Cindy Donaldson, St. Luke’s member since 2012, Children’s Council chair and Bible study co-leader / The Story Houston member since 2017, Prayer Team 

1 Corinthians 2:7
But we do impart God’s mysterious and hidden wisdom. Before the ages began, God graciously decided to use His wisdom for our glory.

Reflection:
My husband and I married in our early 20’s. By our mid-20’s, we were enjoying the fruits of our labors as young professionals. Jake has always been the one who is savvy with planning and finances and insisted we develop a budget. I didn’t see the point. We were fine! So, we (he) built this budget, and we lived into it. Come to find out, the structure of living within the budget was actually very freeing. It was not suffocating, as I had feared. We knew just how much was needed to pay the bills, how much we could earmark for charitable giving, and how much could be used for fun things like travel. The result of living within this budget was that there was no longer guilt or uncertainty in deciding on expenditures, as it was all laid out in black and white. Something either fit in our budget or it didn’t – it was either okay or it wasn’t. 

In the eternal wisdom of the Lord, this is how God set out guidelines for our lives. Scripture is teeming with the life lessons we need, right there in black and white. From the Ten Commandments through the New Testament, we read the Bible and we find the Lord’s wisdom for our lives. Something is either in or out. Is it okay to lie? No. Is it okay to covet my neighbor’s car? No. Is it okay to ignore people who need my help? No. Am I required to set aside the worship of idols (the golden calf of money, power, reputation)? Yes. Am I required to love my neighbor? Yes. And so on.

Paul tells early believers in Corinth that, “Before the ages began, God graciously decided to use His wisdom for our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7) The rules that the Lord created with great wisdom are not just for God’s good but also for our good. While living within God’s guidance for our lives brings God glory, it also brings us glory. Take the Ten Commandments, for example. Each of these rules protects us and our community. Murder and adultery only hurt; they don’t help. Coveting anything only builds resentment; it does not build relationships. Honoring a Sabbath refreshes your body and soul.

The Good Lord created us. God knows what is best for us. When we find ourselves seeking the right way or a solution to a problem, turn no further than to God’s word. The wisdom of the Lord and all the life lessons we need are right before us in Scripture. We may find that living within this structure is actually freeing in its clarity, just as my young self-found our first family budget. Let us read it, live into it, and work to honor God’s desire for our lives.

Closing Prayer:
Gracious, wise, Lord. You are our ultimate teacher. Every life lesson we need can be found in your holy word. Please help us to seek truth, and cast aside all that tempts us to stray from your desire for our lives. Help us embody your wisdom, and in so doing, reflect the Lord’s love into the world. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.