Thursday, October 13, 2011

Sunday School Lesson for October 9, 2011: Valuing True Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 9:13–10:20)

Ecclesiastes 9:13
[ Wisdom Better Than Folly ] I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:





Job 9:4
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.







I have something to share; a testimony of Wisdom. This testimony however, is not mine’s. It belongs to a friend. A good friend. You see, I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me’J My friend was at home washing dishes, or about to start, when, he told me, he heard the Holy Ghost speak. He told me that he clearly felt and heard the Lord prompt him to stop washing dishes (he really hadn’t started yet, and take out the trash. “Take out the trash?”, he thought. “Lord, I’ll take out the trash when I’m done with the dishes”, he replied inwardly, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that God really was prompting him to stop… and take out the trash. Bless his heart! He told me that he felt convicted enough about it that, after a moment or so, he stopped washing dishes and started obeying God. He gathered his trash and out the door he went.

Let me stop right here. Has anything like this ever happened to you? Probably. Most Christians will confess to having had, in their Christian experience, some prompting or sign or some direction from God at least once. I make such a claim in my own experience. That leads me to the next question: did you obey that prompting? Many have and have reaped the blessing. Some have not and were left wondering what might have been?

Down the steps, across the parking lot, my friend was making his way toward the nearest dumpster, kind of wondering, kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know how it goes. When you take off after God in this way, it’s really an act of faith. You’re kind of stepping out of the boat and onto the water. Your spiritual antennae kind of go up and you find yourself walking and waiting, walking and waiting. Abraham was walking, with Isaac, up the mountain in obedience and waiting on the Lord, faithfully trusting.

As he got closer to the dumpster, (my friend lives in an apartment) my friend told me that he heard something.. a voice… so faint, but he was sure he heard it. He stopped, sat his trash bag down and walked in the direction of the sound. He almost walked past her. A woman, who appeared to be quite elderly, had fallen down between two cars. She apparently had been coming from the apartment mailboxes, stepped off the curb, between cars, lost her balance and fell. She was lying down between the cars crying for ‘Help!”, help. Let me stop here and add a bit of information: this occurred just this past summer, right here in Dallas, Texas, where we had many, many days of plus one hundred degree days. This was one of those days!

He reached down for her. As he touched her arm, he was struck by how frail she really seemed. She had become disoriented, out of sorts. He told me that, he didn’t know how long she’d been lying there, but that here skin seemed dry.. almost brittle. Her mail was strewn between the cars. He gently… you know how it is when you think you’re being gentle, then you’re struck by how fragile what your handling seems, so you become even more cautious?.. got her to her feet, picked up her scattered mail from between the cars and carefully escorted her back to her apartment. He made sure she was comfortable, got her something to drink and then left to return to his chores.



I need a moment….



Take one with me…



Selah



I’m sure my friend needed a moment as well. What had just happened? What might have happened if? Most of the time, when some one testifies, it’s about, “how the Lord blessed me!”. C’mon, you know how we do. “I obeyed God and look how He blessed me!” Right? Everybody shouts and whoops and all of that is OK, but what about a testimony like this? Takes your breath away doesn’t it? This one is humbling. When my friend told it, you could see how he was still affected by it. What if he hadn’t obeyed? Ultimately, we have to believe that God would have made a way. Most certainly, but, testimonies like this really give us pause to, in awesome wonder, consider all the works His hand has made. How great He is! How Magnificent! How Wondrous! How Glorious! How Merciful! What a Might God we serve.

I won’t mention my friend’s name. Some of you know him, but he’s not looking for any acclaim. I don’t blame him. There’s no sharing the stage with God, is there? To God belongs all the Glory. I hope you enjoyed the testimony. Be encouraged. God may come calling soon. Will you be ready?



Blessings,



.wb





Proverbs 24:14
Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.





John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me





Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

No comments:

Post a Comment