No Goodness of Our Own

We cannot gain wisdom as long as we walk in pride. We cannot gain humility until we have felt the brokenness over sin in our own heart.

Without humility, without wisdom and without a desire to know God intimately we cannot have His wisdom. 

 

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."

Proverbs 19:20 "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."

Proverbs 24:3-7 "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth."

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 3:6-8 "…6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.…"

Many people walk about today having a form of religion but have never been born again by the Holy Spirit. They are proud of who they think they are and what they think they know, but they miss the mark, because their trust is in their own abilities, their own specialness based on one thing and that is to be elevated above others. 

 

Until the we can admit openly our own failings while seeking Christ for the answers, we cannot be pleasing to God.

Isaiah 6:5 "5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

Our first response to God for our salvation must be the realization of our own sinfulness and lack of ability to fix ourselves. Only then can we trust Christ and what He did for us. To die on our behalf because we had no goodness in us to be able to save ourselves. When we do this, Christ comes to live in us, beginning the process of cleansing us from our sin, making us humble and useful for His kingdom.