You are always invited to the table of Wisdom!
“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”
James 1:5 NRSV
https://www.bible.com/2016/jas.1.5.nrsv
Wisdom Tea Party
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
Thank you for your invitation and photo that goes along with it! I see four cups, one for each of the beautiful wise owls and one for “whosoever will” to come and drink.
I am very appreciative of your gift of wisdom, Sara, and find a table to be set daily for us filled with your wisdom words here on the Daily Lily. …“the word of wisdom through the Spirit, …” (I Cor 12: 8)
This brings to mind some wisdom words from you on December 28 from your blog, “Watch and Pray 2021”. I think it clearly points out that we are not lone rangers in searching and obtaining wisdom; we rely on each other’s gifts and help in our search.
The issue of temptation was spoken of in this blog. Sara said, “Because temptation strikes where we are most vulnerable, we can’t resist it alone.” Tammy’s footnotes”….“Then the mind says I don’t want to bother others I will just handle it myself. It’s not any of their business. They won’t keep my secrets. And, it might be a common knockout, unbelief? Don’t resist it alone.”
I think that speaks volumes about Sara’s wonderful invite to join the “Wisdom Tea Party”.
The footnotes for James 1:5 says: (NIV) “ but wisdom, James is not talking only about knowledge, but about the ability to make wise decisions and difficult circumstances.Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God, and he will generously supply what we need. Christians don’t have to grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers. We can ask for God‘s wisdom to guide our choices. The wisdom that we need has three distinct characteristics: (1) It’s practical. The wisdom from God relates to live even during the most trying times. It is not a wisdom isolated from suffering and trials. This wisdom is the tool by witch trials are overcome. An intelligent person may have profound ideas, but a wise person puts profound ideas into action. Intelligence will allow someone to describe several reasons why the car broke down. The wise person chooses the most likely reason and proceeds to take action. (2) It is divine. God‘s wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common sense does not lead us to choose joy in the middle of trials. This wisdom begins with respect for God, leads to live in by God‘s direction, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong. It is a wisdom that James will describe in length in chapter 3. (3) it is Christlike. Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like Christ. The Bible identifies Christ as the ‘ wisdom of God‘( 1 corinthians 1: 24,2:1-7).” Beautiful table set in the above picture. 😊
Wisdom as Debi and Tammy have tapped into in their research sure says I accept the invite to site at the table of wisdom. Ps 23:5 gives us a word photo of our tea party, “God prepares a table before us in the presences of our enemies….”
Tea party denotes wisdom of cultures. Just imagine sitting down with the culture of friends found in Tammy’s footnotes and Debi’s comment tips, “ obtaining wisdom; we rely on each other’s gifts” and leaving to face each day with divine wisdom.
This blog on wisdom sent me into some reading in Proverbs, which also has a lot to say about wisdom.
I loved how Sara connects tea party to wisdom and cultures.
“Tea party denotes wisdom of cultures. Just imagine sitting down with the culture of friends… “
I think this is a really unique definition of tea party that I had to look into in order to “imagine”.
In making sure I understood what culture means, I looked it up and found these dictionary definitions to be helpful:
• “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization
• the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic
• the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations”
Seems Solomon was imparting wisdom that spans cultures and generations. He spoke of all the benefits of acquiring and using wisdom and the consequences of not heeding wisdom. I thought these two points of his helped show the contrast.
“Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom”
“Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful. She is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.” (Proverbs 3: 16-18 NET)
“Warning Against Disregarding Wisdom”
Because they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the LORD, they did not comply with my advice, they spurned all my rebuke. Therefore they will eat from the fruit of their way,
and they will be stuffed full of their own counsel. For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them. (Proverbs 1: 29-32 NET)
Debi and Tammy, was the wisdom Solomon expounded the same wisdom as James speaks of and expanded on by Tammy’s footnotes?
“People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon; they came from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.”
1 Kings 4:34 NRSV
https://www.bible.com/2016/1ki.4.34.nrsv
I would say “yes” to your question Sara, but hopefully you will help with some teaching here if I answered wrong? “The footnotes for James 1:5 says: (NIV) “ but wisdom, James is not talking only about knowledge, but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances “ and 1 Kings 3:5-15.
“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.”
1 Kings 3:5-15 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/1ki.3.5-15.niv
I’m in agreement with you, Tammy and Debi… I want to highlight the breathtaking thoughts in the scripture you have shared from I King. The humility Solomon spoke to God with, “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”
The Lord God was pleased with Solomon admitting to his lack of experience or training. Gee, we might ask, why did God give him such a position? Father influence? Yeah! But maybe not the kind we might know today? “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.”
And, God wasn’t concerned about Solomon being young and inexperienced was He? Why? Because the power of wisdom lied within God’s power! And, still does today because James recorded this truth for us.
I’m seeing as much as I love Harvard and Yale just can’t take the place of, (a parent, David) “he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.”
Lot for us to think on as truth as we live out each day. Wisdom when given by God is beyond knowledge regardless of our schooling and learning. While that is great, Imagine Wisdom we are experiencing from God when we ask in humility of heart!
Tammy’s footnotes said, “We can ask for God‘s wisdom to guide our choices. “. They also said : “It is divine”. And that “it is Christlike.”
God gifted Solomon with wisdom. Solomon said, to cry out for it and “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” He said “The LORD created and possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old [were accomplished].” Proverbs 8:22 AMP.
And this about wisdom sounds a lot like Jesus…“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
So, I think yes, in answer to your question, Sara. But this is where your gift of wisdom is so important…and I am asking for guidance/wisdom regarding your question.
Today, January 20, 2021 was Inauguration Day for Biden/Harris. One of the clergy to offer prayers use I King 3/James to pray and ask for wisdom. I thought he read our blog. Well, we all read the same book. How precious in God’s sight that many of us are praying for wisdom four ourselves and our leaders. So like Solomon we seek right from wrong. And, they like Solomon like us so often just don’t have the answers. We can ask and receive.
Thank you, Sara, for listening and sharing this encouraging account regarding the clergy’s prayer and how it connected to your wisdom blog here.
“How precious in God’s sight that many of us are praying for wisdom four ourselves and our leaders.“ Yes, it is. And encouraging to hear, “We can ask and receive.”
I have so appreciated the “wisdom words Sara” has poured into my life’s journey.
I always have to research before responding as I sometime assume I know the meaning of a word or have an understanding but am off base with no understanding at all.
wis·dom
noun
1. the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.
“listen to his words of wisdom”
1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the Wisdom of the World.
Proverbs 3: 7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Colossians 2: 2-3 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. (We certainly need this today, otherwise we would be doing life our way and not God’s way. Hearing but not listening, discerning what God says on the subject.
Matthew 7:24”everyone then who hears these word of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Read the Bible and do what it says.
Mathew7:24 . “Therefore everyone who hears these Word of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock What is real hearing.
2 Timothy 4: 3-4. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears that will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wonder off into myths.
1 John 4:1. beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Proverbs 15:31. The ear that listens to life-giving reproof dwell among the wise.
Jeremiah 7:24. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead , they followed the stubborn inclinations of their of their evil hearts. They went backwards instead of forward.
In reading Charles Spurgeon’s devotional today, he speaks of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. ( this was just after Jesus’s resurrection.Their companion whom they did not recognize as Jesus at first, accompanied them. From the devotional, “ This unrivaled tutor used as His class-book the best of books. Although able to reveal fresh truth, He preferred to expound upon the old.He knew by His omniscience what was the most instructive way of teaching, and by turning at once to Moses and the prophets. He showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books, but meditation upon the Word of God.”
Debi reply is now confirmed Jesus the Word is wisdom.
Great research Rena. Thanks for sharing. And, so very timely for difficulties seem to be hedging us in on all sides. But, as the scripture divinely revealed ancient wisdom will tear walls down and we go free! Oh just thinking about those truths start to diminished the glue that holds the walls firm. Glue of fear, unbelief, distorted views, distractions of varied kinds among other glues that crack at the sound of His voice. The voice of wisdom.