On Wisdom // James 1:5

James 1:5 (NIV) | If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

The verse for today couples up wisdom with enduring trials. I want to share my own personal working definition of wisdom, because I think it might prove helpful. Wisdom is the appropriate application of knowledge from an eternal perspective. To break it down further, knowledge is knowing things whereas wisdom is knowing what to do with the things you know. For example, knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit and wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. Now, back to the connection between wisdom and life’s trials, wisdom helps us know that the troubles of earth are just temporary. It is knowing in faith that God is real, having hope that God’s way wins in the end, and deciding to live with love as the animating force between where we are and where God is leading. So, if you’re battling problems right now, know that God is with you, and they will not last. Jesus overcame our trouble-causing world and will be with you until He brings you home to Heaven. Knowing how to behave with that knowledge is the wisdom you need to survive all the suffering you might encounter.