Walking Wisely

Walking Wisely

by Patricia Dailey
Senior Pastor, Bethel Revival Center
43 Norwood St.
Everett, MA 02149

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Psalm 101:1.2
I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt Thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

I will behave myself wisely: David had faced the giant Goliath in the name of the Lord and killed him. When he returned, the woman sang a song declaring that Saul had killed his 1,000s but David his 10,000s. This caused King Saul to be jealous of David, and he was out to kill him as the result.

I Samuel 18:5
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

Because David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, he was accepted by all the people, including Saul's servants.

When we think about behaving ourselves wisely, we think of our conduct, our character. To behave wisely in a perfect way is to behave in the right way according to God's Word. This was David's determination: to walk wisely in a perfect way.

I Samuel 18:14,15
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

David's behavior, his character, his conduct was wise. We, too, should walk wisely in all our ways. We ought to have a godly character that our light would shine before all men.

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Stubborn and Self-willed

Yes, we ought to walk wisely in all our ways, as David did: however, there are some personal traits of a self-willed life that still cling on to many. These traits are often overlooked as being sinful and wrong.

One of these traits is stubbornness:

I Samuel 15:23a
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Stubbornness is being self-willed, obstinate and headstrong. This is something that God deals with because it is sinful: but, somehow or the other, when it's a part of a person's life, they don't seem to see how wrong it really is.

Zechariah 7:8-11
And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

The word of the Lord had come unto Zechariah, telling him what to say to the children of Israel, but they would not hear. This is being self-willed, stubborn and obstinate: very, very headstrong.

Zechariah 7:12,13
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts

See how God dealt with the stubbornness of these people back in the days of Zechariah? And God will deal with us today if we are being stubborn and self-willed, obstinate and headstrong.

Children Wanting Control

Often the younger generation will accuse the older generation of being self-willed, not wanting to take any advice. But they only say that because they want to control the lives of the elderly.

Listen, as long as the elderly have their own mind and are able to still function on their own by the help and grace of God, why should their children want to control them? That is wrong. And the children, themselves, are often the ones who are stubborn and self-willed. The very thing they say about their parents or others who are elderly, they are just like that themselves.

We're a fool if we allow our children to control our lives while we are able to take care of ourselves. That's not right. As long parents are able to take care of themselves, as long as they have a sound mind and a sound body, why should they have somebody take over their lives?

You know what many children want to do with their parents when they get older? They want to throw them into a nursing home, because they don't want to take care of them.

Why should we be controlled by our children? Why should they make decisions for us? They don't want us to control them! In fact, they don't want anyone having any control over their lives, because they're stubborn and self-willed.

Under Authority

We're living in a time when nobody seems to want anybody else over them in authority. They want to do what they want to do, when they want to do it. They want to go and come when they want. They don't even want the Lord to tell them what they can do and what they can't do. This is why they toss His Word aside when it speaks against what they are doing.

We see here in Zechariah where these people were very strong headed, and the wrath of God came upon them. Thank God He is longsuffering towards us as He works to get us to change our ways! But we'd best be careful we don't provoke Him by our self-willed stubborn ways.

Rejecting God's Word

Many want all the Lord has for them. They want Him to do a work in them to get them ready to be used to His honor and glory. But how can we be used for God's glory if we're being stubborn and self-willed? How can we be used if we will not receive His Word?

There is so much teaching these days that is contrary to God's Word: and many think because the majority are going that way, then it must be right. No, it's not right if it's not according to the Word of God. If the Word of God says something other than what the majority teaches, we'd best believe God's Word. Man will lead us right into hell if we're not careful.

Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Because of what things? Because of such sinful things as adultery, fornication, covetousness, foolishness. Because of these things comes the wrath of God. We need to wake up and pay attention to the Word of God, putting away our stubbornness and self-will. My, these sins can really do a job on our character and our conduct.

Zechariah 7:14
But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

See how God dealt with their stubborn self-will! Do you think He would deal with them about this and not deal with us when we go the same stubborn way? that He would not deal with us when we will not hear God's Word and live in accordance with it?

"I'm 21 now and free to make my own decisions and do what I want to do. Nobody is going to tell me what to do!"

That is not true. You are not free to do what you want to do. You might think you are; but if you're going to live for God, then you're not free to do just what you want to do, not free to fulfil your own desires — because that is not God's will.

A Critical Spirit

Now, what about being sarcastic? What about having a critical spirit that picks at the flaws in others? A critical spirit looks at others with a critical eye, picking on little nitty-gritty things. People like that search for little specks with a fine comb: searching for something to criticize in other lives so they can justify the things that are yet in their own lives.

Someone with a critical spirit searches and finds those little things in others that are annoying to them. They might not like the way one speaks or the way they do things, so they criticize them for it. Those things they find are not sinful things — but their own criticalness and judgmentalism is! God will have to deal with them about their critical way.

Instead, you should look at your life. Ask God to put a searchlight on your life and get your life taken care of. If you see something in somebody else's life, don't criticize them: Pray for them that God would do a work in their life to free them from that thing.

Fretfulness

Another thing that mars one's character is being fretful. Someone who is fretful worries and fusses a lot. It causes them to lose sleep and, often, to have a nervous condition. Anxiety takes over, taking away the peace that should be in their life. And this is what the devil would want.

We need to cast these things on the Lord. We can't change the circumstances, those things we worry about. The main thing is to pray in faith, believing God's Word, and trusting it all into His hand.

If we submit ourselves unto God in obedience, then we are able to resist the devil, and he will flee. But he will not flee if we don't submit ourselves unto God. We need to submit ourselves to God and turn this thing over to Him, asking Him to forgive us and cleanse us for our lack of submission to Him.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

When people are self-willed, they won't submit to God's will. If they submitted to God, they would let go of their stubbornness; let go of their unyielding, obstinate ways.

Supersensitivity and Anger

Now, a touchy, sensitive spirit is another trait found in many of God's people. And a touchy, sensitive spirit leads to anger. It causes one to have resentment and to retaliate because someone disapproved of them or contradicted them.

When one becomes impatient, anger can begin to rise within. Anger works on the emotions, causing us to do things and say things we shouldn't do or say.

And anger can lead to wrath, where one gets so angry that they hurt the one they're angry at: fists flying, hair pulling, knocking them down.

Anger can cause one to retaliate, especially when they've been disapproved of or contradicted.

What makes you think that everyone will approve of you?

It's not unusual to find those who disapprove of us or contradict us. But, many times, when they do, we will react with sharp, heated words. Do you think that's being Christ-like?

That's not yielding to the Lord, not walking wisely in all one's ways.

Hebrews 12:3,4
For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Jesus endured contradictions, setting an example for us to follow:

I Peter 2:23
Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously

Do you think it's love to use sharp, harsh words to someone just because they contradicted you on something, or because they didn't approve of what you were saying or doing?

They disapproved of what Jesus said and did. In fact, they were out to kill Him! But love works no ill (Romans 13:10). When we have the love of God in our lives, we won't do things to get even or to hurt others.

Now, sometimes someone may misunderstand what you were saying and think you said it to hurt them. This is why, many times, when people fool around with each other, someone is hurt because they take it seriously. I believe this is one reason why God is against foolishness — because in our foolishness we might hurt somebody.

Psalm 119:165
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

We should be in the place where we don't allow anything to offend us.

Walking in Love

Verse 4a
Charity suffereth long, and is kind

Love suffers long and is kind. Kindness will not use sharp, heated words; will not be catty. When one uses catty words, their intent is to cut deep into someone's heart and mind.

But you know what? I found out a long time ago that we don't have to allow those things to affect us. When someone comes against us with their words to hurt us, we should pray for them right away. "Lord, deal with them. If they're deliberately using harsh, hurtful words, deal with them."

We don't need to go around hurting one another: where we're resenting them, wanting to retaliate, wanting to blow off steam and let them have it. God will deal with us if we're doing this type of thing.

Sometimes we get upset and want to run off at the mouth. But if we're upset about something, we should take it to the Lord in prayer.

Verse 5
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

Love does not behave itself unseemly. When someone is filled with the love of God, they will walk wisely in a perfect way — a right way. And the right way is God's way. It's not man's way, but God's way!

God teaches us how to walk, how to live, how to treat one another in love. When we love one another, we will forbear one another, be longsuffering with one another. God teaches us that very thing, teaching us to be kind one to another. He teaches us to forgive one another.

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

God wants us to love one another with a pure heart, fervently (see 1 Peter 1:22). He doesn't want us to love with dissimulation (saying we love someone when we don't really love them).

Ceasing from Anger

Psalm 37:8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Evil can come as the result of somebody stirring up anger. Even though someone hurts you and has feelings against you, don't retaliate. Prayer is the answer — and prayer will work!

Colossians 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

We deal foolishly when we allow anger to take control of our conduct. We are to put anger away. If we feel anger stirring up in us, we need to put it away, to call on the Lord and repent.

Believe me, when a person is angry, their conduct changes. They can get very upset. And, if they're not careful, they can knock someone right to the floor.

Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

People who are very careful and cautious will defer their anger. It is a glory when they pass over those things that would try to anger them.

If you have anger, begin to seek the Lord for victory over it. Don't just repent, but seek the Lord until it is no longer a part of you.

Summary

Colossians 4:5,6
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

We need to pay heed to our ways. God loves us with an everlasting love, and in His love He does not want us to be condemned with the ungodly. He works to get us prepared that we might be fit for the Master's use.

Seeing ourselves as we really are:

II Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

We should want to be pleasing to God, not self. If we're out to please self, we need to come to the place where we sincerely repent and let God change us.