Wisdom Wednesday: We Need Wisdom to Please God

Wisdom Wednesday: We Need Wisdom to Please God

Submitted by Debbie’s Dad

Who is wise and understanding among you?

Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

(James 3:13   NKJV)

First, we please God by our faith…

The writer of the Hebrews asserts the necessity for faith to please God. Faith is the starting point and requirement to please God: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Next, our faith is expressed by the things we do….

James shows that our faith is demonstrated by the things we do in life. Using Abraham as our example, he illustrated how Abraham expressed his faith in his gut-wrenching actions to prepare to offer his son on an altar: “You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. … As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:20-22, 26)

And this good life requires the wisdom of God:

James further explained how good deeds are performed in humility. And this humility comes from wisdom that enables us to walk humbly before Him. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13)

This very concept of “wisdom-humble faith-deeds” was described by Paul in his prayer for the believers at the church of Colosse:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-12)

Paul prayed that:

• The believers would be granted wisdom and understanding,
• To enable them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will,
• Enabling them to live a worthy and pleasing life,
• Which is characterized by endurance, patience, and joyful gratefulness to God.

We need wisdom to live the Christian life… a life that is pleasing to God and demonstrated through the things we do.