“But where shall wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
Man does not know its worth. . . .
It cannot be bought for gold. . . .
God understands the way to it,
And he knows its place. . . .
He saw it and declared it;
He established it, and searched it out.
And he said to man,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Job 30:12-28

I was struck by the simplicity of these verses this morning. Wisdom is moral discernment and righteousness. “It cannot be bought for gold.” This reminds me of the highly valued “college education,” which is purchased. Wisdom cannot be obtained this way. Wisdom is different than knowledge. One can have knowledge and not discernment and righteousness. You can determine how wise you are based on whether your not you can discern evil and whether or not you turn away from it.

“Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.”
Proverbs 19:2

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21

“Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.”
Proverbs 20:18

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
Proverbs 21:5

“May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace.”
Psalm 144:12

May my sons be healthy, mature, productive young men.
May my daughters be strong, beautiful young women, ready for honorable service.

What a contrast to our culture, which often produces immature, unprepared young men and women who are dependent consumers. I want to raise a different standard from my sons and daughters. I will do all I can to prepare them for a productive life of service.

“Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of this life,
for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
For he will receive me.”
Psalm 49:7-9, 15

As I read this, my heart cries out for the Lord to be with me in this way. So often I feel as though I am totally limited to my own human capabilities. I want God to manifest himself in my life. I want my life and ministry to be more than just what I can do.

So, was Joseph just lucky or chosen? Is there anything I can do have the Lord with me? Here is what Azariah prophesied to King Asa in 2 Chron. 15:2, “The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” Later, Hanani said to him, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (16:9). Joseph was not lucky or chosen, he simply took God up on his promises.

When walking on road to Emmaus with the two men, Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that he prophets have spoken” (v. 25). And he said to the disciples later, “Why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (v. 38).

Father, grant me a believing heart. Let me not be slow of heart to believe and have doubts arise in my heart. But instead, when I hear the Word of the Lord, let me immediately get up and run to the truth and see and live it for myself.

“Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
Psalm 34:11

“Woe to you, O land, when your kind is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
Happy are you, O land, when your kind is the son of the nobility,
And your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness.”
Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

Here we find three important qualities of good leaders:

1.     Experience – It is better to have leaders who are not young and inexperienced (“a child”) but who have the proper background for their responsibilities (“nobility”).

2.     Wisdom in timing – Timing is critical in effective leadership. There is a “proper time” to do things.

3.     Right motivation and purpose – A leader’s reason and purpose for doing what he does is important, even if a particular action is right. It is possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason (“for strength and not for drunkenness”).

“If anyone would come after me . . .” (Mark 8:34)

The word translated “would” in the ESV is thelo, which could mean to desire or to purpose. This second meaining could be defined like this: “to have something in mind for oneself, of purpose, resolve, will, wish, want, be ready” (BDAG, 448).  Based on the context and commitment of the call, “purpose” would certainly be appropriate, if not the necessary meaning. Thus, “if anyone purposes or resolves to follow after me . . .”

Jesus is establishing that following him is a pretty serious endeavor. The first condition is that one desires and purposes to follow him. We all struggle with conflicting desires and we must decide what we want the most. We can be a friend of the world or a friend of God, not both. We can love and serve God or we can love and serve ourselves, not both. We have to make a choice. We can resolve to follow Jesus.

I pray for a great passion to follow Christ. A great fire in my heart that is greater than my desires for fleshly satisfaction. I renew my commitment today to follow Jesus. I purpose again today, with even greater understanding than when I first decided to give him my life, to follow him to the end, no matter what the cost.

“The wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him” (Eccl. 8:5-6).

Right now, my trouble lies heavy on me. And in the midst of my trouble, I pray for a wise heart. I want to know the proper time and the just way in this. I have despaired at times. But I have been comforted by remembering that God knows what is happening, he has allowed what is happening, and he can enable me to serve and please him in the midst of it. And, although I have missed this point up till now, he has allowed this trouble to lie heavy on me for my sake, so that he can take me deeper, draw me closer, make me stronger, open my eyes wider. How can I doubt his gentle, faithful care for me? And so I want to allow this trial to drive me to him, to lean more heavily on him, to learn to let him live in and through me.

And that is when I realize how much of my life is lived in my own thinking and power. I get along pretty well without him. But pretty well (according to my own or the worlds evaluation) falls far, far below God’s mighty power and eternally outpouring of joy and fullness.

“Thank you, Lord. Yes, I thank you, Lord, for this trial. Thank you for freeing me from myself and my small thinking and my mediocre living. Thank you for pushing out of my limited self by giving me more than I can handle. What a freedom!”