Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
On the excellence and utility of the truths contained in the gospel
The will of God, which determines the whole extent of our obligations, is principally unfolded to us in the doctrines and moral precepts which are delivered in the sacred Scriptures. It is expedient, therefore, to explain to you, from the pulpit, these Divine oracles, by showing you, first, their superior excellence to all other instructions; secondly, the inestimable advantages which they are capable of producing in securing your peace and happiness.
I. As man was created to be eternally happy in the clear and perfect knowledge of the infinite perfections of the Divine Being, there is naturally inherent in the mind of each individual an insatiable thirst after knowledge. But, my beloved friends, if human wisdom be unquestionably a valuable and precious acquisition, certainly the knowledge of those truths to which religion invites our attention must be incomparably more estimable. Yet, inconceivable as it may appear, it is an undeniable truth that many amongst us, while they give themselves to the pursuit of inferior attainments with indefatigable application, will scarcely devote one moment, without reluctance, to the gaining of a proficiency in that sublime and noble science which the fountain of all knowledge pours out so liberally before them. What a lamentable degradation of our mental faculties!
II. The value, moreover, and the excellence of any science, is generally, and very justly, estimated by its utility, by its tendency to promote our interests and advantage. On this account the arts which are calculated to add to the convenience and increase the happiness of society, the arts which tend to cultivate and embellish human life, are held in peculiar esteem, and encouraged by every mark of public approbation. Considering, therefore, the doctrines of Christianity in this point of view, we discover, at the first glance, that they stand eminently superior to every other knowledge which can possibly be acquired. The information which they impart regards whatever is dear and interesting to us in time and eternity. They furnish us with arms for our defence against every enemy that seeks our destruction, and secure us against every danger which surrounds us. (J. Archer.)
Wisdom is necessary to accurate walking
That wisdom and a good understanding of the will of God is necessary to accurate walking or ready obedience.
I. Before I give you the reasons, let me state the point as it lieth in the text.
1. That every man that hath a tender conscience would be accurate and exact in his obedience to God, not contenting himself with a slight tincture of Christianity, but looking into every creek and turning of it, that he may in no point be lacking and defective in his duty. Now this cannot be without much wisdom and knowledge; therefore here, when the apostle presseth them to “walk circumspectly,” he presently addeth, “Not as fools, but as wise.”
2. We have no sure rule to walk by but the will of God.
3. This will is revealed to us in His Word. There our duty and our happiness is clearly stated (Psalms 119:105).
4. This word we need thoroughly to understand, otherwise how shall we know our duty? (Proverbs 19:2.)
5. This understanding must not be idle, but reduced to use and practice. A readiness to serve God in God’s way bringeth us soonest to a knowledge of God’s will. The Word was not given us to try the acuteness of our wits in disputing, but the readiness of our obedience in practising.
6. This reducing what we know to practice is our wisdom. Knowledge is never right but when wisdom goeth along with it.
II. The reasons why much wisdom and a good understanding is required of Christians.
1. That they may resemble God, and discover His perfections to the world.
2. That there may be a due impression of His word upon us, which is all wisdom; and if we understand it and improve it, it must needs make us wise also; for the impression is according to the nature of the seal; and so the new creature must needs be the wisest creature on this side heaven.
3. The great danger of ignorance, or the evils that come from the want of spiritual wisdom.
(1) To ourselves. Our worship is but a fond superstition, a blind devotion to an unknown God, a mere guess directed by custom and some devout aims (John 4:22). Our zeal is but a wild fury (Romans 10:2).
(2) To others. There is no preventing trouble in the Church or scandals to the world if we have not spiritual wisdom and understanding.
4. The incredible delight and peace it begets in our souls.
(1) The bare knowledge of God’s will is very delightful, and yieldeth much more pleasure to the mind than an epicure can find in his most exquisite sensual enjoyments.
(2) The peace which accompanies it.
5. The properties of this knowledge and wisdom show the necessity of it.
(1) Because it is employed about the highest things, to know God’s nature and will, what He is, and how He is to be enjoyed.
(2) These things are most useful and profitable (John 17:3).
1. Is of reproof to divers sorts of persons who live in ignorance, or countenance ignorance upon several pretences.
(1) That it belongeth not to them that dig in the mines of knowledge; they leave that to clerks and men of learning.
(2) Others have a little general and traditional knowledge of the religion commonly professed among us, and talk of it by rote after others, but generally look no further than the outside of it.
(3) Some confine their knowledge to a few obvious truths, and for other things they leave it to preachers more accurately to search after the mind of God, and content themselves to see with other men’s eyes.
(4) Some think ignorance is the mother of devotion, and that men leave off to be good when they grow more knowing.
2. Is to press us to get this knowledge and understanding of God’s will. The apostle speaketh to children of light; and none of us know so much but we may know more.
(1) Labour to get a more full knowledge of heavenly mysteries, especially of those which are necessary to salvation (Hebrews 5:12-13).
(2) Get a more clear knowledge. Fulness relateth to the object, or matters known; clearness to the subject or faculty knowing.
(3) Get a more certain knowledge, or more confirmed knowledge in the truth (Acts 2:36; John 4:42; John 17:8).
(4) Get a more distinct knowledge. Truths are best known in their frame and dependence. A confused knowledge is always unsatisfactory; it is not till we see how one truth agreeth with another, as the curtains of the tabernacle were fastened by loops; till we are able to “compare things spiritual with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13).
(5) Get a more experimental knowledge. Most of Christianity is not only to be believed, but felt (1 John 5:10).
6. Get a more practical knowledge. Knowledge is for use, not an idle speculation. As a gallant and a physician cometh into a garden, one looketh upon the colour and beauty, the other upon the virtue and use of herbs and flowers: “For if, these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ” (2 Peter 1:8). “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). A practical Christian is more ready to serve and please God every day. (T. Manton, D. D.)
Understanding God’s will is true wisdom
That this is true wisdom appears thus.
1. It brings us to that frame of mind with which God is pleased (Isaiah 66:2; Romans 7:7-11).
2. It points out a certain way of escaping the misery due to us as sinners (1 John 5:11-13; Hebrews 6:17-18).
3. It gives that view of God which excites us to love and give ourselves to Him (1 John 4:9-10; 1 John 4:19).
4. It removes the fear of death and the grave.
5. It gives the best ground of submission to the trials of life.
6. It lays the strongest restraints upon sin, which is our disgrace and misery.
7. It shows us that all our enemies are under Divine control.
8. It puts into our hands the best Weapons of defence (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
9. It assures us that God will soon set all matters right (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). If so, how foolish and ungrateful are the neglecters and despisers of this will of God. Let us pray and study to know this will of God. (H. Foster.)
Value of wisdom
If the mountains were pearl, if every sand of the sea were a diamond, it were not comparable to wisdom. Without wisdom a person is like a ship without a pilot, in danger to split upon rocks. The price of wisdom is above rubies. The ruby is precious stone, transparent, of a red fiery colour. It is reported of one of the kings of India, he wore a ruby of that bigness and splendour that he might be seen by it in the dark; but wisdom casts a more sparkling colour than the ruby; it makes us shine as angels. (J. Watson.)
Eight marks of folly
If you would know such as are wise above sobriety you shall discern them by these marks:--
1. They have all the talk, wheresoever they come, like parrots.
2. They contemn others, like the Pharisees.
3. They spurn at them which tell them of their fault, like Abner.
4. They jump with Caesar, like the Herodians.
5. They turn with the time, like Demas.
6. They seek their own credit by the discredit of others, like the enemies of Paul.
7. They love to hear their own praise, like Herod.
8. Above all things they would have their own will, like Jezebel.
Whensoever these eight marks meet there is a wise man and a fool; a wise man in his own conceit, and a fool in proof: these are the wise men of the north, and the philosophers of England. (Henry Smith.)
Submission to the will of God
There is a memorable passage in the history of St. Francis that may throw light on this subject. The grand rule of the order which he founded was implicit submission to the superior. One day a monk proved refractory. He must be subdued. By order of St. Francis a grave was dug deep enough to hold a man; the monk was put into it, the brothers began to shovel in the earth, while their superior, standing by, looked on, stern as death. When the mould had reached the wretch’s knees St. Francis bent down, and, fixing his eyes on him said, “Are you dead yet? Is your self-will dead? Do you yield?” There was no answer; down in that grave there seemed to stand a man with a will as iron as his own. The signal was given, and the burial went on. When at length he was buried up to the middle, to the neck, to the lips, St. Francis bent down once more to repeat the question, “Are you dead yet?” The monk lifted his eye to his superior, to see in the cold grey eyes that were fixed on him no spark of human feeling. Dead to pity and all the weaknesses of humanity, St. Francis stood ready to give the signal that should finish the burial. It was not needed; the iron bent; he was vanquished; the funeral was stopped; his will yielding to a stronger, the poor brother said, “I am dead.” I would not be dead as these monks to any man. The mind and reason which I have got from God Almighty are to bend implicitly and blindly before no human authority. But the submission I refuse to man, Jesus, I give to Thee--not wrung from me by terror, but won by love; the result, not of fear, but of gratitude. (T. Guthrie, D. D.)