Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 8, No. 47
“I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!” (Eccl 1:12-13NIV)
Who is speaking here? King Solomon. And what point is he making to us? It is that of the need for us to learn to apply our minds to the various issues of our lives, if the wisdom of God will find expression in us as it should.Solomon, as we know through the bible, was blessed by God with unusual wisdom and breadth of understanding. He was so wise that people all over the world came to speak with him and to learn from him. Look at some of the things said about him in the bible:“He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” (1Kings 4:32-34NIV)
How was Solomon able to do all the things mentioned in the text above and even more? Was it just because God gave him great wisdom and understanding? No! The reason was that he applied his mind to think and to explore things. In other words, he made it his business to put his mind to work. And it was as he did so that he found the wisdom and understanding that God had given to him at work in awesome ways.
In like manner, until we also learn to put our minds to work, until we learn to apply our minds to study, observe and explore the matters of our lives, the wisdom of God will not find expression in us as it ought to. Yes, we may be praying earnestly to God for wisdom. But until we start applying our minds to think, plan, investigate, examine and explore things in life, wisdom will not find expression in our lives as it should, even though we have wisdom greater than that of Solomon.What was the problem with the servant that buried the talent that his master gave him? It was that of unwillingness to put his mind to work. That man would not apply his mind at all to see how he could profit with the talent he had been given. So, whatever measure of wisdom that he had in him could not function to take him to higher heights of usefulness in life. (Cf. Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27)
Now that servant may even have possessed greater wisdom than the other servants. But of what use is wisdom that won’t work? We too may possess greater wisdom than many people around us. But unless that wisdom is at work in taking us to great heights of fruitfulness and usefulness, it will be nothing but a waste. And the only way whatever measure of wisdom that God has given to us will profit our lives and our world is for us to learn to put our minds to work.So, instead of sitting down in poverty, shame or distress, begin to apply your mind to think of how to move from where you are to where you should be.
Yes, there is a need for us to also continually pray to God to fill you with wisdom, knowledge and understanding to do what is right with your life and circumstances. But His wisdom, knowledge and understanding will not work in your life to make anything meaningful out of it for you, if you will not learn to use your head. Begin to use your head, then. Begin to apply our mind to think of how to use the challenges and opportunities of your life to your advantage. Yes, you will find doing so to be hard work. But this kind of hard work will pay you handsomely in life. So, get started with it right away. See you at the top.
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