What's the difference between truth and wisdom? Truth is timeless. Wisdom is contemporary. Wisdom is timeless truth applied temporally in the context of our struggles with life lived before the face of God. When we ask God for wisdom, as James urges us to do, we don't ask for new revelation. Rather, we ask for guidance and illumination of His Spirit in bringing the truth given us by God in His Word to intersect with our lives in order to interpret the times and instruct our efforts to honor God in them.

As we walk in our life-spheres as witnesses for Christ, we need both to exegete the Scriptures and exegete the people and circumstance in which we engage those people. This sort of witness requires great wisdom and implores God for that wisdom to stay real and relevant for Christ. What do I say? Lord, grant me wisdom. How do I say it? Lord, grant me wisdom. Where do I begin? Lord, grant me wisdom. How much do I say? Lord, grant me wisdom. Whatever question we face, whatever challenge meets us, our reflex in the face of our weakness and pride and ignorance must be to ask our God for wisdom. That plea can take place on the front line where a response is needed, or formed in the prayer closet through studied reflection.

I'm not a golfer myself, but I enjoy watching it sometimes. I am amazed at how creative professional golfers can be. They analyze the lie of the ball, the need of moment, the stance and stroke required, and factor in all the variables appropriate for the shot to be made. I'm particularly intrigued when they do unorthodox things, like strike the ball with the toe of the club rather than the face, all to achieve a desired result dictated by seasoned judgment. That seems to be a good picture of wisdom. Wisdom is not ordinarily gained on the fly (although I have seen God do some pretty amazing things in the moment), but proceeds from developed discernment, instructed insight and practiced experience. That impromptu golf shot on the TV screen has likely been practiced and practiced and practiced again away from the camera's eye.

Wisdom is timeless truth applied temporally in the context of our struggles with life lived before the face of God. The wisdom God gives us is not simply academic but is realized in the trenches of life in prayerful dependence upon Him. There we find our route to wisdom in witness.