Are you a truly “wise” person? Are you now learning to “think through” carefully all important decisions that you must make? Are you preparing, in this way, to fulfill your calling when Jesus Christ returns and tells you, “Well done good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17)?
How would you know how to manage cities, and manage all the physical and human problems that this involves? One vital “key” to preparing for this type of responsibility is to really study, think through, review and then study again the statutes of God which are listed primarily in Exodus 21–23, Leviticus 10–27 and Deuteronomy 12–27. For these statutes and judgments contain the basic civil law of Israel which King David studied again and again.
There are many reasons why God has chosen David as the future king over all the nations of Israel (Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5; Ezekiel 34:23–24; 37:24–25). But certainly one of the key reasons God chose David as king in ancient Israel and will again appoint him as king over Israel in Tomorrow’s World is because David “loved” God’s law. In the Psalms David stated this over and over.
David said, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (Psalm 119:15–16). Again, David exclaimed, “Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors” (vv. 23–24). And again, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (vv. 71–72). Of course, David had the opportunity to reign over ancient Israel for 40 full years—putting these statutes and judgments into practice day after day. That is a major reason why David will again be Israel’s king—under Jesus Christ.
Will you dedicate yourself to really studying God’s statutes and judgments, and will you pray about how—in principle—they may be used as a basis for the civil laws in your city a few years from now?
Another vital “key” in preparing for your future responsibility as a king under Jesus Christ is to develop a definite plan and program to grow in WISDOM. Brethren, all of us are beloved by God. We know that. He is our Father. But God Himself makes it very clear that He is NOT now calling very many individuals possessed of great natural ability or wisdom.
For God inspired the Apostle Paul to write: “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27). Of course, this does not mean that no one of great ability or wisdom is called. But, as we all know, the vast majority of God’s people today and down through time are from what people today call the “working class” and/or the “lower middle class.” These people are more likely to have the HUMILITY so that—if God calls them—they will let God direct their lives.
The Apostle James tells us: “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5). People who have more money or material things tend to “trust” in these things—so they are usually unwilling or unable to throw themselves totally upon God’s mercy, and to put their complete faith and trust in Him.
But God’s Word makes it plain that we do need both faith and WISDOM to serve our Creator in a big responsibility. He tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5–6). So we should all ASK for wisdom. We regularly need to pray fervently about this. And we need to practice wisdom in our daily lives—in this way preparing for the BIG decisions we may need to make in Tomorrow’s World if Christ gives us five or even ten cities as our responsibility under Christ’s overall direction!
Frankly, knowing we are deficient in wisdom, all of us should CRY OUT for wisdom. God tells us, “My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:1–6).
Again, God’s inspired Word instructs us: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get WISDOM. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her” (Proverbs 4:7–8).
As I have said, please learn to carefully think through all the pros and cons before making any important decisions. Get the facts. Think. Meditate. Consider not just the immediate but also the long range RESULTS of your decisions. How will they affect others? How will they affect your ability to serve God and your brethren over the long haul? Is your decision really what Jesus Christ would do in the same situation?
Of course, a vital part of wisdom is learning to seek and to ACT ON wise “counsel”! Proverbs 19:20 tells us, “LISTEN to COUNSEL.”
Again, God instructs, “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established” (Proverbs 15:22). Ask yourself, “Do I systematically seek and ACT on wise counsel from a fair number of sound, objective and experienced individuals? Or do I just try to find some one or two people who agree with me already and only listen to their advice?”
Brethren, the book of Proverbs is literally FILLED with wisdom. I urge all of you to study this book! Go through it carefully over and over. Ask God to help you understand and apply its teachings. As future kings and priests, you and I need WISDOM!
With God’s help, and with the practice of seeking wisdom in the right way, we may all develop—through God’s Spirit—the ability to properly administer AWESOME responsibilities in the age to come. Christ is working with us toward this end. He will help us and guide us. But we must do our part!