Pursuing Wisdom In The New Year (Part 2)

Dan C. Bailey

In last week's article we listed five points that would help us to pursue wisdom in the coming year. Those points were:  1) Pray with an upright heart; 2) Maintain a merry heart; 3) Learn how to deal with anger and wrath; 4) Practice humility; and 5) Learn to keep our tongues. Let us consider others.

1. Let us be generous. A generous person is concerned about the needs of others. To be generous according to the New Oxford American Dictionary is, "showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected." The Lord blesses us when we are generous to others. Proverbs 22:9 tells us, "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." God is glorified through our shining light of generosity. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).

2. Have pity on the poor. The Lord is concerned about the poor and we should be as well. We read in Proverbs 19:17, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." Paul encouraged first century Christians to support the weak. "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Christians should always be willing to help those in need.

3. Commit our works unto the Lord. When we commit our works unto the Lord our trust is in Him. "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established" (Proverbs 16:3). When we put our trust in the Lord and follow the wisdom in his word, we know that we are walking in the pathway of light. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

4. Learn to wait on the Lord. We have been spoiled by the immediate satisfaction of our demands, but the Lord takes care of things in his own time frame. The Lord will help us with our "insurmountable" problems, if we will just turn them over to him and wait on him for the solutions. Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

5. Pursue wisdom. We should make it a priority in everything that we do and in every decision we have to make, to pursue the wisest course. To strive for wisdom is to be concerned about your soul. "He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good" (Proverbs 19:8). Following God's wisdom will greatly benefit those who do so. "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!" (Proverbs 16:16).

    

   As the days go by throughout this year, let us earnestly seek wisdom. It will help us to be better Christians. It will help us to be better workers in the church, and it will help us to have a better home life. May we all work toward these goals!