Words Without Knowledge

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

'Who is this that darkens counsel

by words without knowledge?'"

Job 38:1-2 AMP

How often I speak what I think but it turns out to be meaningless, empty drivel.  It seems so profound to me, but apart from God, it's without meaning!  Job's friends were guilty of dispensing such words without knowledge, and Job may have wondered if they might be right.  

Then God set them all straight:  He is completely in control of His creation, this place in which we call our world, and His ways are so much higher than ours that if we cannot fathom all the intricacies of how nature works, how can we begin to understand the God who created them?  Yes, I have a lot to learn.

Fear of God.  I can study all of my life, earning degree after degree, reaching the heights of academic excellence, yet I'll never gain wisdom.  I could follow the advice of Buddha to find wisdom, yet I'll find his teachings impossible to adhere to.  While my grandmother may give great advice, her understanding isn't simply the result of living a long life.

Wisdom can't be found at school, in religion, philosophy, or with age.  If I want to gain insight and understanding, I must revere God as the source.  If I want to have good judgement, I must respect God's holy and high position.  If I want to know what the right thing to do is, I must seek God as my greatest pursuit in life (Proverbs 9:10).  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10a)

Good advice comes from respecting God as the Maker of all things and the foundation of true wisdom.

Faith.  God is the sole source of wisdom.  Do I believe this, or are there other places to which I turn when my way is unsure?  It's not like there's a lack of readily available advice that makes sense to me and appeals to my way of thinking.  I can find any number of sources for knowledge in how to live.  Resources for common-sense answers are right at my fingertips.  Yet, are all of these rich storehouses of knowledge the same as God's?

In a word, No.  While people are capable of coming up with some pretty good guidance and opinions to help others know how to live, nothing compares to the wisdom of the One who created it all.  For instance, if I need to know how to best take care of a clock, I can ask a repairman who is pretty knowledgeable about such things.  But, to truly learn all the ins and outs of what makes it tick, I must talk to the clock maker.  The designer and builder intimately knows how he put this particular timepiece together, and he is the best source of knowledge about his own creation.

Similarly, God made all things.  I'm living in His world; it runs by His rules, His ideas, within His parameters.  Therefore, if I want to know something about anything, I must go to the Maker.  Believing this, that He is the only source of wisdom, is what it takes to receive the understanding I need throughout my days.  He isn't stingy with this wisdom but is always willing to share, as long as I trust Him as the only source (James 1:5-8).

God will generously give me as much wisdom as I need as long as I believe that understanding can only come from Him.

Submit.  I can know what God wants me to do, receive His wisdom, and trust in Him as the source of insight, but it will never make a difference if I don't submit to His ways.  It's easy for me to be divided, knowing God is leading me a certain way but still try to rely on what I think is the right thing to do.

Sometimes, this is because my way is more comfortable or easier.  Other times, God's path seems too risky or beyond my ability to negotiate.  Every now and then, I even feel too lazy to step outside my comfort zone and into the will of God.  Whatever the reason, simply knowing God's will is not enough;  I must submit to it and let Him have His way in my life.  What good is wisdom if I never apply it?

Wisdom comes from God, but I must submit to His will in order for it to make a difference in my life.

I admit, I'm guilty of speaking words without knowledge many times.  In order to take advantage of the wisdom God is ready and willing to dispense, I must revere Him, believe He is the sole source, and submit to His will.  In these ways, I'll be able to resist speaking words without knowledge.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God's plan for my day.

When do I try to find another source of wisdom instead of going straight to the Maker of heaven and earth?

Why do I sometimes think my way is better?