Knowledge and Wisdom

A few weeks ago I felt the strong urge to lie face down, prostrate, before the Lord, to pray.

I had been feeling that there was something God wanted to show me. All my life, I have been an avid reader, and one who digs deeply into every thing in which I have an interest. I cross-reference and cross-reference until I'm nearly cross-eyed and confused as to where my study began and what am I doing now....how did I ever get into this new subject!?

As I lay there praying that day, I felt as if God wanted me to go to Proverbs...read it all carefully and then go to James and read it with equal care. I thought to myself: "Proverbs and James?" What do they have to do with each other? (aside from the fact that ALL the Word of God is connected!)

As I read Proverbs (which I had previously studied at least a dozen times or more), I began to underline many verses, then I began to see a pattern in what I was underlining. I thought, "ok, here are a lot of little encouraging tid-bits I can share with Lora and Jim about raisng children"
Little did I know that God was leading me into some 'tid-bits' for myself!

I read more and underlined furiously (my KJV is completely covered in markings in Proverbs, now!!). I read all of Proverbs and moved on to James. As I began to underline things in James, I saw the same pattern as I was being led to understand in Proverbs. Then I read in my Bible (which has an 'outstanding facts' section) that James is considered, by many, to be "The Proverbs of the New Testament" !!! Something I didn't know when I was 'called' to read them together!

The common thread that God had revealed to me is that "discretion shall preserve thee; understanding shall keep thee"

Now, I have always worked in the health profession; confidentiality and discretion are one of the trademarks of a good nurse! I have always honored those qualities and abided by them to the fullest. But that is not what I needed to know.

God was telling me that I needed to watch what I say to my daughter and son-in-law, in regards to raising their children (my very precious grandsons). I learned that just because you have knowledge, just because you love very deeply, just because you feel strongly, maybe even just because you may be right, love does not give one the right to say whatever you feel you want someone else to know. It does not give one the right to be another's conscience or act as another's Holy Spirit or convictor. Now, of course, we know these things, but to put them into practise is what God wanted me to do!

I learned that the law of love is greater than the law of liberty. Although I may have the knowledge and the liberty to say what ever I think may be helpful or worthy, or even instructional, and although I may love one so deeply that I feel I simply must tell them what I know, I do not have the right under the law of liberty because the law of love is greater. This law does not permit me to say whatever I want (although with the best of intentions!).

In my case, God was telling me that I should use discretion in my knowledge and use wisdom in watching what I say. He was, in effect telling me to trust HIM to be the teacher.

I also realized that in James, when he spoke of bridling one's tongue; it does not always mean saying something negative or bad; it can also mean that even with good intentions we can say too much, or the wrong things, or make another feel 'judged' or wrong. There is an old saying: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Now what brought me to all this awareness and revelation of my need to learn this instruction? Love, of course! Deep abiding love!

The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. I want to know Him more!!! I want to listen to His every Word...for whoso findeth Him findeth life.

My 'outstanding facts' section tells me that the personification of wisdom is Christ.

WHEN wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. (Pr. 2: 10-11).

We know that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Pr. 9:10).

These three: wisdom, knowledge and discretion are a blessing
when working together!

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. I Th. 5:16-17

The Fishermens Line