying, “I will give you wisdom.” Then the next day, Solomon woke up from the dream and became the wisest person in the world. Is that really how it happened?
If someone interprets it this way, then it would be simple: just pray, and there would be no need to learn any knowledge in the world or do anything else. Just pray every day, “Lord, grant me wisdom, grant me wisdom,” and you would become the smartest and wisest person in the world. Is it really that simple?
Is there anyone who thinks this way? There are indeed some. Some people despise worldly knowledge, even preventing their children from learning earthly knowledge, insisting on only studying the Bible. They say, “If you understand the Bible, you already know everything.” This is actually a prejudice and incorrect.
God favored Solomon because of the promise made to David; this was God's grace. God also favors us because of Jesus, but that does not mean we do not need earthly knowledge. If you only have faith and only know what is in the Bible, but do not understand how to interact with people in the world, what good is that?
So, dear family, earthly knowledge is also allowed by God to exist; we just do not rely on it for our lives but rather live by God's words.
Jewish children are required to learn the Law of Moses from a young age, including Solomon. What else did Solomon need to learn? He needed to learn the principles of governance, which are also specialized knowledge. As a prince, regardless of whether he would become king, being the son of a king meant he had to learn these things.
But if one only relies on the knowledge of royal governance, it does not guarantee that they can govern well. So what should be done? While possessing this knowledge, one must seek wisdom from God, asking for wisdom with faith, allowing God to tell you how to apply this knowledge, Amen. Let me give you an example that might be easier to understand.
Acts 7:20-25:
20 At that time, Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family. 21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. 23 When he was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.
What is the story in this passage? The Israelites lived in Egypt for many years, and as their numbers grew, the later Pharaoh did not know God and did not remember the blessings the Israelites had brought them, so they began to oppress the Israelites, making them slaves and forced labor. Later, realizing that the Israelites were multiplying, they devised a cruel plan to kill all the male children born to the Israelites. Moses was born under these conditions.
His parents did not dare to disobey the Egyptians' orders but could not bear to kill their child, so when Moses was three months old, his mother placed him in the Nile River, leaving his fate to chance. Unexpectedly, Pharaoh's daughter happened to be bathing by the river and saw a child floating by; she took Moses and raised him as her own son. Moses's identity changed to that of an Egyptian prince. As an Egyptian prince, whether born or adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, he was considered an Egyptian prince, so Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
Remember these words: from a human perspective, Moses was a very knowledgeable person, an intellectual, and he was also very capable in action. This is the result of the knowledge that the world can provide.
However, we find that he did not have wisdom. He had knowledge and ability, but he lacked wisdom. How do we see this? When he realized that the Israelites were his people, he one day decided to visit his brothers, the Israelites.
He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, and he took action, killing the Egyptian. He thought that by doing this, his brothers would understand that God was using him to rescue them. The Bible tells us they did not understand.
We might say, “How ungrateful are these Israelites? He saved one of them, yet they reported him.” In reality, from Moses's perspective, his approach was wrong. Killing one Egyptian would not solve the problem; saving the Israelites could not be achieved this way. This is a lack of wisdom. But Moses genuinely wanted to save the Israelites; he just lacked wisdom. This is why, later, when he was eighty years old, God still wanted to use him. Because he initially had this desire and ability, he just lacked wisdom, the wisdom that comes from God, which is why he failed.
Are there many Christians around us who are like this? They have learned a lot of knowledge from the world and seem capable, yet they always fail in their endeavors. What they lack is wisdom; they need to seek wisdom from God with faith, applying the professional knowledge they have learned. At that point, they will be different because God's words can awaken our hearts and bring creativity.
Psalm 19:7-9:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm and all of them are righteous.
Why should we seek to know God and learn His truth? Because the more knowledge one learns in the world, the more capable they may become, but they can also become selfish and self-centered. God's laws and decrees allow people to possess righteousness and transform their hearts completely.
Let’s take a look at what this passage says. The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. What does refreshing the soul mean? When you continually read God's words and meditate on them, it can awaken your heart and help you understand many things.
For example, when a child struggles to learn something, it is often because their heart is not open. Once they understand and grasp it, many things become simple; this is what it means to refresh the soul. Similarly, no matter what industry you are in, if you can see through the development patterns of that industry and recognize the trends that are about to emerge, you can stand firm. How can you understand these? God's words can awaken your heart, allowing you to act when the time is right and to stop when necessary. This is something worldly knowledge cannot achieve.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Trustworthy statutes mean that God's words do not change once placed in that context. What is the benefit of this? Whatever God says, you do, and even the simplest person can become wise.
If God tells us not to do something, we should not do it. If God encourages us to do something, we must do it more; you will certainly experience success and prosperity in your life. Because God knows what we need, He understands the laws of the world, so He has placed His words in a way that does not change, making it simple for us.
You see, when people interact with each other, they are constantly changing. Human hearts are inherently unstable; what someone says to you today may change tomorrow. We cannot trust people and dare not believe them. But God's words are not like that; once He speaks, it is established and does not change. We just need to obey.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. What does it mean for precepts to be right? It means that what God says is exactly what He means; there are no hidden meanings or convoluted interpretations.
However, knowledgeable people in the world sometimes speak in ways that are hard to decipher. “This matter is a bit difficult,” does not mean they cannot do it; they want to gain some benefit from you. At this point, you have to guess what they want, and even if you ask them, they may not tell you directly, which can be exhausting for the heart. But what are God's precepts? They are what they are; yes means yes, and no means no. When we understand God's heart, our hearts become very joyful and simple. Amen.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Radiant commands mean that God clearly tells us these things. We see and know how to act, and we understand that following God's words will bring blessings, while disobeying them will lead to losses. This is clearly stated by God.
What should we do? We should do the things that please God, which will certainly benefit us. This is what it means to give light to the eyes. Many things in the world may seem good, but many are traps; you only realize they are traps once you fall into them. But God's words will not be like that; He will tell you that there is a pit ahead, so when you see it, you will understand and avoid falling in.
The ways of the Lord are pure, enduring forever. Pure ways mean that God's words are very clear and straightforward, without strange or incomprehensible principles. It is very simple; you see, Jesus preached in a way that even children could understand.
Those who believe will be saved; those who do not believe will be condemned. But when it comes to people, they might explain, “Even if you believe today, you may not be saved.” People take a pure principle, something simple, and make it very complicated. But God is not like that; His words are very simple.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy and altogether righteous. Decrees refer to the ways we can use in our lives, which are all righteous. Righteousness means it is the same for everyone. But many words in the world vary from person to person; the same words may be good for one person but harmful to another.
So God's words are actually very simple. When you seek wisdom from God, you can surpass all the schemes of the world, Amen. Therefore, we must seek wisdom from God with faith, Amen, so that God can maximize the professional knowledge you have learned, allowing you to experience His victory in all things.
Genesis 41:38-41:
38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”
Through the story of Joseph, we can also see that if you seek wisdom from God with faith, your conduct will surpass that of all people in the world. What is the story of Joseph? He was sold by his brothers and became a slave in a foreign land. Although Joseph lost his personal freedom during that time, God helped him along the way; God was actually promoting him. He came to know God and learned to rely on Him in all things.
So, dear family, when we encounter bad situations, do not lose heart or despair. Instead, seek wisdom from God in faith to solve problems, and continually come to know God and rely on Him for victory. Joseph had such hope. Looking back, Joseph learned economic management and personnel management in Potiphar's house, and in prison, he learned how to interact with kings. He learned all these things, and when the time came, God brought him out of prison to use his wisdom and talents. Whether he came out of prison early or late would not have benefited Joseph; thus, God's timing is perfect, and we call this God's wisdom.
Just at the moment Pharaoh faced difficulties, those knowledgeable people around him could not solve the problem, and it was at this time that someone recommended Joseph. Joseph prayed to God, and God gave him the words, easily solving Pharaoh's problem. At that moment, Pharaoh's eyes were opened; through Joseph, he saw something different: the spirit of God was in him. He also saw that Joseph possessed wisdom and understanding that surpassed that of ordinary people.
So, family, if you also want to have the wisdom and understanding of Joseph, you must first learn to seek God in all things, relying on Him. At the right time, God will lift you up. So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You can be in charge of my palace, and all my people will submit to your orders; only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” He effectively gave Joseph supreme authority and glory, appointing him to govern the entire land of Egypt. Apart from Pharaoh, he was the greatest.
Some may say, “I can also pray to God to place me in a high position.” If you do not have the experiences Joseph had, if you have not learned economic management, personnel management, and do not know how to interact with kings, you may end up in a very bad situation. These are the knowledge Joseph had already acquired. Otherwise, think about it: managing the entire Egypt involves many people and many tasks. If things go wrong, it could cost you your life; it is not an easy task.
So what is needed? Wisdom, wisdom that comes from God. Thus, for over ten years, God was training Joseph, and he was genuinely learning. When the time came, God allowed him to demonstrate God's wisdom and talents, Amen.
So, dear family, what do you need to learn now? What knowledge do you possess? If you already have your professional knowledge, for example, when looking for a job, pray to God to arrange a suitable place and position for you.
If you do not know anything, first learn professional knowledge; earthly knowledge is also necessary, and God's truth is also needed. Because once you learn God's truth, you can have faith to seek wisdom from God, and God will activate the knowledge you have learned, allowing you to demonstrate your abilities.
Exodus 31:1-5:
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge, and with all kinds of skills, 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.
Here we need to correctly understand this passage. Bezalel actually liked to do these things, to carve and work with gold, silver, bronze, and other materials. He inherently enjoyed these tasks. Now, God filled him with His Spirit, giving him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the ability to do all kinds of work. This means that on his original foundation, he received new insights and new visions, Amen. At this time, God allowed him to carve various items for the tabernacle. In other words, he already had knowledge in this area and enjoyed doing it, and with God's Spirit revealing to him, extraordinary wisdom was manifested, enabling him to do what others could not.
So what are you learning on earth? What industry do you enjoy, or what skills do you possess? Then study professional skills in that field, and meditate on God's truth. God will reveal new insights to you in that area, allowing you to be at the forefront of that industry. This is something you must not get wrong.
Many people prepare nothing and learn nothing, yet hope God will put everything into them. This is unrealistic. Our God is a real God; He does not float in the air to give you spiritual comfort or paint grand visions. Even Jesus needed to learn earthly knowledge; why should we think that with just one prayer, all knowledge, wisdom, ability, and glory will be given to us?
Therefore, many Christians fail in life precisely because they lack this relevant wisdom. So what should be done? First, seek the truth. Do not just look at a certain passage in the Bible; read it all, from beginning to end, and let it fill your heart, Amen. Thank you, Lord. Let’s look at our text today.
Verses 11-13:
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches, or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches, and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” 13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.
First, let’s look at what God said to Solomon; this is very important. God said, “I have made you king over my people.” This is indeed very important. Although Solomon learned some royal techniques, it was God who made him king of Israel.
We must also be assured that no matter how great our achievements on earth may be, it is God who lifts us up. At any time, we must not be proud or arrogant, for that may be when we fall.
Solomon knew he was raised by God, so he prayed to God in this way. God said to Solomon, “Since you have this heart's desire and have not asked for wealth, riches, or honor.”
You should know that many people, if given such an opportunity by God, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you,” would ask for wealth, riches, and honor. This seems fine, but have you noticed that asking for wealth, riches, and honor is all for personal enjoyment? The desires within a person will swell and become more intense.
The second point is, “nor for the death of your enemies.” After Solomon became king, he would have many enemies around him, and there would be people he hated. After all, the struggle for the throne is a matter of life and death, and there would be no mercy. Now that he finally sits on the throne, if Solomon were to ask God to kill those who wanted to harm him, what would that indicate? It would show that he harbored hatred and was self-centered.
“Nor for a long life.” What does a long life mean? It means living for a very long time. In the past, during feudal dynasties, those who became kings often sought immortality. This is actually a selfish thought because they want to remain king and sit in high positions forever.
But Solomon did not ask for these things, as they are all self-centered. Solomon knew that everything he had was given by God, so he only asked God for wisdom and understanding to judge God's people. This was good because at that moment, Solomon's heart genuinely hoped for God's help and for the benefit of the people.
Because he asked for wisdom and understanding, God said: “Since you have not asked for yourself, I will give you wealth, riches, and honor as a gift.” The blessings I give you will be greater than any king before you or after you.
So, dear family, have you noticed something? If we do not approach God with selfish motives, what we receive is actually a greater blessing. Just like Jesus Christ, all the things He asked of the Father were not for Himself, yet Jesus received all glory and authority. Thank you, Lord.
Many times, people want to ask for their own matters. This in itself is not wrong, but if you ask with a self-centered mindset, what you receive will be just a tiny blessing. I hope everyone can seek wisdom with faith, knowing how to pray to God.
For example, someone might say, “Lord, grant me all kinds of spiritual gifts.” What do you want to do with these spiritual gifts? If you can truly use these gifts to help others selflessly, God will certainly give you many. But some people say, “Once I have these gifts, I can show off.” Perhaps they might receive them, but it will not benefit them.
When we ask God for various abilities and gifts, God hopes we can help others. You see, if we can help others, God has already blessed us. God blessed Abraham, making him abundant in every way, and Abraham continually supplied and helped others, Amen. This is God's desire; He hopes we become vessels of blessing.
So I hope everyone can understand this wisdom: seeking wisdom with faith is not self-centered but allowing God to use us to help more people. Solomon had such a heart, so after receiving God's certain promise, he returned to Jerusalem to govern Israel. Thank you, Lord. God granted Solomon grace because of the covenant made with David, giving him abundant grace.
The most important point is that Solomon pursued this; he sought wisdom, so God gave him wisdom. Some people think that as long as they have faith, that is enough, and they stop pursuing other things. So they may have great insight in faith. When they fail in life, they wonder if it is due to a lack of faith and then pursue faith again, when what they actually need is wisdom. We can establish a relationship with God through faith and know Him, but when interacting with people, what is needed is wisdom, because not everyone can have the life of God. Therefore, both faith and wisdom are important.
Proverbs 4:10-12:
10 Listen, my son, accept my words, and you will have many years of life. 11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
God's truth and wisdom bring us the right path. Thank you, Lord. You see, accepting His words will lead to a long life. How many people can understand this? This is wisdom; receiving God's words can lead to a long life. What people tell you—taking their health supplements, going to the gym, etc.—may help a little, but compared to God's words, this is certainly better.
God says, “I instruct you in the way of wisdom.” Where is the way of wisdom? First, fear our God and treat His words as the most important; this is wisdom. Then, if you act according to God's words, you will walk in the way of wisdom, and He will guide you along straight paths.
In the world, there are many pitfalls. If you act according to God's words, you will not fall into those pits. But if a person is self-centered, greedy, and driven by various desires, they can easily fall into traps set by others. Moreover, if you act according to God's wise words, your path will become broader.
Verse 12 says: “When you walk, your steps will not be hampered.”
Many paths in the world narrow as you walk, ultimately leading to death, leaving no way out. This is why people choose to commit suicide and end their lives. But if you walk in God's truth and on the path of wisdom, your steps will not be hampered, and your path will become broader. So, dear family, those who possess God's wisdom are not self-centered; they always think about how they can help others. Such paths will become broader, and they will not stumble while running. Thank you, Lord.
Finally, let’s look at a passage from Ecclesiastes 8:5-7:
5 Whoever obeys the command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. 6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery. 7 Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?
This passage I also share with everyone, hoping it can become a pathway for your meditation. It is a very important passage. Whoever obeys the command will come to no harm. Whose command? Of course, it is God's command. A person who obeys God's command will come to no harm, meaning they will avoid harm because God has the power to help them avoid it. This is what it means to come to no harm.
We all hope to prosper in everything while we are on earth and wish to enjoy peace. But where does true peace come from? Isn’t it from Lord Jesus? When we obey God's commands, calamity will be far from us. Conversely, many people act against God's words, and calamity continuously befalls them. Everyone knows what calamity is, right? It refers to unfavorable situations and outcomes.
What is the wise person's approach? To obey God's words and not focus too much on what worldly people say or what you hear. You should read God's words more, meditate on them, and obey His commands.
The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. When we continually obey God's words, wisdom will already be in your heart, and you will know what time it is, understanding what to do at that moment, so you will not fail.
What else can you understand? The procedure. You know what to do at that moment; this is called procedure. You should know that there are many laws established by God in the world. If a person violates these laws, they will encounter unfavorable situations; if they follow God's laws, they will experience good outcomes. Thank you, Lord. If we continually obey God's words and seek wisdom from Him, we can understand the times and laws of the world.
Every matter has its proper time and procedure. This means that almost everything in the world has its proper time and procedure. There are rules and timings; being early does not work, and being late does not work either. How can we discover these? This requires wisdom. How can we have wisdom? It starts with listening to God's truth. Listening to the truth and meditating on it will give you wisdom.
Many times, the suffering people endure is due to not knowing God's timing and laws. When people understand these, they can avoid these problems.
Another thing is that they do not know what the future holds, for who can tell them what is to come? If we do not even understand the timing and laws, how can we know what the future holds? How can we understand future events? God has also told us.
The Bible records not only past events but also future events, telling us how the world will develop and what the final outcome will be. What time is it now? By reading the Bible, you can possess such wisdom. When you know what time it is, you will know what you should do now and how to prepare yourself. As for the future, how the world will develop, the Bible has already told us. When we understand these, we can make the right choices, and this requires us to seek wisdom from God with faith.
Today, seek the wisdom you need for today. When tomorrow comes, seek the wisdom you need for tomorrow. What we need to do today is to rise up and read the words we should read today, experiencing the grace God wants to give us today. This is wisdom. Thank you, Lord. May today’s words bring some help to everyone.
Let us pray together
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you. Thank you for giving us such words. While we are on earth, we need not only to know you by faith but also to have wisdom to live and interact with others. Please help us to live out the likeness of Christ on earth, to manifest God's wisdom, and to bring benefits to others. Grant us eloquence and wisdom to spread the gospel, allowing us to experience your goodness while we are on earth. We wish to experience your victory in all things in our lives. Grant us such wisdom so that we can experience this goodness throughout this week.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for allowing us to learn such words. What we learn is not just knowledge but truth, and may this truth guide our lives. A new week has begun, and I believe this is a blessed week. Lead me in my life this week. Thank you and praise you, in the name of Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.