Understanding and Wisdom

The Bible is full of more than information. God seeks to bring us understanding, and thereby from understanding, wisdom will come. He knows that we get confused and wants to help birth wisdom from those things that we find strange. A good example of this is trials, which at the time we suffer them, seem to make no sense at all. Let’s look at the topic of trials, and how God brings wisdom in the midst of them.


First, Job lays down a foundation for us. He suffered a great trial and shared this; “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28) Respecting God and what He is doing are the ground rules of understanding the trials that come into our lives and gaining wisdom from them. Not seeking after the world’s comforts or evil sets us on the path towards understanding.

Peter also wrote to Christians about this common phenomena of trials in order to bring understanding to his brethren. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Pet 4:12) Men think that “something strange” is happening when difficulties and evils enter their lives. In fact, in men’s wisdom, they try to plan their lives so that these things won’t happen. Many covet riches because money will greatly reduce the risks of bad outcomes in this life. Such is the wisdom of men.

Peter knew that God’s wisdom is not the same as men’s, and that trials weren't a strange occurance. After bringing understanding about trials, he shared his wisdom on how to experience them. “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Rejoice that you partake in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed (1 Pet 4:13-14).

Though we count ourselves blessed if we have a nice life, and plan it to be so, God sees things differently. If, in all our wisdom, we plan and implement a life without trials (or very few), we will not really be blessed, for this world cannot offer us the kingdom of God, neither will we overcome our enemy in order to rule and reign with Christ.

But, in this life, if we submit to our trials with the understanding that they are part of our walk with God, then we will walk in wisdom, to the end that we overcome, and rule and reign with Christ. This may appear to be a shabby and poorly constructed life to those who value what the world has to give them, but it is a life full of riches for those who trust their lives unto the Lord.

The riches and ease of this world bring dullness to the spirits of men and cause them to become lukewarm. Jesus counsels us “buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich.” (Rev 3:18) The same fiery ordeals that try us, purify our faith. “These (trials) have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1Pet 1:70).

We may not understand our trials, but God will bring wisdom out of them, and purify our faith. Trust in Him, for the Lord has His eye on sharing glory with us, and we will not be ashamed. Amen.