Eight skills of wisdom you need to solve any problem
I was amazed to watch the Super Heavy rocket booster return to Earth. It is 233 feet tall and weighs about 400,000 pounds.
When it returned to its launching pad, it fired rockets, which slowed it down to a gentle, soft landing in Texas.
How do we get heaven’s wisdom to come down to earth?
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3: 17)
THESE EIGHT PRINCIPLES WILL BRING DOWN HEAVEN’S WISDOM INTO YOUR PROBLEM:
1. “Pure”
Always check your heart first. Motives, ambitions, and selfishness can make the problem worse.
Ask God to give you a pure heart toward someone or something you are trying to solve or resolve.
2. “Peaceable”
Next, be sure you remain at peace. We make bad decisions when we get anxious.
Have you given this problem over to God? His peace is almost tangible.
A calm, relaxed outlook that defuses panic will always make you the “problem solver” in every situation.
3. “Gentle”
Once you calm down, your emotions get in check.
Can you imagine a surgeon who loses their gentleness? The situation usually needs to be more delicate for rough hands.
Lower your voice. Spend time listening. Don’t force your way or bully. It is not wisdom.
4. “Open to reason.”
If we are unreasonable, the party’s over.
A hard-headed, stubborn approach to problem-solving is going nowhere.
Be reasonable. Your opponent “might be right!” Surely, there is some give and take where each side gets a “win.”
5. “Full of mercy”
God is merciful to us. He does not give us what we deserve.
When we are inflexible or judgmental, our “standards” may overwhelm the problem.
Be quick to forgive. You are going to need mercy someday also.
6. “Full of good fruits”
Fruit is “excess life.” It is the overflow, the generosity of your soul.
Remember to be generous in your problem-solving. A stingy approach always has a profit motive in every conflict.
Generosity is like God. It wants everyone to profit and be blessed in a situation.
7. “Impartial”
Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Race, color, creed, gender, age, sex, or religion has nothing to do with “right and wrong.”
Don’t be a respecter of persons. Call it like it is, even if it means you may lose an argument or issue.
8. “Sincere
The last element of wisdom is sincerity: “without wax.” The Romans used this word to describe a clay vessel that was guaranteed not to be patched with wax and whitewashed.
Trying to appear one way when you really are something different is hypocritical.
Be real. Be honest. Be who you are. Issues are solved quickly when both parties get “real” about their feelings.
These eight “retro-rockets” are how we bring down God's wisdom to softly land on the earth.
Go over them carefully. They are God’s wisdom to solve, defuse, and remove any problem.