We Need Wisdom

Yesterday, we reflected on the passage in the Gospel of Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open.”

I was listening to a podcast with Brant Hansen, and he was talking about how many scholars believe that what Jesus was talking about here in this passage was wisdom. This is actually a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. And in that context, the strong implication is that you are going to need wisdom to know how to apply his teachings. They all require wisdom. And Jesus is saying if you ask God for it, God will give it to you… 

There are so many things in life that we need wisdom for. 

I have a friend, who’s really struggled with addiction over the years. And I’ve tried to help him. He even came to live with us for a period of time when my girls were little. 

Well, one day he called me, and I knew he had been living in the Salvation Army down outside of Tampa. On the phone, he told me he was getting sober and that there was a good program up in Denver Colorado. He just needed bus fare to get there, and he asked me if I could wire him $450 for the ticket. And I did. After all, Jesus said, “Give to anyone who asks of you.” (Matthew 5:42).

But that was the last time I heard from him again – for years. And you know I care about this guy. I really want to help him. I feel for him very deeply I feel for his brother for his mom. So where are the boundaries? How do I know when giving is the loving thing to do, and when giving is enabling, and actually hurting the other person? 

Maybe you’ve been in a similar situation and you known what that is like. Or maybe it’s a relationship, and you’re trying to figure out appropriate boundaries? Or maybe it’s a job. Do I stay in this job even though it’s killing me because it’s financially stable? Or do I look for something else?

There are so many areas of life that require wisdom.

Jesus said, ask… Ask God. He’ll give it to you.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we hand you our difficult, confusing, heartbreaking situations. We pray for healing, and we pray for wholeness. And we also so pray for wisdom and guidance. Open our hearts to hear from you. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.