God’s Wisdom

“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” Heb. 12:7.

In Swedish it is written, “It is for the sake of your upbring­ing that you endure suffering.” God wants to “bring us up”—in other words, to train us, to raise us, so that we fit into the company we will be together with for all eternity. When we experience chastening, it is evidence that God considers us true sons. We can only come to wisdom and a true life with God through suffering. Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered. Through sufferings we are con­formed to His image—He who is also called the Wisdom of God.

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Heb. 12:11. God’s intention is to train us through chastening so that we come to the genuine, true and blessed fruits of righ­teousness. Jesus is our Forerunner here, and we need to con­sider Him. “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and dis­couraged in your souls.” Heb. 12:3. The fact that a person is tempted to discouragement means that he is not yet fully trained. May we rejoice because we are being trained to par­take of the fruits of wisdom. Therefore, obey this exhortation: “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” Heb. 12:12-13.

The “peaceable fruit of righteousness” means that wisdom manifests itself in my body, like James writes: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good con­duct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13. Meekness is wisdom. All true wisdom comes from the Most High. It is revealed through God’s Word. The sum of all the virtues I have attained to in my life becomes the wisdom I will have in eternity—no less and no more.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:5-7. Pure, unadulterated wisdom is to be meek and merciful. By the same token, according to Jesus’ own words, it is terrible folly not to forgive others. “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt. 6:15. God’s Word exhorts us to honor our father and mother. Eph. 6:2-3. Then we will live long on the earth. And we really need a long life if we want to come to such a great salvation.

When we keep Jesus’ Word, He lifts us up onto the pure highway where wisdom is found. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7. How wise it is to cast everything on the Lord! Faith in such a word can save some­one from perishing in sorrow and despair.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Prov. 9:10. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God is also the continuation of wisdom and its fulfillment. “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are com­ing to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Cor. 2:6-8. The wisdom God wants to give His disciples is a tremendous mystery that is hidden from most people on earth. It was also hidden from the world rulers in Jesus’ time. Otherwise, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

We can well say that God has hidden His wisdom in all the exhortations the Word of God gives us. When we love God’s commandments, we love wisdom. “‘He who has My com­mandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.’ . . . Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Fa­ther will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’” John 14:21, 23.

Love for Jesus makes us keep His Word. Then the Father will come to us and dwell in us. The Spirit of wisdom comes to such people. Through that Spirit they are lifted out of human thoughts and works and into God’s thoughts and works. They experience the purity that is in God. Only these people can see God and understand His thoughts and mind.

“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has slaughtered her meat; she has mixed her wine; she has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.’ As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.’” Prov. 9:1-6.

For the Spirit to reveal the wisdom of God, there must be rest. Revelation of the Spirit is given for the profit of all. It is vital that there are people who long for this life. Wisdom does everything in the right way. Why do people make mistakes time and time again? Because they lack wisdom. But God is so good that He gives us wisdom when we pray for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liber­ally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5.

Many things happen that should provoke us to take heed to ourselves and the doctrine. It is a good idea to ask yourself if the things that you said and did in a situation were done in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. That will bring you into need. Seek counsel, and don’t consider yourself so wise. Talk things over with other brothers and sisters, the things that are on your heart, the things you are in need over. God has placed the blessing where brothers dwell together—where they talk together, are together and have a good rela­tionship with one another. Do not just assume that other people do not have wisdom. Be humble. There are many re­sources in the body. Hearts must be knit together so that we can attain to the whole riches of the full assurance of insight.

Are you getting something out of your experiences, or are you just left with your own thoughts and ideas? Wisdom does not dwell in the heart of fools. If you become irritated or angry, you do not have wisdom. If you want wisdom, death must work over the things that rise up in your flesh. Wisdom is amazing. Arrogance and high-mindedness cause wisdom to keep its distance. If you seek wisdom, then take to heart, among other things, Proverbs, Chapters 1, 8, 9, 12 and 14. Wisdom is sober, and it is always right in the middle of the path. Some people live a “ditch life” their entire life, and they think they are doing a tremendous work for God with all their extreme antics and notions. But where wisdom is revealed, every heart rejoices. People become happy because wisdom will always find a way.

“Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.” Prov. 27:22. People who are wise in their own eyes will not depart from their folly. “Let them go,” Jesus said. God does not regard a man who is wise in his own eyes. Life is much too short to waste it working with unwilling people. Such labor will never succeed; it is wasted time.

Desire fellowship with those who seek God from a pure heart. Look out for “high-class flesh”—gifted people in high positions or nice, generous people. Sometimes God prompts a person to take action in a matter, but they give in because of this “high-class” flesh. We must be saved from such things so that wisdom can be manifested. God is not a respecter of per­sons. Every human being is His creation. Those who despise what is lowly despise their Creator. Obviously, you will never come to wisdom on that path. Wisdom can only be found by those who have an upright mind, those who are genuine and upright and are waiting to meet God on the way of His judg­ments. The Spirit of truth leads me to the Judge, and if I allow myself to be led by the Spirit of truth, I will come to wisdom. We are called to a life in which everything we say and do is pure, simple wisdom. The Spirit of truth leads us to that. Be circumcised from your own honor. Be upright, genuine and truthful. Dare to stand up for what you know is right, and give your back to chastening. Don’t be afraid to stick your neck out a bit, because the way to wisdom is through chastening.