When it comes time to make decisions (so, every day!), we must do so wisely. Especially when it comes to our love life. There are two types of wisdom. How to tell the difference between them?
God asks us to act wisely. The book of Proverbs repeats it abundantly. If you are in the middle of a big decision in your life, or you feel that you need an extra dose of wisdom, start studying Proverbs daily. You will find many precious pearls.
There are two types of wisdom. First, human wisdom. It comes when we learn from our mistakes; it’s growing with time. This is the wisdom that our grandparents can give us by sharing what they learned in their lifetime. It is also wisdom, or intelligence, that we develop by studying books or taking classes. “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.” (Proverbs 16:16 NASB) An example of human wisdom is when we choose to save money, to abstain from fast food, or to do exactly what our spiritual authorities tell us to do about dating.
But there is also divine wisdom. God has left us instruction in His word. Every question in life can be answered with a verse. On the other hand, when we have a personal relationship with God and when we have a daily communion with his Holy Spirit, we will see a specific direction for every detail of our life. This is why two identical problems might sometimes have two different solutions in the Bible. Before an army, God sometimes told the king to attack. At other times, He told him to do nothing, and watch God work. When you pray to God about finding a life partner, one night God will tell you to stay home, to correct one of your bad habits, and another night, God will tell you to go to a singles event.
Kings could establish a very complex battle strategy, according to their human wisdom, experiences, and training. But they could also consult the Lord, and thus receive another way of proceeding. Divine wisdom is sometimes illogical or beyond human wisdom. “But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (Acts 6:10 NASB)
God wants us to walk by the Spirit with His gifts. He wants us to move forward with His wisdom above all else. In finances, this could mean taking some savings and investing in a ministry or to encourage a brother or sister of your church. It’s illogical, it’s probably temporary or even a single occasion, but if you obey his call, you will open doors that you would not have thought of. “So that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2: 5 NASB) It is the same for pursuing your calling or finding a partner. We must be constantly listening to his Spirit.
All the teachings you hear (or read!) will give you good general advice. If you cannot take the time to consult the Word of God or you do not want to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit, follow these tips! It is better to follow human wisdom than nothing at all. But if you really want to go where God is calling you, consult Him and follow Him!
How do I know if the little voice I hear is God’s or not? If you feel you have to do an action that is clearly a sin according to God, well be assured that it was not a suggestion of his Spirit! There are other ways to confirm your feelings as well, but this will be the subject of another article.