Wisdom that Possesses

Once can appear to be rich, and yet possess nothing. One can appear to be poor, and yet possess much.

There is one who pretends to be rich, yet has nothing at all; Another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Proverbs 13:7

So what is the difference? The difference is that the one who truly possesses, is committed to something that the other is not.

Riches can be acquired by two different means:

1. Through vanity and dishonesty, which is transitory in that it may produce temporary results but does not produce a lasting fruit of labor.

"Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished" Proverbs 13:11

2. Through honest and fulfilling labor, which does produce a fruit that remains.

   

   "...but he that gathereth by labour shall increase." Proverbs 13:11

While this sounds so simple, what happens when you live in a world where they call that which is good, evil; and they claim that which is evil, to be good? A world where people desire the bitter instead of the sweet, and they call the sweet to be bitter? How does this apply when you live in a society where people desire the cheaper bid of less quality, over the higher bid of greater value? They choose the low-end cost (and results) of dishonest work, instead of the honest fruits of a labor that hold real value. What do you do when you live in a society where the multitudes choose the paths of vanity and greed, instead of walking down righteous paths of honesty, purpose, and fulfilling labor?

"Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them]; He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer." Proverbs 22:5 AMPC

The way of vanity may seem to appear as the way of solution, but in it's path lie only thorns and snares. When life presents mountains of lack, uncertainty, and the potential of failure, there is only one thing to do: Commit yourself to God's WORD, and never settle for anything less. It takes a true wisdom of God and His nature to be able to look at your circumstances that seem to be crumbling, and yet confidently say "But thanks be to God, who gives me the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). This is the wisdom of one who knows and understands, what he or she possesses in Christ. This is the wisdom that comes from truly knowing God.

When you know God, you know who you are. You know what He has, and thus what He has given unto you. You know your inheritance as a new creature, born again into the righteousness and riches of Jesus Christ. You know that you are more than a conqueror, an overcomer, an inheritor, a disciple with authority. To know this and to receive it and walk in it, takes a humility that most don't understand. When most speak of humility, they speak of belittling themselves, calling themselves "lowly worms" that have nothing, and are nothing. But that is not what the New Covenant, sealed by Christ's blood, says about those who are in Christ. True humility, is to believe and receive what the WORD of God speaks over you, regardless of what you have done, or how you feel.

"The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD Is riches, honor, and life."

Proverbs 22:4

This "realistic view of one's importance" is the understanding of your stance before God, and your identity in Christ. You are called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:30). You are created after righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). You are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). God's divine will has given you everything you need pertaining to life and godliness in the knowledge of Him who has called you by His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3). Through the knowledge of Him, you know who you are. Not based on anything you've done, but on everything Jesus has done. Amen.

In this humility- this understanding of who God truly is and thus who He has made you to truly be- you are able to pass through the waters of financial uncertainty knowing that you are not alone and they will not drown you. You can walk through the fires of joblessness, lack, marital issues, raising children, sickness, and disease, and yet you will not be scorched nor will the flames be able to set you ablaze.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Do not be afraid, for I am with you;" Isaiah 43:1-3, 5

Because you have chosen to commit yourself to the WORD of God, you are not a slave to your circumstances. The things that come in your life don't merely happen to you, but it is you that happens to your circumstances. You are not the one that is subject to the things you encounter, but the things that you encounter are subject to change by the WORD of God that you are committed to. Therefore, you don't set the gaze of your heart upon only what you can see, but you set your eyes upon that which is unseen. You know that the things you can see are the things that are subject to change, while the things that are unseen- like your God- are the things that are eternal.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

You set your gaze upon God and His WORD, you commit yourself to His WORD, and you settle for nothing less.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

This is what one must do in the midst of a world gone dark.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

Isaiah 5:20

Why stand upon the WORD of God? Why stand upon that which is unseen instead of that which appears? Because the WORD of God is the only thing that endures forever. The WORD of God is real truth. And when all seems to be failing- finances, relationships, governments, health- the one who is committed to the WORD of God is the one who shall come out possessing.

By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.

Proverbs 24:3-4

Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Psalm 127:1

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary;

His understanding is beyond searching out.

He gives power to the faint

and increases the strength of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength;

they will mount up with wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:2-31

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14