The Wise Old Owl

Whether correctly spelling the word
T-U-E-S-D-A-Y, or explaining to Eeyore that Fall and Autumn were the same season, Winnie the Pooh's friend Owl was known for being the oldest and wisest of all the friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. While Owl's friends didn't always want to listen to his loooong attempts at storytelling, they always went to him for advice. Why? Because he was considered wise, meaning: full of knowledge.

But the Bible talks about wisdom in a different light in the book of James.

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

The Jewish audience James was writing to understood this kind of wisdom not as lofty knowledge or philosophical ideas about life. They understood the word wisdom to mean understanding how to live life for God's glory. They understood wisdom as understanding how to align themselves with God's will and live by His standards. This type of wisdom didn't come from studying scrolls or watching jeopardy. The audience knew this type of wisdom James was speaking of is a divine wisdom that only comes from God.

One of the ways we know this to be true is the context of this verse 5. In the verses leading up to this one, James writes about trials;

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

Consider it joy when you face trials? That goes against every bit of logic we've got in us! I believe that's why God inspired James to write verse 5 next. To paraphrase, James was saying that if that doesn't make sense to you, if you're lacking the divine wisdom to understand being joyful in the midst of trials, that's okay! Just ask God who can help you understand that through divine wisdom!

You see, it's only through this divine wisdom that we can understand what it means to allow God to make us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, through enduring trials on earth. But we can only receive this wisdom as we ask God for it, as we spend time with Him, begging Him to help us see as He sees. It won't be found flipping through "O Magazine", or watching "The View" or "Doctor Oz" and learning the latest tips for how to juggle the things you go through in life. There aren't enough great tips or home remedies to help you fight through struggles with joy and not become depressed, it's only through a divine gift granted by God. The good news is, this verse says that He gives generously to all who ask! This isn't something He is keeping from us. God is waiting to pour out this divine wisdom on us as we let our trials move us toward Him to ask Him to fill us up where we are lacking.

And just like the wise old owl, when we possess this wisdom, people will see it. They will want to come to us for an explanation as to why we are able to act joyfully through trouble. We will be someone others can come to for advice. And when we're living life this way, we, like the owl, will be full of stories to tell of the amazing things God has done in our lives because we possess the divine wisdom of God.