Jump Start# 3785

James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him”

In our verse today, James is telling his readers to pray for wisdom. We don’t hear that prayer very often in our public worship. Maybe we ought to. It is easy to confuse knowledge with wisdom. They are close cousins, but they are not the same. Without knowledge there can be no wisdom. But, knowledge alone won’t change a person.

Knowledge is facts. Knowledge is understanding. It’s seeing principles and doctrine. It’s grasping dispensations, covenants and commands. Our Bible class start at very young ages teaching the basic facts. We start by singing songs about the books of the Bible, or asking over and over, ‘How many books are in the Bible?’ And, as the child grows, the facts become deeper. But, if we stay on this trajectory a person enters into middle school, high school, college, or even adulthood, with a head full of facts and very little wisdom.

James tells us not to pray for knowledge, but for wisdom. The difference between these two words, knowledge and wisdom, can be summed up as facts and application. Knowledge put into practice becomes wisdom. It is wisdom that leads to a change in heart and a change in practice.

So, how do we develop wisdom among us?

First, in both classes and sermons, we need to understand our audiences. We can be guilty of information overload. Quotes upon quotes. Footnotes as if we are reading a collegiate dissertation. In our audiences are simple people. They are not dumb nor naïve. What they are looking for is how can I navigate through this week in a godly and righteous way. How do I conduct myself among co-workers and neighbors? How do I find hope in the midst of storms?

If anyone could have done a deep dive into the background of prophecies, ancient history and mysterious and unusual facts, our Lord was the one. But, He didn’t. When teaching His disciples how to pray, Matthew 6, how simple the words and how understandable the expressions are. One doesn’t have to run to the dictionary to figure out what the Lord was saying. This is not a call to dumb down our messages, but realize who we are teaching and make things so practical that they become useful. That’s when wisdom puts on shoes and changes come about.

Second, we ought to read the Bible with the idea of how can I use this? If man is not to live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, as Jesus says, then God’s word must be presented as living, useful, helpful and practical. We live on that word. And, this wisdom aspect could be what’s missing in many hearts, homes and congregations these days. I saw the other day that it takes about 120 classroom hours to earn a PhD. Now, you take a Christian who has been sitting in sermons and classes for decades upon decades. He has more than 120 hours of class time. Yet, he continues to struggle with the same questions, the same sins, the same fears and the same worries, year after year. He’s got the classroom time, but he failed to bridge the gap between knowledge and wisdom.

Some of the best students of the Bible have not been the college teachers, but the farmer, the housewife, the mechanic, who have worn out the Bible reading it over and over and over. They know the word of God. Not only do they know it, but their lives demonstrate the word of God.

Many of the first preachers in the restoration movement were simple farmers who took God’s word to heart and then preached their heart out. Many had the level of education that we would consider high school,  yet they understood God’s word and they understood people.

Third, once you enter the world of wisdom, you see ways to apply what you have learned all around you. God’s word becomes alive and through observing eyes you journey closer and closer to Him. You become challenged. Your thinking cap never comes off. And, in this manner, you move to being a disciple or student of Christ.

Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Loaded with facts, it’s seeing the love and grace of Jesus that touches our hearts and builds faith deep within our souls.

Pray for wisdom…that is a prayer we all need to pray.

Roger