So we have continued praying for you ever
since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding
of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with
spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord,
and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you
will learn to know God better and better.
All of us strive to gain knowledge and
wisdom, in order to function more efficiently in life. Every circumstance we
walk through allows us to gain a bit more wisdom and knowledge so that we are
able to make better decisions and choices in our lives. But the world’s wisdom and
knowledge is very different than God’s spiritual wisdom, and that is what Paul
is writing about in this passage.
If we gain all the worldly wisdom and
knowledge that we can and become hugely successful according to the world’s
standard, we could still be so far off target from what the Lord wants us to do in
life. Satisfying the flesh with material possessions and comforts may be the
standards that those around us are pushing and exemplifying, but we are not supposed
to be lining up with those around us, but rather, lining up with God’s plan and
purpose for our life.
Many years ago, when I was graduating high
school, I was uncertain about the direction I should take regarding education.
I was leaning one direction, but my parents and Youth Pastor were leaning a
different direction. I chose to listen to the advice of my parents and Youth
Pastor and attended a Christian College that offered very limited degree choices,
at that time. Due to the limited choices, I chose Elementary Education as my
major and ended up being miserable as far as my academic choices were
concerned. I ended up not finishing my college degree at that time, but rather
chose to get married and spend the next 18 years of my life being a
stay-at-home mom. I have no regrets when it comes to being a wife and mother,
and enjoyed the quality time that I spent with my children. But I was left very
unfulfilled in my personal spiritual life and calling. Choosing to take the
advice, wisdom and knowledge of others had left me empty and unfulfilled.
Twenty years after quitting, I was able to
go back and graduate from the same college where my journey began. Only this
time I focused on a degree that was not pushed on me by those around me, but
rather, specifically ordained and spoken to me by God himself. At the age of 40, I walked across that stage
to receive my Bachelor of Science degree in Church Leadership, and went on to work
and acheive my Ordination as a Minister with the Assemblies of God. Never in my
wildest dreams could I have imagined the path that the Lord had planned out for me.
It was only when I stopped trying to gain the world’s wisdom and knowledge that
I began to understand and hear God’s spiritual wisdom and knowledge, and the
satisfaction and fulfillment that resulted is beyond what human words can
articulate.
Where are you at
in this journey of life? Have you fulfilled your own personal desires and
dreams, or do you long to discover your God-inspired purpose and plan? Do you
feel that it’s too late or you’re too old to begin again? I challenge you
today, to reevaluate the path that you’re on and ask God to fill you with His
wisdom and knowledge as you pursue to understand the specific path that He has
ordained for you. Then be bold and courageous enough to step out into that
path.
Have
a great day!
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