Sometimes, you can think that faith and wisdom are opposites.

But you’re wrong.

In grade school, I read a book called The Pinballs by Betsy Byars.  It was about three foster children who kept being forced to switch houses and families.  They felt like they had no control over their lives.  When it came to decisions they made for themselves, their choices could have easily mirrored their experiences in the foster system.  But instead, they chose to stop being pushed around by everything surrounding them.

Last night, I was heavily afflicted with a decision I needed to make.  I think I knew what I needed to do, but I didn’t feel powerful enough to do it, so I was just going to go along with it.

It is only recently that I’ve realized that I can take charge of the decisions I make in my life.  I used to say, “We’ll just see where God takes it.”  But I think I just used that as an excuse to ignore the desires of my heart.  God actually does value your opinion, you know.  And if your desires somehow don’t line up with His plan for your life, it’s His job to direct you, and it’s not your job to freak out about what path you’re supposed to go down.  How sovereign is God again?  Is he… 75% sovereign?  Is he… 80% sovereign?  I know that I can’t block the will of God in the end.  But I do know the instruction He gave me: love God with everything you have, and love people with the rest.

God sent me on a scavenger hunt this morning.  I made a decision last night that brought me peace, but the precious, silver words I found in the Word this morning only served to reinforce my decision.

From this point on, I wanted to post the verses only, letting the Word of God speak for itself.  God’s words are powerful, far moreso than any of my own.

So if you’re in the midst of making a tough decision, if you are tempted to be a pinball in life, and if you need some wisdom, take a close look at what God’s saying to you.  I have hope that you will find help in these verses, no matter where you are and no matter where you’re going.  (Though it certainly matters where you are, and it certainly matters where you’re going.)


For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1:18)

Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise — why destroy yourself? (Ecclesiastes 7:16)

And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12)

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8)

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:19)

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

I do not accept glory from human beings. (John 5:41)

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (Acts 8:4)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:23-25)

He also says,“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.  You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.  And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.  So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.  For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.  What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?  All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.  (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23).

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (John 17:6)

Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
for he will get nothing in return.
Before his time he will be paid in full,
and his branches will not flourish. (Job 15:31-32)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11-12)

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6)

To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His. (Job 12:13)

Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Corinthians 1:20)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!  But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you.  Who does not know all these things? (Job 12:3)

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the seas inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? (Job 12:7-9)

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. (Proverbs 4:5)

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)

The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. (Proverbs 19:8)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:8)

There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered; nothing hidden that won’t be made known. (Luke 12:2)

What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.  For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build. (Job 20:18-19)

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:45)

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36)

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. (Job 16:19)

Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. (Job 14:5).

Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.  Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him! (Job 13:15-16).

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. (Job 1:21-22)

Praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 146:1-3)

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. (Psalm 146:1-4)

Be careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

And if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5)

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)

It is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” — but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the world of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.  Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!  But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!  He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” (Revelation 12:10-12)