The Power of Wisdom

By Robinson Moise

Wisdom is what you need to make good decisions. 

What behavior do you adopt when facing trials? Is self-confidence biblical or is it incompatible with trusting God? Do you become a robot when you depend on God? Would you like to make decisions in

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jul 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685568245

Robinson Moise

ROBINSON MOISE is, above all, a husband and the father of a family who seeks the wisdom of God in all areas of his life. Musician, he has also been the choirmaster in various churches. Holder of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a degree in managerial accounting, he is particularly interested in the fields of finance and investment. Obviously, the author discusses these topics in his book and teaches how much wisdom is useful in this area as in many others.

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THE

POWER

OF

WISDOM

Robinson Moise

The Power of Wisdom

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2022 by Robinson Moise

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked CEB are taken from the Common English Bible. © Copyright 2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.CommonEnglishBible.com).

Scripture quotations marked CSB are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible, and CSB®, are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without written permission from the author. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 978-1-68556-823-8

E-ISBN: 978-1-68556-824-5

Dedication

To Nancie, my wife, a woman full of common sense, a grace from God! Among humans, I admire no other as much as I admire her!

To my two children, Herby Samuel and Larissa, for whom I have a lot of affection and compassion. I hope they grow and abide in the wisdom of God and prosper above all things.

To my parents, Constant Saincois Moise and Christine Archille, who invested in me all their love and all they possessed.

To my brothers and sisters, Margareth, Nicole, Ephese, and the family of my late big brother, Hebert Moise.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all the people who contributed, from near or far, in the realization of this book.

I especially thank my wife, Nancie Exantus, who tirelessly supported me in this project, and who revised the whole manuscript I do not know how many times. I also thank my children, who agreed to be deprived of the time I had to devote to them as a father while I was writing this book.

I would also like to thank the following people who read the manuscript and provided me with their comments and encouragement:

The late Dr. Jean-Baptiste Thomas of New York, one of the wisest men of our time.

Dr. Lesly Jules, former professor at Eastern University (USA), a defender of the faith.

Reverend Lunelle Coulanges, my former pastor and family friend, who is a model to follow.

Pastor Vosvick Toussaint, a teacher at the Church of God seminary and a man of great humility.

Dr. Joel Vibert, an unpretentious man who is versed in the Scriptures.

Dr. Ronald Charles, professor at the University of Toronto (Canada).

I also wish to thank Dr. Edna Aurelus, a professor at Wagner College in New York, for our discussions on the topics of psychology and self-confidence. Her pertinent questions prompted me to do a lot of research, which provided me with strong arguments to support my thinking on these topics.

Thanks also go to Ms. Donna L. Ferrier for revising and correcting this book. She worked on it with all her heart. Without her help, this book would not be what it is.

A special thank you goes to Pastor Ivio Sanon for his support in conducting the survey of Christian workers and ministers contained in this book and to those who took the time to answer the survey questions.

Special thanks also go to Pastor Wilson Douce of New York, a very humble man of God, who translated the book into English so that it would be available to a much greater audience around the world.

Above all, I thank the One who played the greatest role in this writing project, namely our God, from whom wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and science come.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: Types of Wisdom in the Bible

Chapter 2: Manifestations of the Wisdom of God

Chapter 3: Traits of the Wise Person According to God

Chapter 4: Sources of Wisdom

Chapter 5: Wisdom As a Poor and Despised Child

Chapter 6: The Heroes of Wisdom

Chapter 7: Christian Walk and Temptation

Chapter 8: Wisdom and Ministry

Chapter 9: Wisdom in Everyday Life

Chapter 10: Wisdom in Finance and Business

Chapter 11: Wisdom in the Household and Between Couples

Chapter 12: Wisdom and Youth

Chapter 13: Wisdom in Trials and Happiness

Chapter 14: Wisdom and Self-Confidence

Chapter 15: Depending on God

Chapter 16: What Shall We Do?

Chapter 17: The Conclusion of the Whole Matter

Endnotes

Introduction

The world has become increasingly modern and complex. We deal with so many variables every day, some of which are beyond our control. Circumstances are less black and white than they used to be, and we operate in the gray more and more. It is not always easy to separate the truth from lies and good from evil. Fortunately, the wisdom that God gives keeps us from walking in a continual path of confusion and deception and instead keeps us living a life that is pleasing to God.

Wisdom is knowing and doing the will of God in all aspects of our lives. Exercising such wisdom helps us see our everyday lives as God sees them and understand them as God does. Wisdom is indispensable as long as we live on this earth. Our lives would be so much easier if we exercised wisdom before speaking, acting, buying, marrying, or accepting a call to fulfill a ministry. Even if we make a bad decision, wisdom can help us rethink the situation and limit the damage.

One of the great challenges is making decisions in a world that continually operates at top speed. Choosing not to make a decision is not a way out of the dilemma because not making a decision is a decision in itself. Pleasing God in a world that operates contrary to His Word is not easy. Given our limitations, we need help and advice from the One who is infallible and transcends time and human knowledge. The wisdom we receive from God helps us act according to His will, not according to the human, earthly, carnal, and diabolical wisdom, as James 3:15 spells out.

Wisdom equips us to live a happy life in this present world while awaiting the return of Christ. The absence of wisdom, on the other hand, gives way to foolishness. Divine wisdom is the only antidote to avoiding the foolishness of the world. What a blessing to have God Himself as our guide and counselor!

Wisdom is synonymous with patience, goodness, faithfulness, and temperance. We will examine the different types of wisdom found in the Bible through the eyes of some wise men and women of God and see how each type manifests. You will see that the wise are not devoid of feelings or emotions, but they know how to find a good balance between the two.

Through these God-fearing biblical role models, we will also learn how wisdom can make a difference in the exercise of a ministry, in a couple’s life, or in the life of a young person, especially regarding his or her sexuality or choice of life partner or friends. Wisdom is quite useful in educating our children, in our relations with both believers and non-believers, in managing our finances, and in the way we use social media.

While this book will answer many of the reader’s questions, the chapters that deal with self-confidence, self-esteem, and dependence on God will raise new ones. Some chapters will show, for example, that our attitude toward suffering depends on our level of wisdom. Job went through his hardships without cursing God and without sinning.

The book uses familiar, everyday things to explain deep biblical truths. The believer who is dependent upon God, for example, is compared to an airplane pilot who is dependent on the control tower or musicians playing a symphony, being dependent on the orchestra conductor. It also includes a survey, the respondents of which are men and women fulfilling a Christian ministry today.

In the end, this book is a catalyst to bring us to an awareness of the wisdom of God. It praises the importance of wisdom in our lives and explains the foolishness of those who despise it. It is a small book that requires only a few hours to read yet applies to our lives as long as we live on this earth.

After all, each of us wants to be blessed by the One who shares with us not only His great love but also His infinite wisdom. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all our decisions and actions reflected the guidance of the Counselor and Almighty? James 1:5 tells us, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. So let’s not hesitate to ask God for His wisdom today.

Chapter 1:

Types of Wisdom

in the Bible

Earthly, Unspiritual,

and Demonic Wisdom

James 3:14–16 and 2 Corinthians 1:12 identify a type of wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. James 3:14–16 says:

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

And 2 Corinthians 1:12 tells us:

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

According to James 3:16, this wisdom is manifested in strife, quarrels, jealousy, confusion, and all sorts of evil work. It is this kind of wisdom that the wicked one brings into the world so that men continue to live in sin and far from the truth. Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 1:12 that if we operate under the wisdom of the flesh, we cannot live in simplicity and sincerity before God.

Tragically, the person who is permeated with sensual, earthly, or demonic wisdom thinks he or she is operating in the truth and is walking on the right path. But members of a family, church, or community that are always arguing and envious of one another, for example, lack the wisdom that God gives and instead are ruled by the world, the flesh, and the devil. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, the apostle Paul beseeches us to examine all things and retain only what is good. We must be careful, however, not to automatically believe that any questioning of a teaching in a church or any decision made by a leader is a manifestation of sensual or devilish wisdom. Questioning is sometimes necessary for balance.

So where does this earthly, unspiritual, and demonic wisdom come from? The answer is found in Ezekiel 28:12 and 17, where the Lord asks the prophet to take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus. The Lord says of the king in Ezekiel 28:12, …You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. But He reveals in Ezekiel 28:17, Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

The king of Tyrus refers to Satan, who was full of wisdom, but his wisdom was corrupted the day iniquity was found in him. This is what gives us earthly, sensual, and demonic wisdom. The enemy is always seeking to corrupt what God has given us while making men believe it is acceptable in His eyes. But any wisdom that does not begin with the fear of the Lord is not of God. Only the wisdom of God allows us to see what is false.

Human Wisdom

All people have the ability to make decisions, whether or not they are believers. But not everyone has the same level of discernment. Some people make decisions using their intelligence, their will, and their feelings. But Proverbs 14:12 tells us, There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Unlike demonic wisdom, however, human wisdom is not necessarily contrary to the will and the Word of God. Even those who do not know God can do both good and bad deeds. Someone who tries to bring peace between two parties, for example, acts in wisdom, whether he or she believes in God or not. A person who thinks before speaking or acting also has a form of wisdom.

All men are created in the image of God; that is, we have all received the intelligence, the will, and the feelings of our Creator. While all of these things are important to appreciate the general revelation of God in nature and in our consciousness, they do not always submit to God’s will. In other words, we do not automatically live according to God’s wisdom. In fact, 1 John 5:9 says the whole world is lying in wickedness, meaning that man is generally more inclined to accept and defend what is evil. Human wisdom has its limits, and Romans 3:12 indicates it inherits corruption and perversion. This is the case with the entirety of human thought. Only God can deliver man from this corruption through a new birth, making him a new creation by giving him a renewed mind ready to submit to God’s divine will and power.

Natural men see human wisdom as a superior way of life to which they cling and conform themselves. The problem is man deprived of God is imperfect, weak, lost, and spiritually dead because all wisdom that comes from mankind’s philosophies or morals is imperfect. Man is temporary, so the wisdom that comes from him is also temporary. God does not want us to rely on human wisdom but on the wisdom that comes from above.

The Wisdom of God

Wisdom that comes from God manifests itself in at least six different forms and occupies various functions in God’s relationship with mankind. These six forms of wisdom are Jesus Christ, the gospel, the gift of the word of wisdom, the Spirit of wisdom, virtue, and intelligence or knowledge. Let us examine these different manifestations, all of which are under the coordination of the Spirit of God.

Jesus Christ

First Corinthians 1:30 says Jesus Christ, the only One who saves, was made wisdom for us, It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

The apostle Paul told the Colossians that all the treasures of wisdom and science are hidden in Christ. Thus, Christ has all wisdom in Him, and He is wisdom at the same time. While God promised Solomon a wisdom that no man has and will never have, it was in no way comparable to the wisdom of Jesus Christ. Solomon sinned despite his wisdom, but Christ never failed in anything.

Many people use Proverbs 8:22 and 1 Corinthians 1:30 to question the divinity of Jesus. These people claim that because wisdom was created, Jesus was also created (since He Himself is wisdom); therefore, He cannot be God. Several things allow us to refute this false doctrine; however, wisdom is an attribute of God, who has no beginning or end. Psalm 90:2 says, from eternity to eternity, He is God. So if wisdom was created, as some claim, was God without wisdom before He created it? To argue that God had no wisdom at any time would be an insult to His greatness and His omniscience.

If Jesus was created, it would mean He is not