Christian Living

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(Author's note: this is a continuation from a previous article titled "Just Weight")

Ok, you've asked for wisdom. Now what? Does God just pop the top off of our heads and start pouring? I mean really, how do you quantify something as nebulous as wisdom?

It’d be great if we all came with a set of gauges so we can see our levels of such ethereal ponderables like ‘love’, ‘faith’, ‘wisdom’ and so forth. Could you imagine the conversations in church if God had included such devices?

Church member #1: I just loved this morning’s sermon. Really got me thinking about some things.

Church member #2: I couldn’t disagree more. There weren’t enough scripture references and the pastor just quoted a bunch of contemporary psychobabble. Coming to church this morning was a total waste of time.

#1: How can you think that way? The service was exceptional from the music service all the way to the end. Really touched me.

#2: I don’t know how you can speak positively about today’s service. The music service was too long, too loud and the sermon was lacking to say the least.

#1: *Glances at his companion’s ‘joy’ gauge* Well, it’s no wonder you didn’t enjoy the service. According to your joy-meter you’re about a quart low. Looks to me like you could use a serious attitude adjustment.

#2: *Examines his gauges* Whaddya know, you’re right. I am feeling a bit melancholy today. *Studies his friend’s ‘wisdom’ gauge* Looks like you could use a couple of quarts of ‘wisdom’ yourself there, buddy.

#1: *Checks his own gauges* You are so right. I shouldn’t have been so callous and mean-spirited toward your lack of joy. I’m sorry, my brother.

#2: Me too. Want to go grab some coffee?

*The two skip merrily down the road toward the nearest Starbucks*

Ok, maybe the preceding exchange is a little silly but it sure would make things a lot easier on all of us if we could just look at a dial and see where an individual is in their walk with God. Unfortunately, instead of dials and flashing lights, we have to look deeper into ourselves to determine where we are in our walk; a little spiritual inventory, if you will. For those that are willing to do this, there is still the question of what to look for. How can we determine where we are in our personal growth and development as Christians? In short, how can I tell if I have any of God’s wisdom?

The best way to check our levels is to see how we measure up against God’s Word; how are we doing in obeying the Word, Will and Ways of God. This, of course, requires knowledge of the Word and you’re not going to accumulate that in a short period of time. But, you’ve gotta start somewhere, right?

One of the best litmus tests of determining our level of growth is our response during times of stress. Christian lingo calls these times “trials”. The implication with this word is there is some kind of testing being done during times of hardship. Whatever word you want to use to describe these times, what you need to know is there is no better way to see where your cracks are than when you’re under pressure. It isn’t by accident that God chose to use the clay pot analogy to describe his work in our lives (Jeremiah 18 & 19).

With this in mind, let’s examine two characters in the scripture; two guys named “Joe”. The first Joe’s story begins in Genesis 37 and covers nearly the remainder of the book. This Old Testament character had some pretty severe trials and the way he responded to them is quite educational.

You know this first Joe as Joseph, the son of Jacob. He was daddy’s favorite (Genesis 37:3) and because of this he was hated by his brothers. If you know the story you know what happened to Joseph. Sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood, falsely accused by his master’s wife and thrown into prison and left to rot there for only God knows how long. That’s just the surface stuff. If you read Joseph’s story you’ll find some pretty interesting tidbits about our young man that should get our attention.

For example:

Tidbit #1: Joseph was 17 years old when his ‘trials’ began (Genesis 37:2); that’s pretty young to be sold into slavery.

Tidbit #2: He was 30 years old when he was released from prison by Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46). If you do the math you’ll find Joseph spent 13 years of his life as either a slave or a convict. Not just any 13 years either but the prime of his life.

Tidbit #3: When Joseph was a slave, his master “saw that the LORD [was] with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” (Genesis 39:3). Potiphar (Joseph’s owner/master) was Egyptian and not a Yahweh worshipping man. Yet there was something about Joseph at the age of 17 or 18 that brought this Egyptian slave owner to the conclusion that “The Lord” was with him. Not only this but the Egyptian slave owner made his slave the ‘master’ of his household (Genesis 39:4-5).

Tidbit #4: After Joseph is falsely imprisoned the warden sees the same thing in Joseph that the Egyptian slave owner saw and in an inconceivable move he places Joseph in charge of the prisoners (Genesis 39:21-22). Once again Joseph “prospers” while in prison (Genesis 39:23). (You’d better believe God’s definition of “prosperity” and ours isn’t the same.)

Tidbit #5: You can read Joseph’s entire story and you’ll not find one verse of scripture that records Joseph complaining about his lot in life. He never throws a Moses-like tantrum, falls into Elijah level despair or craters into a Jonahesque breakdown. He keeps his eye on God despite the unbelievable injustice being perpetrated upon him and apparently just waits on God to take care of him.

Tidbit #6: In God’s time, Joseph is promoted from an ex-slave/ex-con to the second most powerful human being on the face of the planet at that time. Joseph didn’t plan this nor did his brothers, Potiphar or the Egyptian jailer. Only God can do this.

Now, put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. How would you respond to Joseph’s ‘trials’ if you, at age 17, were the one sold into slavery by your family and falsely imprisoned for doing the right thing? Would you patiently wait for God for 13 years to rescue you or would you do everything in your power to change your situation to your satisfaction? I know what I would do because I’ve already done it and paid dearly for it.

You see, wisdom isn’t just filling our head with cute little sayings that make people think or becoming a Yoda figure sitting in a swamp or on a mountaintop waiting for your disciple to appear. For those that don't have a full understanding of what wisdom is, let me define it for you here. Wisdom is knowing how and when to use knowledge. More to the point of our discussion, God’s wisdom is knowing how and when to put all that Bible knowledge to practical and proper use.

Here’s the amazing thing about God’s wisdom. You can’t get it from studying. For proof of that statement, look a little closer at Joseph. I think we’d all agree that this young man’s wisdom gauge would be showing ‘full’. Consider that somehow this teenager was able to patiently withstand trials that would have crippled most of us who have a fairly good grip on the scriptures during a time that the Bible did not exist.

I’m going to repeat that in case you missed it. Joseph had no scriptures to read to remind him of his Heavenly Father’s character or His promises. There was no Romans 8:28 for him to memorize because Paul wasn’t even a glimmer in his great, great, great, great, great, great, great, (you get the idea) grandfather’s eye yet. There were no passages from Isaiah reminding him that the strength of those who wait on the Lord is renewed like an eagle’s. No Psalms telling him to trust in his rock, his fortress, his refuge and his strength.

So I repeat, completely devoid of any scriptures, Joseph was able to withstand a withering set of ‘trials’ that would have destroyed the faith of a vast majority of Bible believing, Bible quoting and Bible teaching and preaching saints today. A young man waited on God from the age of 17 to 30 and because of his wisdom and knowledge of God he ‘prospered’ despite his circumstances.

So, how on earth did he do it?

I’ll tell you in a minute but first let’s check out our second Joe in Job chapter 1...

(to be continued...)

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