LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Wisdom, Knowledge and Joy
"For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and joy" (Eccl. 2.26).
These days, we hear many announcing a triumphalist gospel, where the degree of spirituality is related to success, health, prosperity, etc., but all external and visible. Many Christians prosper, living in comfort and tranquility; but before the Lord their spiritual life is lukewarm and miserable, lacking wisdom, knowledge of God and even true joy.
The error, the deception, is to associate prosperity, health and well-being with spirituality. God gives us riches to enjoy them, but He says not to put our hope there, because they are uncertain (1 Tim. 6.17). Today you can have them, and enjoy them, but many Christians in other times were rich and then were plundered (Heb. 10.34). How uncertain and insecure are riches!
During World War II, the Jews transformed almost all their wealth into works of art, jewelry and gold, because their money became overnight expropriated by the Nazis and worthless. The enemy already did this once with the Jews, and will do it again with the Christians. However, many of the things we have gone through come from God's own hand to discipline and teach us. Trials are part of this (James 1:2-4).
There is a difference between the righteous and the wicked, as the text from Ecclesiastes quoted above teaches us. The toil of labor, the anxiety to gather and heap up riches is for the ungodly man and not for the saints, for it is the Lord who provides for the saints. All effort, toil and intelligence expended in this toil are useless to the righteous (Ps. 127.2). It is God who gives riches as well as the power to enjoy them. Everything comes from God. It is a gift, a gift from him (Eccl. 5.19).
We need to understand that wisdom, knowledge and divine joy are a Person and not things. All that we acquire in Him is eternal, they are riches that cannot be stolen or mined, much less corroded by rust (Matt. 6.19); they are unfathomable riches in Christ (Eph. 3.8).
If you are good, not of your own goodness, but because the Lord made you righteous by his work on the cross, he gives you wisdom, knowledge and joy. And the riches which you have received temporarily are for you to enjoy and to apply to good works; so that when they fail you, you may be received into the eternal habitations by the friends gained by them, by those in whom they were invested (Luke 16.9).