Pray for Godly Wisdom

The Garden of Eden story is in Genesis 3. This story tells how the serpent tempted Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The temptation to be like God was too much to withstand, and Eve and Adam ate of the one tree from which they were forbidden to eat. That temptation has not ended. Humans still want to be their own god, or to be God. But I digress.

Let’s go back to the serpent. Here’s how the biblical writer describes the serpent, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made.” (Genesis 3:1) Other translators use the words subtle or shrewd to describe the serpent.

Now let’s fast forward to the time when Jesus was on the earth. He sent his disciples out to deliver the good news of the kingdom of God. Here are his instructions for them in the first century, and for us in the twenty-first: “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

Sadly, in the twenty-first century some Christians are denying or ignoring or deliberately misusing the teachings of our Lord as they now use the word “sheep” in a derogatory manner, as part of the now accepted practice of “name calling.” The new “thing” among some is to deny or ignore the teachings of Jesus in favor of being a tough guy, or even a mean person. For some, the teachings of Jesus are too liberal. That, my friends, is a sad commentary on modern Christendom. And that goes back to the old story about the Garden of Eden—many want to be their own god and make up their own ideas about what it means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus.

This verse seems pertinent for this moment in time: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Stop for a few seconds and let that sink in.

Oh there are those who can put on quite a show of Christianity. They speak well, their messages are appealing, and they attract a lot of attention. Their Christianity can put on a marvelous display that can be amazing to see and/or hear. But then the words of Jesus come through, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy (preach) in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ (Matthew 7:22) We can almost hear the applause. The accolades keep coming. The New York Times best seller list awaits. Television appearances become frequent. It’s the great preaching, the casting out of the demonic, and the many deeds of power that draw people and attention.

Jesus: “Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me you evildoers.’” Wait! Was Jesus saying that some people try to disguise evil by using, or more appropriately, misusing, the teachings of Christianity? Yes! That is exactly what he was saying. And all the religious gobbledygook in the world won’t change it.

And, there is a law; it is a law among those Ten Commandments that some want plastered on a wall, but don’t want to live by: “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.”

So Matthew’s Gospel tells us Jesus said when we go spreading the good news of the kingdom of God that we must be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (10:16)

When we go into a world whose norms are rapidly becoming childish; we should remember the words of the Apostle Paul: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11) This is why we must be, “wise as serpents and innocent as doves,” when we witness in the name of our Lord Jesus. We have to be mature; we have to be grown up—“I put an end to childish ways.” Unfortunately, some never put an end to childish ways.

What did Jesus mean when he said we must be “wise as serpents?” Do you remember how the serpent came to the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve? He was subtle, crafty, shrewd. To be wise as serpents we too must be aware of what is really happening around us, and not allow ourselves to be caught up in the moment, and fail to live as our Lord has taught us to live. There is no person or entity that is so important that they should cause us to forsake the teachings of our Lord.

One can’t throw threats with one side of their mouth while speaking of love out of the other. The two are totally incompatible and do not, cannot, fit into the teachings of Jesus.

One cannot stir anger with one side of their mouth while speaking of peace out of the other.

One cannot spew hate with one side of their mouth while speaking of grace out of the other.

It’s time for Christians to stand up for the teachings of Jesus instead of embracing the dogmas of the world.

There is an apocryphal writing called “The Wisdom of Solomon,” or “The Book of Wisdom.” It is not accepted as inspired scripture in the canon of the Protestant Bible. It is accepted by the Roman Catholic Church. However, it is helpful for us to read these ancient writings to help us understand some of the thinking and teachings of ancient authors.

To help us understand about wisdom, let’s take a look at a few verses from the Wisdom of Solomon:

“Wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me…

There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy

unique, manifold, subtle,

mobile, clear, unpolluted,

distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen,

irresistible, beneficent, humane,

steadfast, sure, free from anxiety,

all-powerful, overseeing all,

and penetrating through all spirits

that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle.”

“For she (wisdom) is a breath of the power of God,

and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty.” (See Wisdom 7:22-24)

And we finish with a look at God’s wisdom from the Apostle James:

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” (3:17)

And so my brothers and sisters in Christ; go forth and live out the teachings of Jesus; go forth and spread the good news (the gospel) in words and deeds, and as you do, “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Don’t be deceived; for Jesus has told us, “not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Hold fast to his word. Pray for godly wisdom. “Put away childish ways.”

Join us Sunday morning at 11:00 at Greenfield, 384 Fairmont Road, Gretna or on Facebook Live on the Greenfield Baptist page. Sunday we will celebrate the ordination of Cameron Hubbard as a Deacon in the Greenfield Family of Believers.