Everything I Know: God

The start of a new year is a good time to take personal stock: especially a new year bringing as many spiritual dangers as this one.  It's what Christians are commanded to do:  check ourselves to make sure we are "in the faith" (II Corinthians 13:5), and that our works show it (Galatians 6:4).
 

So what do I really know in 2017 ?

I know this much: God is sovereign.  He rules over all things.  I don't have a quick verse of scripture that says exactly that...all scripture says exactly that.  All creation says exactly that.  All experience says exactly that.

God's sovereignty grounds all creation and experience in its definitive and defining relationship: all things in heaven and earth are subject to Him.  God's supreme and unchanging I AM opens to us what reality truly IS.  So I understand Psalm 111:10, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

The first wisdom we learn is how infinitely little we know.  How could we not, when God is the Teacher ?  But we have His promise we only need ask Him, trusting He is "in charge" (James 1:5,6).

Trusting too in His goodness.  Wisdom is more than what we know; wisdom is a moral quantity, "good" in the likeness of the One Who created it.  He is good to "give to all generously," life as well as wisdom.  "Good" would hardly seem a strong enough word: but it's the word Jesus attested describes God, and God Alone (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19).

God alone is good.  God alone is wise.  God alone rules, in goodness and wisdom.  He is absolute and entire (the Biblical word for which is "perfect"), nothing less nor other than Who He IS.  Everything He touches, shows it: and everything shows more than His "touch:"  everything shows the infinitely wise and good craft of it's Maker.

I'm Not Sure

I'm re-reading James 1. Had recommended that as a starting-place for a new believer who's never really read the Bible before, and I wanted to hear it again myself before talking about what he got from it.

One of my favorite verses is in that chapter: "If any man lack wisdom..." I certainly know that's me. But I can still remember when the full import...the operative reality...of that verse hit me 10 or 15 years ago: and I did what James said.

One time when our men's group was studying James, I asked the guys if they'd ever asked God for wisdom. They all said they had, of course. But as we talked about it, it became clear they meant they'd asked God for wisdom in some particular circumstance. It struck me at the time that that was true and good, as far as it went: but that my understanding of the verse was somewhat different.

I put it aside to think about, like other somewhat-differences I note between my own thinking and other believers'.

Maybe I have a handle on it now...maybe not. But I understand James to mean we can ask God for wisdom as a lifestyle (an over-worked word, but the right one here). That's not to say prayer for circumstantial wisdom is at all inapplicable, or any kind of error. It's also not to say that it's either/or: even those who pray for a life of wisdom doubtless have circumstances arise which require particular prayer.

So where does the shade or increment of difference lie ? Prayer for circumstantial wisdom is as obedient to the scripture as prayer for a wise life: and I don't doubt, as fully honored by God. Yet there is something greater in God's pleasure with Solomon's asking for wisdom: and I understand Solomon was asking for wisdom in all that God had given him, more than to act wisely in a particular circumstance (I Chronicles 1:10-12).

I'm not sure: but perhaps God's greater pleasure is in Solomon's trusting Him for more: for all time, rather than one time. That seems to accord with James' words regards wisdom: that God gives generously to any who ask Him without doubting. It makes sense to me that His pleasure, and His generosity, is greater when we trust Him, act-in-belief toward Him, for all things. The latter is how I understand Jesus' Own walk, and His teaching...the Kingdom of God.