WHAT SHALL I DO?
“What shall I do?” “How shall I decide?” “What is the right
way?” “Am I making the right move?” All of us find ourselves asking such
questions, asking them of ourselves, asking them of other persons. Every day
there are decisions to be made; there are issues to be met; there is the need
to act wisely. Most of the time we are able to handle the decisions, the
questions that present themselves. But there are times when we find it
difficult to make a decision, when it seems that any course we might take would
be the wrong one, when the issue is so clouded that we cannot seem to reach any
clear thought about it, when we cannot see our way. What shall we the do? Shall
we try to force the issue? Shall we strike out blindly, hoping to find our way?
Usually, this approach may prove a hard one. We may find ourselves taking
detours, running into obstacles and delays. In the creation of the world. “The
world was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep;
and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. And God said,
‘Let there be light’, and there was light” (Gen.1:2-3)
The story of creation is our
story. Every time we are in doubt or despair, our world is waste and void and
darkness is upon the face of the deep; that is, the Truth, the understanding of
the deep things of God seems covered over in us. But light comes through
speaking the word. Our mind is enlightened, our eyes are opened, our
understanding is awakened as we declare in faith from the Spirit of God in us.
“Let there be light.” When we are in darkness, when we do not know what to do
or which way to turn, let us stand still and declare light: “Let there be
light.” The light is there; it shines forth brightly as we affirm it and
believe in it. “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
open to reason, full of mercy and fruits” (James 3:17) Sometimes we confuse
wisdom with knowledge. Wisdom is knowing how to apply the knowledge we have.
Wisdom is knowing how to judge soundly and how to act on this judgment.
Have you ever known a person
who knew about Truth but never seemed to know how to handle the everyday
affairs of life? There are persons who read all the books, who know all the
Truth principles, who memorize and repeat affirmations and denials, who have
the knowledge of Truth but lack know-how, the wisdom to apply it, to use it.
True wisdom does not consist only of knowing, but of doing as well. We may have
a mind filled with facts and figures but unless we know how to use them, to
relate this knowledge constructively and effectively to life and living, such
knowledge is useless. Knowledge is acquired through reading, through study,
through listening to others. Wisdom is an inner revelation: it is from God, it
is an innate spiritual gift. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who
gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of
the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind “ (James 1:5-6).
If we want knowledge we go
to books or teachers for it; if we want wisdom we want wisdom we go to God for
it, “who gives to all men generously and without reproaching.” Suppose you have
some situation to meet that seems difficult, where a solution seems impossible
under present conditions. Will you give up on it or will you go to God for
wisdom, asking in faith, never doubting? The wisdom you seek is there for you,
the light is ready to be revealed, there is a way. This is what you are to
remember; this is what something in you knows and has always known that there
is a right answer with God. Wisdom is not static. It engenders action. The
darkness was upon the face of the deep, and then there was light. Something happened,
a change took place. This is what we are to expect when we pray for light, when
we pray for wisdom. The darkness will disappear, and a new world will appear to
us. The clear understanding of the
reason why Jesus had to suffer for what He did not do is the ultimate every one
of us can offer to appreciate His suffering to bridge the gap between us and God.
Then our darkened circumstances will experience light. Jesus brought light for
us to move out of the darkness sin overshadows us with. Then to every saved
soul, we are operating under the marvelous light of God.
We should not forget that
the wisdom of God is revealed in us and acts through us. We are to act on the
wisdom that Sprit reveals; we are to follow it. May all God's Treasurers celebrate more of this day in multiple joy and gladness in Jesus Name.