Just a Thought: Wisdom doesn’t naturally come from old age. Job said this, not me. In the course of his suffering, Job’s friends came to offer council, solutions and probability for his problems. Job was amazed at their lack of display of elderly wisdom. He told them they could learn a few things from the animals of the earth and sea. Job informed them that he believed and understood that calamity, like the breath in their bodies came from the hand of God. How did Job know this? And how did Job stay so clear on his faith amidst all of his suffering and trials? He did because he trusted in the word of God. He did it because he clung to his trust in the Lord. And he expressed his sensitivity to God and His word to his friends. “Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?” (Job 12:11) All advice, suggestions and directions need to be compared to the truth of God’s word. It is by God’s word we find the wisdom for living. Like Job discovered, wisdom doesn’t naturally come from old age. In other words, experience is not the best teacher. But what we learn and how we apply what we have learned through our experiences is. And if life can teach us anything, it teaches us that we can lean on God’s truth, and trust in Him! The animals of the earth and sea are completely dependent upon the Lord and so are we! We could, as Job suggests, really learn some things by observing them. If we want to be wise, learn to be sensitive to God’s truth and place our complete trust in Him. Like a food tester, let your ears test what they hear by comparing it to the truth of God’s word before you trust it or follow it. Lord, I pray today for a wise and sound sensitivity to Your word. May I place my complete trust in Your Truth and in You. And grant me the wisdom to compare all I hear and see to Your truth and believe and follow only that which matches up with Your truth. In Jesus name, amen.
