Tuesday, 2 July 2024
WISDOM TO DISCERN RIGHT FROM WRONG
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
Our opening scripture reveals something quite striking. It says if you know the right thing to do
and don’t do it, to you, it’s a sin. That thing may not be a sin to someone else but it is a sin to you because you knew it was the right thing to do but you didn’t do it. This is one major reason God’s people need to understand the workings and guidance of divine wisdom in their lives.
Wisdom gives you the ability to decide and discern right from wrong. Wisdom helps you distinguish righteousness from evil. There’re three major kinds of wisdom the Word of God talks about, and the Greek words for them are “Sophia,” “Sunesis” and “Phronesis.”
“Sophia” is theoretical wisdom, the insight that God gives you into reality. “Sunesis” is comprehension, perception, understanding, the ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them. It suggests quickness of apprehension, the penetrating consideration which precedes action.
But when we say wisdom is the ability to decide and discern right from wrong, we’re referring to “Phronesis,” which is practical wisdom. “Phronesis” is a mindset, the mindset of the righteous; it’s a force. When we say wisdom is a force, we’re referring to “Phronesis.”
“Phronesis” is that disposition of being in the will of God beyond your reasoning. It’s a special spiritual elixir that locates you within the framework or ambits of God’s will beyond your understanding. It locates you in the places where you ought to be; it causes you to do the things you ought to do without having to reason them out first, because it has created a mindset within your system. It’s your default setting to only talk right, think right, live right, and do right. It’s a programming.
If therefore you know what is right by “Sophia” and you don’t do it, then it means you lack “Phronesis.” “Phronesis” is a propeller. It helps you see what you should see that others may not see. The beautiful thing is, you can develop yourself to function always in “Phronesis” through conscious and constant meditation on the Word of God.
PRAYER: Dear Father, as I yield myself to the guidance of your Spirit, I function with an increased manifestation of practical wisdom — the mindset of the righteous. I’m programmed to think, talk, live and act right, and walk consistently in the light of your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 3:13-18; Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 5:15-17
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 15:36-16:1-15 & Esther 8-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 & Isaiah 21