Get Wisdom

Prov.1:⁵ [ERV] “Even the wise could become wiser by listening… They gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems. ⁷ Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.”

C. S. Lewis in his book, The Screwtape Letters described the concept of “My”. He explained how we misuse or are misled by the concept of “My.” He broke it down into a spectrum but I am going to simplify it for the purpose of this discourse. For instance, saying “my computer”, “my wife”, and then “my God” because it is the same adjective ‘My’, we get confused. “My computer” means I own the computer whereas “my God” means He owns me. While we have moved from ownership to worship, we have maintained the same word – “My”. But most times we get confused because of the word “My”.

Most people carry this confusion into how they relate with God and with their spouse. For instance, “My computer” is for my use. I can shut it down or power it up, and if I search for a file, I had better find it. “My computer” will do my bidding, it will go to any webpage I send it to. “My computer” does what I want it to do; no questions asked. And if “My computer” is getting old and slow, I can either store it away, or give it out, or sell it and buy a new one.

But “My wife” is totally different and any man that cannot tell the difference between “my wife” and “my computer” is asking for trouble. I can change or upgrade my out-dated computer. But if I think my wife is old fashioned, what can I do? “My wife”, my portion! This may appear simple but the sad truth is that a lot of people cannot tell the difference.

When we first got married, I struggled a lot with that because I have a computing background and I am used to writing queries, querying databases and getting results in micro seconds. I was used to pressing keys and getting a response. Then I speak to my wife and she does not respond because she is not in the mood. I did not understand it. Why? Because my computer always responds. I would demand for an immediate response and she would insist she was in no mood to talk. Then one day, God said to me, “She is your wife and not your computer, your wife has emotions but your computer does not!”

Your wife has her own opinion but your computer should not.

Prayer: Father, I ask for wisdom in my relationship with You and in my relationships with the people and resources You have given me, in Jesus Name. Amen!