What is the wise thing for me to do in EVERY area? For the Disciple of Christ, nothing should escape this scrutiny. Wisdom shines like a spotlight on the soul. In this post, we will discover how the Holy Spirit leads and directs according to what is wise and unwise.
Ephesians 5.15-18— See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
There is no break in the discussion between his comments on wisdom and the command to be “filled” with the Spirit. As a matter of fact an “and” conjoins them. There is then a vital and often-overlooked relationship between wisdom and the Holy Spirit—namely, the Holy Spirit guides the believer in the way of wisdom. Therefore to refuse to live wisely is to ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is as this passage states— “unwise”. This same truth is reversible—To live wisely is to be led by the Spirit.
In the book of James we are told that if we lack wisdom we should ask for it: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1.5) We are encouraged to ask for wisdom. “If any man lack”— we all do! According to the definition of wisdom-getting from Ephesians 5: we are in need of wisdom when we do not know the will of God. It also clarifies we are in need of wisdom when we do not understand (“understanding”) the will of God. I know no one who knows precisely what God’s will is on every item. Therefore we musta ask. God, the Holy Spirit, is more than willing to give us the wisdom we need for the decisions we face. He is also interested in showing us what the reason is (understanding) as well. Notice also from these passages that we are encouraged to ask for wisdom rather than direction. Yet our tendency is to do the opposite. Because we want quick answers then move on. So why would God say we should ask for wisdom? So we can learn: who He is; what He thinks; where His heart is about a particular situation or person. Therefore we can make decisions with understanding. This is good for us. In Proverbs 3.13 Solomon mentions that we would be happier for this— “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” Again in Proverbs 4.7 he said— “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” This confirms what we observed from Ephesians and James.
Many issues we are forced to deal with on a daily basis are not mentioned specifically in the Scripture. In these instances God expects us to ask— What is the wise thing for me to do? Wisdom fills the gaps between the principles, promises, and commands of God. Yet, legalism seeks rules. Rules to live by require no wisdom therefore no Holy Spirit leadership. And we wonder how we got where we are? The flesh-driven need for legislation has to be eradicated if you will love in wisdom, therefore be led of the Spirit of God. There are some people we insist on legalizing everything. They only respond in-kind as well. Have you noticed that people who control others with notes and labels, also require those same tools to be told what to do? You can’t simply say, “Please don’t do this…” Instead you have to leave a note and tape it to the wall. Because wisdom operates beyond the realm of right and wrong. Somewhere along the way people have sought the easier, unspiritual path of rules and legislation. Which allows for erroneous beliefs and dangerous extremes. Even to the point of saying things like… “If the Bible doesn’t say it’s wrong specifically then it must be okay.” WRONG! That’s whats wrong with all lists… they are always incomplete. There are many things that the Bible does not specifically cite as wrong, that are detrimental to our spiritual and physical life. Conversely there are many more things the Bible does not specifically state that are okay for us. Would you rather trust an incomplete human list, or an infinitely wise God?
Wisdom is the tool the Holy Spirit uses to personalize God’s will for our lives. This is when it’s most tempting to depend on our wisdom and the wisdom of others. Not only are lists an object of stumbling, opinions are as well. Fact: We are weak. In know that doesn’t help your self-esteem, but it is true. Or else, you wouldn’t sin after you had been saved. Knowing we are weak, we will naturally gravitate to those pieces of advice which agree with us, thus excusing our actions. People ask me for advice nearly on a daily basis. I sometimes tell them. More often that not, I don’t. I usually just explain an example in the scripture, then how that applies; or on occasion I will ask them questions that they already know the answer to. They just needed a coach to help them sort it out. Relying on the opinion of others is not the wisest option. In light of that, I do not want to sound contradicting, but rather, I want to establish some much needed clarity Three particular Proverbs have guided a major part of my leadership dynamic for years. I wish I could repeat the first 10 years and practice these three more. Those are: Proverbs 11.14 says— “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”; 20.18— “Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.”; 15.22— “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Each of them use the word “counsel”. This is specifically counsel, and not wisdom. To get advice (counsel) is wise. God encourages it and at times demands it. He is not contradicting Himself when He tells us to seek counsel— if He is the one telling us to seek it. If He tells us to do so then that is wisdom, but the choice is not the opinions of others, it should be the opinion of God above the opinions of others. What kind of counsellors are you using? Maybe you trust them, but is that not the same as the list? My friend, dad, boss, confidant, or Pastor, is not God! That is counsel, opinion, and advice… not God-wisdom. To do exactly as suggested because you trust the person giving the advice is placing them as a god in your life. Even though the scripture tells us to seek council, we should never accept it as God’s wisdom.
Even as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul said his teaching could never be man’s wisdom. Instead, he said it must be derived from God with comparison to other spiritual things. (1 Corinthians 2.13— “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”) this begs the question: How do you know if it is man’s wisdom? According to what Paul said in that same passage, we have to ask ourselves if it is simply enticing to our flesh: (1 Corinthians 2.4— “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”). Any wisdom that agrees with me, might have a problem with it. You cannot consider it truly objective, because even man’s wisdom is finicky. Solomon again said in Ecclesiastes 9.16— “Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” Man’s wisdom is truly finicky! A poor man may have the answer we are looking for, but socially we discard his thoughts because he is, after all, poor. As a matter of fact, it is foolish! Proverbs 28.26 says— “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” To trust your own heart, mind, or thoughts is foolish. Notice that reference said: “…but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered”? Deliverance? Yes. We have to view this as a matter of spiritual survival! The Holy Spirit uses wisdom to keep us back from the brink of disaster. Most of us want to know how far we can go toward sin without actually sinning. Then we move right out onto the edge! Consequently, there are habits we cannot walk away from; areas of weakness in our lives we can never improve; all because we did not listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. What is the wise thing to do in light of my past experiences? We would do well to listen to the still, small voice that quietly whispers— remember the last time you…remember the last time you…remember…? The Holy Spirit can remind us of that better than anyone. He also knows what this little decision can lead to in light of what you did last time, better than anyone.
2. What is the wise thing to do in light of my present situation? Sometimes, because of the present state of your marriage, health, finances, or the economy, situations that ordinarily would be okay —are at this moment— off limits. This can be hard to take; after all it was okay last time…why not this time? Int here cases it isn’t an issue of right versus wrong; it is a wisdom issue. Life changes quickly! As stated earlier— If we depend on legislated, in-stone-decisions, then we may inadvertently be sliding into disaster. What’s good today may be detrimental tomorrow. And then it may be okay the day after. That is why it is so important for us to be sensitive to the initial and constant promptings of the Holy Spirit at the time! Which is why Proverbs 28.26 said— “…whoso walketh wisely…” Walking is listening and obeying as with taking a walk with someone.
3. What is the wise thing to do in light of my future plans and dreams? You may or may not be making decisions now that are going to hinder your dreams. There is no way for you to see that now. The only one who can “see around the corner” is God. Therefore we must follow the real-time promptings of the Holy Spirit. Then trust He knows what’s best and what’s around the corner in our life. We are not God.
Coming back to our original text; we are encouraged to be careful in Ephesians 5.15— “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” He is instructing each of us to carefully examine everything that comes our way: every opportunity, every invitation, every date, every relationship, every trip, every thing! Why? Because he says— “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5.16) We live in an age of pure evil. It has become the socially accepted norm. Almost nothing in our society works to strengthen our family, our church, our morals, our spiritual life. No one seems to care if married couples stay together or their kids fall out of faith. At times it is even encouraged by so-called “wise” people that are nothing but the carnal world run-a-muk. To become like the world requires no effort at all… just get out in it and stop listening to the Spirit. Before you know it you’ll be just like them. To survive, we must be wise. We cannot afford to walk blindly through life merely taking things as they come. We must get into the habit of taking evasive action.
We also must do more than gain wisdom, but also gain understand: Ephesians 5.17— “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Paul was saying— face up to what you know in your heart God wants you to do. This takes time and meditation. Else we will not follow the leadership of the Spirit. This goes back to the Holy Spirit’s leadership (guidance) and Walking in the Spirit. He takes us by the hand and leads us… rather than stand behind or beside and shove as most people think. Consider these passages as proof:
Romans 8.1— There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.; Romans 8.4— That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.; Galatians 5.16— This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.; Galatians 5.25— If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Each of these promises are conditional to walking (being led of) the Spirit of God. So it should be considered “ignoring God” to have Him there and not to obey Him in individual steps. In fact, He orders our steps… S- plural. Daily, moment by moment as Psalm 37.23 says— “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” And as Proverbs 3.6 states— “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
We all have an amazing ability to sidestep God’s will for our lives when it conflicts with our will for our lives. Given enough time, we can justify almost everything! However it is ignoring Him…which is grieving Him…and setting us up for disaster. Which is exactly what Proverbs 14.8 says— “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” Since the HS moves in the realm of wisdom, His convicting work often begins several steps away from what is traditionally considered sin. When we reach for the phone and the Spirit says— “Don’t do it.” Suppose you ignore the HS and call anyway, have you sinned? YES. You better believe it! God has commanded us to act and think wise and when we act unwisely—especially after being warned by the Holy Spirit— it is sin. We are in a relationship, therefore it is personal with Him. This is clarified in James 4.17— “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” You know better because He told you, showed you, guided you. But we chose to ignore.
Frankly, wisdom is not optional for the one who would claim to be a disciple of Jesus. The Holy Spirit doesn’t draw a line at the point of separating good from evil. He always draws His line a safe distance back from the point of actual disaster. The convicting ministry of the Spirit begins to work once we move outside the parameters of wisdom, way before it is a right and wrong issue. If there is an option outside the spectrum of God’s wisdom, it is outside of His will for us. When He says “no” or “go”… obey! He loves you! He doesn’t wait until we are on the edge of the cliff to warn us.
I will leave you with a final Proverb I mentioned above. I beg you to take the week and meditate on it’s applications in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to use this and make a real change in the way you operate. Proverbs 28.26— “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”