Be One of the Wise

 (A Different Kind of Smart)
‎We often think of wisdom as knowledge, a high IQ, or street smarts. But the Bible defines wisdom in a radically different way. It’s not about what you know; it’s about what you do with who you know. True, eternal wisdom is measured in heaven by its impact on earth. It’s about turning the knowledge of God into action for God.
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‎Who Are The Wise?
‎ According to our text in Daniel, the wise are not just those who have theology degrees or can win a Bible trivia contest. They are “those who lead many to righteousness.” Their wisdom is active, purposeful, and soul-centered.
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‎I. The Commission: It’s a Calling for All of Us.
1. ‎It’s Not Exclusive: This isn’t a spiritual gift for a select few—the pastors, apostles, or evangelists. It is the core commission of every single person who calls Jesus Christ Lord. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) was given to the whole church.
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2. ‎It’s a Command, Not a Suggestion: Jesus didn’t say, “If you feel like it, maybe tell someone about me.” He said, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). We are duty-bound, not because of religious obligation, but because of a profound debt of love. We witness because “He died to accomplish our redemption on the cross and victoriously resurrected.” How can we who have been rescued from a burning building not warn those still inside?
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‎II. The Method: How the Wise Win Others (From 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
‎This is where it gets practical. Paul gives us the strategy of the wise soul-winner. It’s not about being pushy; it’s about being purposeful.
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1. ‎The Principle: Radical Empathy. “I have become all things to all people.” This means meeting people where they are. It’s speaking the language of a mechanic to a mechanic, an artist to an artist, a student to a student. It’s finding common ground, not compromising the gospel, but contextualizing it.
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2. ‎The Goal: Salvation, Not Argument Wins. Paul’s aim was “by all means to save some.” The wise aren’t trying to win an argument; they’re trying to win a heart. It’s about love, not logic alone.
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‎Illustration:
‎ Imagine you finally found the cure for a disease that has plagued your community for years. This isn’t just any disease; it’s one you struggled with yourself. You were weak, you were suffering, and you had no hope.
‎ ‎ Then, someone gave you the cure. It was free. It was full and complete. And it worked. You are now healed, strong, and full of life.
‎‎Now, tell me: What would you do? Would you hoard that medicine? Would you keep it a secret? Would you walk past your neighbors, your friends, your own family who are still coughing and weakening, and just whisper, ‘I’m glad I’m better’?
‎‎Of course not. You would be urgent. You would be passionate. You might even seem a little pushy because you know what you have will save them. Your motivation wouldn’t be duty; it would be overwhelming love and concern.
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‎ That is witnessing. We aren’t sharing a religious rulebook. We are sharing the cure for the soul-sickness of sin that we have personally experienced. We have the antidote to death itself in Jesus Christ. How can we not share it?
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‎III. The Power: It’s Not Your Eloquence, It’s His Spirit
‎We don’t do this in our own strength. The task is impossible without the Holy Spirit. He gives:
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1. ‎The Power to Witness (Acts 1:8)
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2. ‎The Timely Message for each person (Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”)
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3. ‎The Conviction that turns darkness into light in the lives of the unsaved.
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‎Conclusion:
‎ Daniel gives us an incredible promise. The wise, those who invest in eternity by investing in people, don’t just get a reward—they become the reward. They will “shine like the stars forever.” Every conversation, every act of love, every shared truth is another brushstroke of eternal glory in your soul. Don’t just be knowledgeable. Don’t just be good. Be wise. Be one who shines.
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‎Prayer
‎Heavenly Father,
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1. ‎We come before you today with open hearts, acknowledging that we have often been silent when we should have spoken, passive when we should have been passionate.
2. Lord, forgive me. Forgive me for every time I have been disobedient to your great commission. For the excuses I’ve made, the opportunities I’ve ignored, and the fear I’ve allowed to silence my testimony.
3. ‎Lord, empower me. I ask not for a script, but for your Spirit. Give me the power and the courage to witness gracefully to those you have placed around me—my family, my friends, my colleagues, and even strangers. Make me sensitive to your promptings.
4. ‎Lord, give me a timely message. Put the right words in my mouth for each person I meet. Teach me to listen more than I speak, to love more than I lecture, and to become a living example of your grace.
5. ‎Lord, fill me with your fire. Baptize me afresh in the Holy Spirit. Let a holy urgency for the lost burn away my apathy. May my life be a beacon that draws others out of darkness and into your marvelous light.
6. ‎ And now, Lord, we pray for the unsaved. We plead the blood of Jesus over them. We command the spirit of blindness and deception to depart from their lives right now. Send your light to shatter their darkness and draw them by your love to the foot of the cross.
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‎ We ask all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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‎Amen.