Wisdom Revealed by Results

In my devotional today, I have been following a reading plan on YouVersion, a free bible app.  This was a verse within the reading and I wanted to share it.

Matthew 11:19 

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

The part that really stood out was the last sentence.

"Wisdom is shown to be right by its results."
Look for the reality of the result

Where do we find wisdom?  I say we find it in the counsel of the wise.
Who is wise among us?  Those who seek, study and practice truth.
What is truth and where can it be found?  For those who know me, you know what my answer is.  Truth, according to the dictionary is a fact or belief that is accepted or that which is true in accordance with fact or reality.  However, if you seek the source of truth in the scripture as I do, you can go to John 18:37-38 and see a conversation between Jesus and Pilate, the Roman governor discuss truth.


John 18:37-38 
I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

We should also bear witness to the truth as we live our lives.

John 17:17 

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

John 8:32 

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 14:6 

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 John 4:6 

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

So, I repeat my question "What is truth and where can it be found? "

We find truth in the person of Jesus and in his word.  We are set free by it, we walk in it, it becomes our road map and guide to our life.  We are even sanctified and purified by it according to John 17:17 and 1 Peter 1:22.  However, we must study the word of truth.  We must meditate on it often.  We need to obey the truth.  However, we cannot do it alone.  We must be seeking the Holy Spirit's counsel and companionship as well as the companionship of other seeking believers.  

Oh how I long to walk in this with other seeking believers.  Don't you?  Is the cry of your heart for this sort of fellowship?  

So, I return to the verse that spurred my heart today to write this blog; 
        But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

Shall we know wisdom?  Yes, when we study the word of God and see it demonstrated in the lives of ourselves and others.  Not for any exaltation but in order to know what is wise and what is truth.  So, we become a light of hope to the world that is hungry for it.  It is what brings glory to our Lord.

[The fundamental conflict in human life is human desire or will versus truth.  Believing or desiring something doesn't make it true.  Truth is truth no matter our opinion, desire, will or belief.]  (summary quote from one of my favorite authors, Dallas Williard)

Interesting comment from JP Moreland a professor from Talbot School of Theology defined truth this way:
Truth is when things are the way one takes, believe or thinks them to be.  When I heard this, I almost discounted his comment, until I went on with him as he explained what he meant...

He went on to say:
Truth is a matching relationship between a thought or belief and reality.  It isn't the believing it or the taking it to be true that makes it true, it is the reality that makes it true.  The relationship between what is reality with what we think determines that which is true.  
You can believe that grass is green but it is the right relationship between that belief and the reality of the green grass that is defined as truth.  If you believe the grass to be pink, and the reality is that the grass is green then the belief is not correct and therefore the relationship between your belief and the reality is not true.  
This simple example demonstrates how simple this concept really is.  It is important that we return to the reality of absolute truth.  The source of absolute truth is found in the One whom created all things.  He is our reference point and guide into all truth. Without it we are going to be tossed to and fro with every thought, mood and wave that comes our way.  The truth will ground us solidly and direct our course.  We will become a beacon of light to all who are seeking wisdom and truth.

We look at both our lives and the lives of others and see if the truth is displayed in each of our lives.  Does our lives line up rightly"?

One last look at the verse to which started these thoughts and blog.

 wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

Is our life in Christ demonstrating right results.  Does our life line up with the wisdom of the word of God  and is the Spirit of Truth leading us into all truth?  

No condemnation here, just pondering these questions along side all who read it.  I too need to do the soul-searching these words demand.

Join me, will you!?