Tag: Slow

Built Through Wisdom

I know, I have already indicated that we are built up in and to love, and now I am writing that it is through wisdom we are built. It may be confusing to some, but not to me this morning. You see, in order to build up in love, one must understand. Understanding comes from wisdom, and therefor is certainly part of the building process.

“3By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

4by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.”

— Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV)

In the above verses, the writer, likely Solomon, is outlining the need for wisdom in our house. It is one thing to know something, but it is something else to understand. One can have information yet not understand the value of that information beyond the moment. For example, and I may have mentioned this before, I gain information on how to repair the washer or dryer from videos online, but that does not mean that I can replicate that day after day after day without looking again at the online videos. In order to gain understanding, I would have to devote myself to the information and commit it to memory for quick recall and repeated use.

The same is for the use of information in the building in love. I have to devote myself to the gaining of love to experience and understand love. Once I have that understanding, I am able to build my house on love and into love that is Christ.

The more we understand the more thoughtful and consequential are our decisions. As I gain in understanding and wisdom, my actions are dictated by that understanding and wisdom. Actions that are calculated but not without risk. The difference is that the risk is known and accepted as part of the building. The understanding and wisdom diminish the risk to the control of the LORD and His will of provision and blessing.

The opposite is true without understanding and wisdom. In those decisions, we tend to just go after it without care and let the chips fall where they may. Yes, there is risk in those decisions, but the risk is far greater as things have not been ruled out or the consequences have not been accepted as consequential. The risk is controlled by desire and selfish gain as opposed to the LORD and His will of provision and blessing.

Slow and steady is the way with wisdom and understanding. Think about the cookie cutter houses that are built quickly. Yes, many are built in a short time to give shelter to those in need. But the materials may not be the best quality and the sustainability of those houses are suspect. Comparing to the custom homes built that take months or years to erect. Castles still stand today from hundreds of years ago as they were built with the best of materials and over time to get it just right.

Our houses, to be built to sustain, should be built with wisdom and understanding. Slow and steady and calculated. With only the best materials (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) to ensure the long standing and established house of the LORD.

What is your house built on? Are you a builder to get it up as fast as possible? What if you chose the quality materials that are derived from the wisdom and understand that comes from the LORD?

Speak Truth

This morning I am continuing my study of the word “will” and was reminded to not hold in the truth in the interest of inclusion and tolerance. Too often it is the truth that is determined to be exclusionary and intolerant. When it comes to our life in the LORD, He is truth and therefore we are to be examples of Him and truth to the world. He is to be trusted as is His Word which we are to meditate day and night.

“16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

As the Word of God is truth, and can be trusted, we are to speak it always. I do not have to “feel bad” for bringing the truth. I actually should release the truth and not keep it bottled up inside, as it will eat me up inside. By speaking truth always, I will avert the tragedy of exploding the truth and will be able to deal with others much more rationally and calmly.

“1I said, “I will guard my ways,

that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,

so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2I was mute and silent;

I held my peace to no avail,

and my distress grew worse.

3My heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:”

— Psalm 39:1-3 (ESV)

Notice the words from David’s Psalm above that he works to “muzzle” himself and that he was “mute” and “silent” and “held” his peace only for it all to well up inside him. His “hear became hot” as the truth was burning to get out. He then “spoke”. I can only imagine the fire that David spoke with as he let out the truth after holding his tongue for so long.

Isn’t that the way it is with us as well. We hold things inside and then when they finally come out, there is this explosion that is understood. We become emotional and irrational and loud and flailing to the point that we are cast aside as zealots.

We should be rational and thoughtful and calculated and honest in our speaking. We are not to hold things in, we are speak the truth so that the gospel will be known in the world.

“19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” – James 1:19-20 (ESV)

This morning I pray for slowness of speech which leads to calmness where the truth of the LORD will be revealed and understood.

What is your approach to speaking? Are you holding in the truth to not offend? What if you were to speak the truth slowly that the Word of the LORD would be heard and understood?