27/11/2022 - WISDOM AND PRUDENCE

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Who is wise? Let them realize these things.  Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea 14.9

Without the wisdom of the Most High, no one can please Him. The devil and his demons are always offering us what is not good, attracting those who do not live in the divine presence. Those who fell into sin in Biblical days are no different from those who go astray today. Only he who keeps the commandments – it is in this fact that wisdom is given to man – is able to overcome the trials, which, no doubt, will come to him (James 1.2-7). Believe in the Word and live!

Besides wisdom, we need prudence. Soon after the defeat of the Philistines in their victory over Goliath, King Saul took David and would not allow him to return to his father’s house. The king sent the young man where there was trouble, and he conducted himself prudently (1 Samuel 18.5). Now David knew that he could not go wrong, so he never surrendered to the praise of the people. If God uses you, never opt for vainglory, but praise the Lord for what He enables you to do.

Prudence protected the shepherd. Being sent by Saul to solve problems, David needed to know how to behave wisely, prudently, so that glory would not go to his head. All the people accepted him, and the women sang that Saul had wounded a thousand and he had wounded ten thousand, but this should not affect his mind. Soon, the king felt humiliated before Jesse’s son and began to hold him in suspicion (1 Samuel 18.6-9). Always be the Lord’s servant and not the master!

God’s paths are straight, and do not involve betrayal of the leaders or abuse of those that are led. Live continually at the Savior’s feet! Those who let themselves be led by praise, flattery, or desires that arise during the journey will fall into the devil’s traps (Proverbs 16.18). It is one thing to stand up, but it’s another thing to remain standing. To do this, one must seek the Lord’s directions found in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 10.12). The saved person must keep himself protected at all times, in order not to weaken in his faith.

The ways of the Lord are in the pages of the Bible and were put there for the righteous to remain alert, so as not to fall into the lies of the devil (Psalms 1.1-3). One example is to never forget the woman of your youth: But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth (Malachi 2.15).

On this point, the devil succeeds in fooling many to the point where they think that because they are used by the Lord, they need someone to match them. Poor fools! They act like the new prophet, who was deceived by the old prophet (1 Kings 13). Whoever disobeys the Word of God will not succeed in his journey of faith, for he signs his own defeat. The Lord’s servant must be faithful until death, or he will not receive the holy crown of life (Revelation 2.10).

Whoever cannot walk in the straight ways of the Lord proves that he is not righteous, but a transgressor. The righteous one looks at Jesus and makes an effort, day after day, not to sadden Him. In this way, he receives more from Him (Hebrews 12:1,2). Watching and praying is only good for us!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares