Searching for Wisdom

KEY VERSE: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” —James 3:13

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: James 1:1-18

THERE ARE CERTAIN things we must do in order to be acceptable servants of God. One of these is to study his Word in order that we might become increasingly familiar with the glorious simplicities of the truth. Others cannot study for us, nor can we do their studying for them. We can help one another, and this is the purpose of class studies; but it is essential to prove all things individually, for this is one of the ways in which we work out our own salvation.

However, even in our study of the Bible it is essential to have the right viewpoint, to be governed by the proper motive. Why do we spend time to study the Bible? Is it merely for the personal satisfaction we obtain by knowing the truth? Is ft in order that we might show others how we can dispute? Our chief motive in Bible study should be to know God better through a clearer understanding of his plan. And if this motive is uppermost in our minds, our first thought will be to impart our increasing knowledge of God to others. The better we know God the more we will want to show forth his praises. And the more of his spirit that rules in our lives, the closer we will be following in the footsteps of Jesus.

The present objective of the Christian life is to be made ready for joint-heirship with Jesus in his millennial kingdom. This objective can be realized only through faithfulness in being co-workers in the divine plan. The principal result, therefore, of all that we do in the service of the Lord is the making of our own calling and election sure. That will be a glorious result, for it will mean glory, honor, and immortality for every individual who thus is victorious in running for the prize.

But there are other results also. The Revelator uses the expression, “His wife hath made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:7) No individual Christian will be the bride of Christ. This is a term that applies to the church as a whole. The expression that the wife, or bride has made herself ready suggests the collective service all the members of the little flock render for one another. (Luke 12:32) This recalls many scriptures which admonish us to faithfulness in laying down our lives for the brethren. We are to bear one another’s burdens, wrote the apostle, “and so fulfill the law of Christ.”—Gal. 6:2

We are to serve one another in various ways—by encouraging others through reminding them of the promises of God; by helping them to a better understanding of the truth; by provoking them to love and to good works; by comforting them in their afflictions; and by our own example of faithfulness in sacrifice. Many of our brethren we do not even know, nor will we ever see them in the flesh, but we can serve these also by our prayers, and by our cooperation in the general ministry of the truth. Indeed, some of our brethren are still in the category described by the apostle in his telling of Christ’s love for the church, when he said that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8) We, too, have the privilege of laying down our lives for such as these—as many of them as the Lord God may see fit to offer the prize of the high calling.

Yes, the most stupendous work ever to be accomplished in the whole universe is brought to completion during the Gospel Age, and it is our honored privilege to participate in it. It is the bringing into being of the New Creation, the church of Christ, Head and body. This work is not accomplished by any one individual alone, not even by Jesus; but every Christian who eventually will be an element of the New Creation will have had a part in it, a part that was rendered faithfully and self-sacrificing even unto death. With most of us it is difficult to recognize anything that is being accomplished directly as a result of our feeble efforts, but as God views the work as a whole, he sees the need for the faithful performance of our part.

The grace of God to all his people of the Gospel Age is represented principally in the loving provision of justification he has made through Christ. It is this that makes us acceptable co-workers with the Lord. Indeed, the purpose of it is that we might be workers together with him. It is marvelous grace. It means that imperfect, dying creatures such as we were before God called us, are being qualified to be partners with the God of the universe in the great work of bringing forth a New Creation, and also in reconciling the lost world and giving all an opportunity to enjoy everlasting life. Such grace is beyond our comprehension!

| Home Page | Table of Contents |