Proverbs 2:11. discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,
Yesterday, we saw how God watches over us by giving us discretion. Today, we will talk about discretion’s friend, understanding.
What is understanding? Understanding is the ability to choose the better of two things. Understanding doesn’t just ask “What CAN I do?” It asks, “What SHOULD I do?” Understanding can see two choices and decide which one is the best choice to make.
Often our knowledge of good and evil, our conscience, or God’s moral law answers these questions for us. One option is clearly evil while the other is clearly good. Maybe God’s commandment expressly forbids something, so forsaking it is a no brainer for the Christian. Lie to get ahead or tell the truth? Lend your tools to the neighbor or selfishly withhold them? Bully your employees or respect them? Such choices should be easy because we know what God is like (gracious, kind, caring), and the fear of the Lord causes us to desire to obey him in order to be like him.
But many of life’s choices are much more difficult, they require advanced understanding to guard us. We know what is good, but often it is difficult to know what is BEST. For example, we know we should be generous and give to help the needy, but what is the best way to do this? Or, we know we should reconcile with others, but what is the best way to reconcile with someone who is still untrustworthy?
As we said yesterday, God’s wisdom isn’t magic. Even Christ in us doesn’t zap us with understanding. We don’t miraculously start making all the best choices when we become a Christian. If that were the case, then no Christian would ever do anything foolish or harmful. And we know that’s not happening. No, the Christian must still learn Christ. We must grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
But Christ in us does provide access to all wisdom and therefore access to understanding. We can be wise as God is wise, and understand as Christ understands. The indwelling life of Christ, the indwelling crucified life, allows us to see what is the best, not just the good or the better. The cross of Christ grants us understanding because it is a living demonstration of the best way to live. It is the greatest wisdom on display. The cross shows us both our complete and utter wickedness (we need Jesus to die for us) and God’s great love for us (Jesus did die for us). Understanding both of these truths in each situation will gradually makes us wise. Remembering that we are all more wicked than we ever imagined yet more loved than we ever dared to dream grants us the starting point for discretion and understanding.
You: Do you tend to only be guided by morality (right and wrong) without understanding what is best? Can you think of a situation of your life that requires such understanding?
You in Christ: How do the truths of the gospel, we are wicked and we are loved, allow us to understand ourselves and those around us.
Crist in you: Think about your situation above. How do the two truths of the gospel, we are wicked and we are loved, give you understanding in this specific situation?
Pray: Father, the cross of Jesus helps me understand our sin and your grace. Let these two truths guide me into what is best for others. Amen.
To Live is Christ 