“but our adequacy is from God”
We live in a world where people strive for more and more knowledge, and we are surrounded by information. In fact, we carry a fact-finding device in our pockets. Whenever we are questioned: “I wonder _____________,” we are encouraged to pull our cellular device from our pocket and “look up” the answer we seek.
Did we catch that?
Do we see how we are encouraged to “look up” to find all the answers we seek?
In the Word of God, the man Solomon is commonly known as the “wisest man who ever lived,” and if we have studied Solomon’s encounter with God, then we also know “how” Solomon received this title. In the book of Proverbs, we find the truth—We can strive for so many things this world has to offer, “but our adequacy is [only] from God.”
Pause with me to read God’s Holy Word.
“Blessed is a person who
(Proverbs 3: 13 & 19-26 NASB)
finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
. . .
The LORD founded the
earth by wisdom,
He established the heavens
by understanding.
By His knowledge the ocean
depths were burst open,
And the clouds drip with dew.
My son, see that they do not
escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom
and discretion,
And they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in
your way securely,
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you
will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your
sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of trouble from the
wicked when it comes;
For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot
from being caught.”
- God has called each of us to come to Him.
- God has called each of us to serve & follow Him.
- God has called each of us to particular tasks, even those things that we feel ill-equipped to accomplish.
Never fear!
- God equips us as we go, as we do the tasks He has called us to do.
How can we know this is truth?
“Blessed is a person who finds wisdom, And one who obtains understanding.” (verse 13)
“For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.” (verse 26)
We read in the Bible:
“The fear of the LORD is the
(Proverbs 9: 10 NASB)
beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy
One is understanding.”
Question: How can we know God equips us as we go, to do the tasks He has called us to do?
Answer: The Bible tells us so!
Question: How can we trust that we can know God through a personal relationship with Jesus?
Answer: The Bible tells us so!
Question: How can we understand and know God?
Answer: The Bible tells us so!
Question: How can we know we are able to accomplish what we were “spiritually born” to do?
Answer: The Bible tells us so!
Question: How can we believe “our adequacy is from God”?
Answer: The Bible tells us so!
- WE MUST BELIEVE IN GOD!
- WE MUST ACCEPT GOD SENT HIS SON TO EARTH!
- WE MUST RECEIVE THE SALVATION OF GOD, RECEIVING THIS SACRED GIFT OF GOD THROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF HIS HOLY SON!
- WE MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED, THAT HE WAS BURIED FOR THREE DAYS, & THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD!
- IN FAITH, WE MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS PROVIDED THE ONLY WAY TO COME TO KNOW GOD!
If we desire knowledge, understanding, and wisdom—WE MUST BELIEVE IN THIS TRUTH!
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus wrote so we might understand the responsibility God’s children bear as we sojourn here on earth. We are reminded how we are commanded by God to SPEAK & LIVE in a way so that people sense the LOVE & GRACE of Christ in us, so people are drawn to Christ Jesus. As my pastor says: We are a little sliver of heaven here on earth.”
- Let us not become lazy or slack in our servanthood.
- Let us strive to know more & more to know God.
- Let us study God’s Word, being taught by God Himself, where we “look up” to find all the answers we seek.
For it is there—God’s Holy Word—where we find wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discretion, discernment, confidence & our salvation!
- Thus, let us not ever become self-sufficient but always remember—“our adequacy is from God.”
“Not that we are adequate in ourselves so
(2 Corinthians 3: 5-6 NASB)
as to consider anything as having come from
ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
who also made us adequate as servants
of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;
for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”