WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT
Dear brothers and sisters
Look at Phil.1:9-11 NIV
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.
This is a prayer that the Holy Spirit gave the Church through the apostle Paul. Every single one of us will encounter situations where we need to apply discernment. None of us has attained the same discerning ability as God. The apostle Paul said, “We know in part.” So we must continue praying prayers such as the one above so we can have the necessary discernment when situations arise.
Previously we have studied how king Solomon prayed:
1 Kings 3:9 KJV “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad . . . “The Lord immediately answered him. Then within a short time, the opportunity arose for Solomon to judge the case of two harlots who had given birth. Each had given birth to a baby boy. One had lain on her baby and after the baby died, she took him and exchanged him with the other woman’s living baby. Then an argument ensued as they each claimed the living child. (See 1 kings 3:16-4:1)
What was the verdict? The king by the wisdom of God asked for a sword to divide the living child in two pieces. He did this to test the two ladies. One said go ahead while the other said no don’t do it, give her the living baby. Thus Solomon discerned that she was the real mother. That was discernment at work.
Discernment is available for you and me. One of the purposes of the book of Proverbs is: “That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth.” Proverbs are also for the “wise to increase in learning.” V.5.
The book of Proverbs especially warns us of the dangers of adultery.
In Prov. 5:2-6 (Amplified Bible) it says; “That you may exercise proper discrimination and discretion and your lips may guard and keep knowledge and the wise answer [to temptation]. 3 For the lips of a loose woman drip honey as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil . . . “
Gloria Copeland, in commenting about Prov. 5 in her book Hidden Treasures of Proverbs says:
“You don’t have any business enjoying someone else’s company of the opposite sex if your spouse is not there with you. You’re playing a deadly game, and the consequences are terrible to consider.”
Of course the same discernment applies to single people. It is vital to watch your boundaries; even in church prayer and counseling situations. Make sure there is a third party present when you meet with a person of the opposite sex. Be forearmed before it’s too late. What was Solomon demise? You can study it for yourself in 1 Kings 11. He so crossed the boundaries of discernment that he became obsessed with strange women. He started strong and ended up a weak man who caused the deterioration of the entire nation. Brethren, don’t let that to be your portion.
Brethren, you can finish your race strong. Stay in the wisdom of God. Pray for and always use discernment!
