This week in VBS, our theme verse has come from James 1:5 – If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. The Message renders it, "If you don't know what you're doing…"

Let's condense it for just a moment- If you lack wisdom, ask God and it will be given to [you]. That's will. A promise. God doesn't want us wandering through life, so He makes a guaranteed offer to help us out.

Now that part we condensed out is just as amazing. This wisdom is available to anybody who asks for it. Not just leaders. Not just super-Christians. God gives it to everyone. And that's "gives" not "gave". The offer is still open. God gives that wisdom generously (the way He gives everything!). He doesn't parcel out a piece of wisdom here and there and make us figure out the details ourselves. Finally, He doesn't criticize or rebuke us for asking. There's no "how dare you?", no "how could you NOT know the answer to that one!" He encourages us to freely ask.

This blanket offer hinges on wisdom. Wisdom is applied knowledge. God is not promising to answer every question we come up with. He's promising to give us direction and help us move forward. So like The Message says, "If you don't know what you're doing" in that relationship, in that vocation, in that ministry, in that… whatever, ask God

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel

Scripture encourages us to seek out advice from others and nearly all the characters in my books do at one time or another. These mentors often prove difficult to write because I have to figure out the answer to the questions they get asked. I also want to construct my mentors so they’re credible. Whether in real life or in fiction, here are four things I look for in a counselor.

1. Godliness – Unless the person has a deep, committed walk with Christ, the advice he or she gives will be tainted no matter how sincere or well-meaning, or how long you’ve known them.

2. Maturity – I want spiritual maturity, a tested faith. I also want someone with some life experience behind them. That doesn’t mean our life experiences have to mirror each other, but I want to know the person has weathered some storms.

3. Compassion – A good counselor hurts with you, and sometimes he or she will hurt for you. They share your heart.

4. Humility – None of us knows everything, and a good counselor can say “I don’t know.” Rely on someone who will help you seek God’s face when those answers just aren’t there.

Yesterday, I finished reading The Giver, a Newbery winner from 1993, by Lois Lowry. I cannot wait to start discussing it in class! It’s a deep book with weighty themes. In fact, I’m shocked it’s a children’s book. There will probably be several posts about it in the coming days. The story is set in a tightly controlled society in the present or near future. Every facet of life is regulated by the Committee of the Elders. They choose your mates, your career, your children and even the day of your death (we find out later). In exchange for the regulation, people enjoy a safe, pleasurable life with no upsets. There is one elder, however, who carries within him the collective memories of the society throughout their history. He alone remembers pain, suffering, loneliness and grief. He is also the only one who knows true joy and love. A twelve year old boy is sent to train with him and eventually take the old man’s place. That’s the background.

The boy asks the old man why the community needs to remember pain and suffering. Wouldn’t they all be happier without it? The old man replies that the memories- which for him means reliving the events- bring wisdom. Proverbs in the sourcebook for wisdom, but one verse in particular 8:35 reads ‘For whoever finds [wisdom] finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.’ I admit, I don’t want pain or suffering. Most days, I don’t even want aggravation. But it’s the difficulties that make me depend on God’s grace, on His strength, not mine. It’s the suffering that allows me to become more Christlike, so I may know Him … and the fellowship of His sufferings. (Phil 3:10) Suffering and pain bring an intimacy into our relationship with Christ that cannot be achieved by any other means. And that realization is just a small sliver of wisdom.