FWD: Morning Manna (June 25); BP: Job 32; RBTTY: Acts 7:44-60; Job 3-4

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:27:00 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (June 25); BP: Job 32; RBTTY: Acts 7:44-60; Job 3-4
 

June 25                                                                                                                                “Godly Wisdom”

 

“But there is a spirit of man and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding.  Great men are not always wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.”

                                                                                                                                                        Job 32:8-9

     Even in spiritual matters, the ‘ole saying “You can’t judge a book by its cover” is true.

     Elihu’s warning in today’s Manna is an interesting one, indeed, and worthy of our careful contemplation.  He acknowledges that it is “the inspiration of the Almighty that gives us understanding.”  However, he then says “Great men are not always wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.”

 

     Simply put, just because a person’s rich-and-famous. . .possessing a number of academic degrees (even theological ones). . .president of a nation or multi-billion dollar corporation, etc., doesn’t mean he/she’s necessary wise from God’s standpoint.  Neither does a head-full of gray hair ensure that the wearer is full of spiritual wisdom.

 

     We know that “true wisdom comes from God as a result of simple, unwavering faith in Who He is and what He has done” (James 1:5-8; 3:13-18; Heb. 11:6).  And, that wisdom is not “worldly,” which comes from one’s knowledge of facts, theories, philosophies, etc., and is rooted in pride (James 3:15-16).

 

     You’ll recall that one of satan’s temptations to Eve to eat the forbidden fruit was “it’s desired to make you wise so your eyes will be open and you’ll be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:6).  But, this wisdom is always in direct opposition and contradiction to God’s Word.  That’s why the Lord inspired the psalmist to stress the primacy of God’s Word in our lives (Ps. 1:1-3; 119:1-176) and Joshua to command the people to “observe to do all concerning the Law. . .not turn from it to the right hand or the left. . .not allowing it to depart from their mouths. . . and to meditate on it day and night” (Josh. 1:7-8).

 

     Dear Pilgrim, only those whose lives are rooted on the sure foundation of God’s Word can be sure of their relationship with Christ (Mt. 7:21-27) and have “hope as a sure and steadfast Anchor of the soul” (Heb. 6:17-20).  Likewise, only those “who love Christ will love His Word and keep His commandments” (Jn. 14:15; 15:10).  Beware of those who say or sing, “Oh, how I love Jesus,” but still list as their favorite song, “I did it my way.”

 

     God’s Word instructs us to respect those with a “hoary (gray) head”—for they’ve lived a long time and are worthy of our respect.  However, if that “hoary head is not found in the way of righteousness, it’s not a crown of glory” (Prov. 16:31) and we’d do well to not spend much time listening to their sage counsel.

 

     May the Holy Spirit help us today to spend much time in secret “chewing the cud” on God’s Word (Ps. 1:2-3)—for only in so doing can we be sure our inspiration and enlightenment are from the Lord and not the world or the devil.