Wisdom Wednesday: Single-Minded Wisdom
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
” Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (NASB 95),
– Joshua 24:14-15
In his final major address, the aged Joshua instructed the people of God to first, fear the Lord and then, to serve the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the service of the Lord is the demonstration of a wise and worshipful life.
Joshua also confronted the Israelites with the imperative to dedicate themselves fully to serving their Lord, Yahweh. He told them they had to choose whom they would serve: the gods of their neighbors or Yahweh alone. Joshua was succinct: ” As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Single-minded wisdom demands a choice—to focus solely on the Lord. Today, when we say Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we acknowledge that He is the sole Lord and focus of our lives.
Joshua’s address was in about 1400 BC, and about 500 years later, Elijah the prophet warned of the same issue. Under wicked King Ahab of the Northern tribe of Israel, there were hundreds of prophets of the false god, Baal, leading people away from Yahweh. In a well-known passage, Elijah challenged these prophets in a confrontation on Mt. Carmel (I Kings 18). King Ahab called Elijah, “… you troubler of Israel” but Elijah challenged the people, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” I Kings 18:21)
The Northern Kingdom was so degenerated that God allowed the Assyrian Empire to conquer them and carry the people into exile. Then, the land was populated by people other nations who brought a variety of false gods (2 Kings 17). Some priests were allowed to teach the people in the city of Bethel to trust Yahweh (2 Kings 17:27-28), but they attempted to worship both Yahweh and their false gods. (17:32-33). This error is called syncretism and was forbidden by the Lord (Ex. 20:3).
Centuries later, Jesus provided a similar warning, but to a more modern Roman age. By that time, the worship of Baal had subsided and achievement and wealth were becoming the god of the age. Jesus warned:
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matt. 6:24)
Jesus affirmed the need for making a choice – to serve one Lord and master. James also warned in practical terms the danger of being a “double-minded” person that lacks wisdom because he lacks faith and doubts the Lord. (James 1:5-8). He goes further, to ask, “…do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
Let us be single-minded in our wisdom- Fearing the Lord alone, serving Him alone. Let us say, “As for me, I will serve the Lord Jesus Christ.”