Posts with the category “wisdom-wednesday”

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”Luke 12:13-15I was reflecting the other day on how easily I buy things. One of the reasons we stru...  Read More

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.Romans 13:1-2Well, the election has been called for a few weeks time and...  Read More

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11Last Wednesday we began a discussion about friendship. In this digital, global, high-paced and stressful age, true friendship has never felt harder to find or maintain. But what does the Bible say about friendship? And specifically for today, what does it say about who we should be friends wi...  Read More

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,          and the pleasantness of a friend          springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:9Making and maintaining friendships must be one of the most important and yet hardest parts of life. Particularly as you get older and as responsibilities pile up. And our cultural situation hasn’t helped. As many have noted - we have lots of connections b...  Read More

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,Proverbs 3:13Where do we find wisdom? Who can we trust? This has become a complicated question today.For instance, thirty years ago most people would say you can trust the news. But now, we don’t because there’s too many contradictory reports and we think so much of what we are told comes from a biased viewpoint.We used to think we co...  Read More

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 1 Corinthians 9:19Why do people make friends? It’s not a question we think about much. It just happens right? First, through family friends, then through school or sports, and so on.I think it’s fair to say that most people make friends because it’s natural (God created us to be relational) a...  Read More

In peace I will lie down and sleep,    for you alone, Lord,    make me dwell in safety.Psalm 4:8How do you go with sleep?For many of us, we have grown up hearing that 7 or 8 hours of sleep is the goal and that good sleep is crucial to a good life.But I’m not here to talk about a lack of sleep related to lifestyle or health factors but rather to stress and anxiety.Most of us can remember one of the...  Read More

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.Judges 21:25A few weeks ago the ABC asked people a question, “Should we bring back the Tasmanian Tiger?” What do you reckon?It’s an amazing question for one because it means we are no longer asking - can we bring back the Tasmanian Tiger. But as responders to the ABC article show, this new technology raises some ethical questions. To p...  Read More

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”Acts 10:1-3If you have spent any time defending the Ch...  Read More

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you;    never will I forsake you.”Hebrews 13:5As I write the front cover of the Sydney Morning Herald is dominated by the conversation around poker machines. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that in any given month approx. 40% of Australians will participa...  Read More

For you created my inmost being;    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well.My frame was not hidden from you    when I was made in the secret place,    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.Your eyes saw my unformed body;    all the days ordained for me were written in y...  Read More

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.1 Corinthians 7:1-3The ethics of sex have never been more confused. ...  Read More

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgement.“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his...  Read More

So God created mankind in his own image,    in the image of God he created them;    male and female he created them.God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”Genesis 1:27-28We are talking ethics and morality in the modern world ...  Read More

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor    amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.Proverbs 28:8Nearly 50% of Aussies invest in the stock market. If you include superannuation funds - it would be approximately 95%.How about you? Do you invest in stocks? Or would you?On the one hand, Christians might say that investing is wise and a good way for people to ge...  Read More

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength...  Read More

You are good, and what you do is goodteach me your decrees.Psalm 19:68Most of us desire to do the ‘right thing’ and be good people. But in a complicated world - what does this look like? Over the coming Wednesdays we’re going to consider ethics, morals and how we can be good and do good.Goodness, ethics and morals begin with God. How do we know what goodness is? How can we discern what is right an...  Read More

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:15Life is complicated. It wasn’t long ago that we had some relatives over at our house and one of the kids made a comment that they didn’t want to wear a pair of sunglasses because they were ‘girls’ sunglasses. Which elicited a response from my non-Christian...  Read More

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:31-32Friendships can be one of the most enriching experiences in life and one of the most heartbreaking. Conflict is a normal part of any relationship and friendships usually have their ...  Read More

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming a...  Read More

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming a...  Read More

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.Colossians 4:2-5Einstein said time is an illusion. It sure doesn’t feel lik...  Read More

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.1 Timothy 4:7My grandmother is from another time. She was born one of eight children, in a small village in the east of Italy. Her marriage was arranged for her when she was 18 years to a man she had hardly met.She is a lady of deep superstition. We were warned never to wear dark clothes when we went to ...  Read More

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;Psalm 37:23 This will be the last week (for a while) where we will officially explore the idea of ‘Making Godly Decisions’. As I said in the previous Wednesday blog,Phillip Jensen helpful offers three categories of wisdom in decision making:1. Matters of righteousness2. Matters of good judgement3. Matters of triviaSo let’s talk trivia. W...  Read More

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.Ephesians 5:8-10Over the past/next few Wednesdays, in keeping with our Wisdom Wednesday theme, I’m going to explore ...  Read More

For lack of discipline they will die,    led astray by their own great folly.Proverbs 5:23 Over the past/next few Wednesdays, in keeping with our Wisdom Wednesday theme, I’m going to explore the idea of ‘Making Godly Decisions’. My experience is that many Christians desire to honour God with their lives but sometimes don’t know how.The funny thing is. I reckon a lot of the time. People do know wha...  Read More

Plans fail for lack of counsel,but with many advisers they succeed.Proverbs 5:23 Over the past/next few Wednesdays, in keeping with our Wisdom Wednesday theme, I’m going to explore the idea of ‘Making Godly Decisions’.One of my greatest weaknesses is that I’m a bit of a lone ranger. I’m not very good at asking for help or advice. Which would be fine if I knew everything (obviously I don’t). To be ...  Read More

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?Jeremiah 17:7-9Over the pa...  Read More

Your word is a lamp for my feet,    a light on my path.I have taken an oath and confirmed it,    that I will follow your righteous laws.Psalm 119:105-106Over the next few Wednesdays, in keeping with our Wisdom Wednesday theme, I’m going to explore the idea of ‘Making Godly Decisions’. My experience is that many Christians desire to honour God with their lives but sometimes don’t know how.Our first...  Read More

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.Proverbs 3:5-6Over the next few Wednesdays, in keeping with our Wisdom Wednesday theme, I’m going to explore the idea of ‘Making Godly Decisions’. My experience is that many Christians desire to honour God with their lives but sometimes don’t know how.T...  Read More

Put your outdoor work in order    and get your fields ready;    after that, build your house.Proverb 24:27How do you go with priorities? Are you someone who gets distracted and caught up in less important work/activities? Or are you laser focused?A big part of making godly decisions is about prioritising. One thing we can be sure of, there is always stuff. Stuff we want to do, stuff we need to do ...  Read More

Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.Proverbs 29:8Are you a stirrer? Do you escalate arguments? Or are you cool as a cucumber? Sometimes it depends on the situation (and the people!) doesn’t it?One thing I am continually encouraging my kids is to not escalate. Someone bites you (metaphorically speaking), you either respond calmly or you walk away until you can.There’s a principle a...  Read More

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;    I refused my heart no pleasure.My heart took delight in all my labor,    and this was the reward for all my toil.Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done    and what I had toiled to achieve,everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;    nothing was gained under the sun.Ecclesiastes 2:10-11I think all of us deep down suspect that if we had...  Read More

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,    but the folly of fools is deception.Proverbs 14:8“Know thyself” is one of the most ancient recorded philosophical maxims or sayings. It’s a timeliness saying in that it’s principle is timeless. As the writer of Proverbs says, the wisdom of the prudent is to reflect on themselves and their ways. Whereas the folly of fools is to deceive ...  Read More

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.James 1:19-20Have you ever read one of those Christian social media responses that just made you wince? Do you have a friend who just can’t help themselves from commenting on every social issue with an u...  Read More

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.Proverbs 16:18I think most of my greatest mistakes in life can either be pinned to laziness or pride. Pride can look like many things, an unwillingness to listen, pursuit of self-glory or a refusal to admit wrong. I think this last one is a killer.Is there anything more ugly than everyone knowing someone is wrong and yet they refuse to ...  Read More

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.Matthew 7:24-25A house built on the beach (literally that is) sounds like a nice idea if there were no such thing as tide...  Read More

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?Jeremiah 17:9In the days of ‘follow your heart’, here is a sobering reminder. And Jeremiah knows from experience what God is revealing to Him. Israel has deceived themselves into thinking they could rely on their own martial arts or on the faithfulness of another nation (e.g. Egypt). They have followed their heart all th...  Read More

 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.To the place the streams come from, there they return again.All things are wearisome, more than one can say.The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.Ecclesiastes 1:7-8Ancient wisdom with a timeless truth. Just as the sea is never full, our desire for the pleasures of the senses never seems to be satisfied. Look no...  Read More

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.1 John 3:18Politicians have probably always been a bit on the nose. But it certainly feels that trust is low at the moment. What is it about them? Part of the problem is that seemingly ‘loving’ words are rarely followed by actions.John’s wise encouragement to his ‘children’ or younger followers of Jesus (John is prob...  Read More