When we seek God for direction and help in our lives, it is so very important that we listen to Him and follow what He shows us no matter what anyone else may think or say about it.
The Lord tells us in Mark 1:19 and Luke 7:35 that the people accused John the Baptist of having a devil and they called the very sinless, beautiful Lord Jesus Christ a glutton and wine bibber. No matter what you do in life, there will always be ones to find fault.
But, “wisdom is justified of all her children”
Proverbs 31:30 says, “favour is deceitful and beauty is vain” Favour or men’s approval- when that is where are heart is, we will be deceived.
“The fear of man bringeth a snare” Proverbs 29:25
“And He (Jesus) said unto them, ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
When we are careful to listen to God, He will give us the wisdom that we ask for:
“If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1: 5
Whenever God instructs us personally, we must be very careful to follow what he tells us. The enemy of our souls is always there to oppose the way God shows us. Sometimes this opposition may even come from one who is a brother or sister in the Lord. This can truly be a sore trial but we must be fully convicted of what God has shown us and follow it no matter what anyone else thinks or believes. Of course God will never show us a way that is contrary to his written word.
In 1 Kings 13 we read about a prophet of God that was sent to King Jeroboam to give him a message from God. The King invited him to his house and the man of God responded, “If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so it was charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, not turn again by the same way that thou camest. “ 1 Kings 13: 8-9
But a little further down the road, this same prophet met another prophet of God who brings him a different message than the one God had specifically given him:
“I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied to him.” verse 15
So this man of God, who had refused the King, yielded to a prophet. Because of this he lost his life hours later. The wrath of God came down harder on the disobedient than on the one who lied to him.
Galatians 1: 8, 10-12 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached, let him be accursed… For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man- (he didn’t preach a mans message) For I received it neither of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
When God reveals something to us, its time to take heed.
Wisdom is justified of her children- wisdom comes from God. When we have a situation in life and we seek God for direction, He will be faithful to show us the way and it is critical to follow His leading even if it goes against our own understanding.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes:” Proverbs 3: 5-6
When we follow His leading and we are faithful to what he shows us, we will reap good benefits. The wisdom that we follow will shut the mouths of the nay-sayers. When the fruit of our way becomes obvious- that wisdom will be justified of her children, or, in other words, the fruit of our lives will stop the mouths of the scornful:
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54: 17
Fruit takes time to mature. It takes time to see the results of obedience to the wisdom of God. But when we are faithful, our works will one day come to fruition, and like the old saying goes, “The proof is in the pudding” our fruit will speak for itself.
“Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:31
