Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
October 1, 2006 - W0640

Most of us think that we see with our eyes but we don’t.  Anatomically, we actually see with our brain.  The eye is just the lens that transfers an image to a sensory portion in our brain, but it is our brain – with our experiences, values, and perceptions – that defines what we see.  Our archived values (the character we have or don’t have) helps determine what we see.  Whether it is fear, greed, or lack of self-esteem – or confidence, generosity, and grace – our brain and heart defines what we see.

Whether we are looking at ourselves in a mirror, at a situation at work, or at a problem in our marriage, our values and morals will define what we perceive (e.g., see or hear). It will also define how we will respond. If that is the case, how do we make wise decisions based on what we see and hear?

For instance, before I came to Honolulu I loved to work on cars yet I soon found out this was an addiction. For me this addiction started when I wanted to save money.  Back then, I had a Ford that needed its brakes changed but rather than spend $189 to pay a mechanic to fix it, I thought I would fix it myself and save money, so I went to Sears and shopped for tools. The guy at the store informed me that I needed standard and metric sockets, open and closed wrenches, crescent wrench, vice grip, screw drivers including Phillips! And because I had a motorcycle, I needed Ellen wrenches too! I thought, “With so many tools, they’re starting to give them names!” Well by the time I left the store, all the tools I “needed” costed me $630!

To make a long story short, none of the tools I had bought at the store was able to get the springs off of the brakes.  When I went back and told the Sears guy the problem, he said, “Ah! You need a brake tool.” Needless to say, that wasn’t the end of it.  In order to change my spark plugs, I also needed a spark plug tool!  That night, when I went home for the evening, it was as if the Lord answered my prayers because there on television was a fancy dancy universal all-in-one tool to fit any bolt or socket. As you can probably guess, the universal all-in-one tool did not work as advertised and if ANYONE tells you there’s a tool that fits for everything, just tell him, “You lie!”

Nonetheless, God has a tool and it works for everything in our lives. So how do you get this tool? The tool sits on a high shelf so you need to ask God for it. This tool fits every decision we need to make and it will build an internal reservoir based on Godly definitions. You’ll then begin to see things and define them correctly so you’ll respond correctly and make good (divine) decisions. The tool is Wisdom.

THE WISDOM:

It is important to understand that it is your internal archive that will help you to respond poorly or correctly, temporally (for this earthly life) or divinely (for eternity). Here is what the Bible tells us, “If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask Him, and He will gladly tell you…When you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James. 1:5-6).  Make sure that when God gives you wisdom, you do it. Remember that you still have a choice to follow wisdom or not, and I encourage you to graduate to wisdom.

There are two levels of decision making. The first is knowing the difference between right and wrong...

BASIC RIGHT & WRONG.   

This is about knowing the difference between a truth and a lie. Love, honor, and sacrifice versus hatred, bitterness and vengeance. If you can’t distinguish between truths and lies, you won’t be able to make basic decisions.  There are sins of commission (e.g, fornication and deception) but there are also sins of omission. This is when you don’t do what you should. “Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17 NLT). Once you understand that, you’ll graduate to the second level of decision making:  what’s wise versus what’s unwise...

GRADUATE TO: WISE OR UNWISE.

There will be a lot of times in a Christian’s life when hopes are dashed, not because of a decision that was right or wrong but rather because of a response (words or actions) that was unwise rather than wise; for example, a bad attitude at work or gossiping. Some friendships are broken because of unwise words or decisions. Here’s an example:

A Christian friend of mine called me one day and told me he was in deep weeds. He said his marriage was done so I asked him what he did. He told me he didn’t do anything wrong but then explained that a female co-worker was having trouble at home with her marriage and he became a listening shoulder for her. Because he wanted to be respectful of work time, he listened to her problems over lunch. When they got back into the car to return to work, he counseled her a bit and gave her some advice to help out. She was so thankful for his compassion and advice that  she kissed him. It just so happened that his wife drove by at that very instant.

He justified himself by saying that he had done nothing wrong yet what he did was very unwise. It was unwise for him to give counsel to an emotionally distraught woman whose state of mind and emotion left her vulnerable to anyone who would comfort her. Although he didn’t do anything wrong, his string of unwise decisions led up to the kiss. I’m glad to say that this story had a good ending for my friend and his wife but it took my friend about eight months to restore the trust in his marriage due to an unwise decision that was not “wrong” per se.    

God tells us to treasure wisdom: “For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her” (Prov. 8:11).  

It is important to see things for what they are. Remember, it is not with your eyes that you see – “…He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear” (Is. 11:3) –  but with your heart.  . So how do you start developing wisdom? How do we archive character qualities to make wise life decisions that are divinely guided? Fortunately, the capacity to make wise decisions is available to everyone; all you have to do is ask God for it…then use it faithfully. But where do we get this wisdom?

THREE GUIDELINES TO WISE DECISION MAKING

1.     PURSUE THE BEST INFLUENCERS.

The first guideline to wisdom is to find those who are using wisdom and to hang around them. Why? Because wisdom is caught rather than taught. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20).  Watch for people who are successful in their faith, marriage, finances and relationships. Watch how they resolve problems, and treat their spouse and friends. Observe how they deal with difficult people. Learn from them how they’re kind and lenient and when they start to draw lines without destroying people. You’ll see how they make corrections without demeaning or condescending others. For me, when I see this kind of person, I am deeply influenced so pursue the best influencers.

Some of you may be thinking, “But what if there are no wise people in my house or at work? Then what?” Then hang around with some of the wisest people ever:  Joseph, Daniel, Joshua, Jacob, Abraham, Isaac or Solomon, the master of wisdom. By reading the Bible, you can hang around with these people and you too will become wise by letting their stories speak into your life.

So the first guideline to wisdom is to hang out and pursue the best influencers, and the second guideline is…

2.     LEARN THE ART OF FAST FORWARDING.

The art of fast forwarding refers to the ability to follow out a scenario in your mind to determine how a decision or action today will influence/affect the future. For example, say I have an opportunity to take my savings and invest it in a deal that is “guaranteed” to make a lot of money. Let’s fast-forward this. Here’s how.

Let’s say I make a million dollars with this opportunity and I buy a shopping mall or a development of homes. After a while, everything may be going well and money is flowing in yet in order to ensure that my investment stays strong, my time and attention are needed to tend to the investment. By doing so, my life will begin to go in another direction and it’ll detract from my marriage, my family, and my ministry. Hence, is this what I really want to do? And more importantly, is this what God has called me to do?

Remember, God will not hold us accountable for what we have done but rather He will hold us accountable for what He has called us to do. In the example we discussed, I may make big bucks but I’ll miss what God has called me to do.

You’ll find that fast forwarding a decision to its final completion will help show you whether the end is not what you want; and therefore, is it something that you should even begin. “A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences” (Prov. 27:12 NLT). How many times have we gone the route of the simpleton and suffered the consequences of our actions? Then to repair the damage, it takes much time. So instead of repairing, fast forward first.  It will be better because you’ll be mentored by wisdom rather than taught by consequences.

Sacrificing your family on the altar of success is not worth it. Define success God’s way rather than by what you see and hear. Pack away wisdom because it will save your family, your ministry, and your future.

Finally, the third guideline to wisdom is...

3.     WISDOM COMES SLOWLY, SO BE PATIENT.

One of the greatest enemies of wisdom is impatience. For example, you may be a single person seeking companionship and God may have put the right guy or gal in your life; however, rather than waiting for God’s time, the devil deceives you by saying that he’ll give it to you right now.  Because of your impatience, you get involved intimately (before marriage). What happens is that you forfeit what God had planned for you in the first place because of impatience.

Be patient and be wise. Oftentimes the time to solve the problem is not in the midst of the problem because emotions are running high, so wait a while. Wisdom has something to do with timing “…a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure” (Eccl. 8:5).  Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (Jn. 16:13).

Now, if you have a guide, does this guide go in front of you or in the back? And do you follow your guide or does he follow you? The same goes with the Holy Spirit. He will guide you in the truth. Oftentimes we walk right into a situation before allowing the Holy Spirit in and then ask for blessings. We do our thing our way and then ask God to bless this or that. Instead, we should ask the Lord what He says about a situation or problem before making a move or decision. By doing so, God will be honored.

Wisdom comes in two levels:  at the basic level, knowing the difference between right and at the more advance level, distinguishing between the wise and unwise.   Wisdom is available to everyone, all we have to do is ask – but if we ask, we should follow.  There are three guidelines that we should follow to make wise (divine) decisions:  (1) grow deeper and stronger by pursuing the best influencers, (2) learn the art of fast forwarding so you are mentored by wisdom rather than instructed by consequences, and lastly (3) be patient because wisdom comes slowly.

Archiving God’s values and morals in our hearts will help us to correctly see what comes through our eyes and hear what comes through our ears. And allowing ourselves to be led by wisdom is how we’ll glorify God with divine decisions.  “Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; if you find it, then there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Prov. 24:14).

DISCUSSION SUGGESTIONS

1.      In the past year, have your decisions been more about basic right and wrong or about wise or unwise? Share some examples.

2.      Who has influenced you? What God glorifying characteristics did you find in them that you’ve adopted within you?

3.      What decision have you been putting off for a while now?  Fast-forward yourself through that decision.  What have you learned that will now influence your decision?

4.   Patience is a virtue. What character qualities are you able to build within you that will instill patience (faith, trusting in Him etc)? How will it build patience?

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong with our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NLT)

Summarized by Doreen Rabaino

Sermon notes ministry: Debbie Chang, Robin Hart, Doreen Rabaino, Leighton Loo,

                                                Jay Tsukayama & Rhonda Pang