This is a prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” This was written around 1932-33 and it is still applicable to us today. The key is having the wisdom to know the difference. Wisdom is applied knowledge.
Wisdom ( Strong’s Greek Concordance 4678: Sophia) is “the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding.” (https://www.preceptaustin.org/pdf/61728/)
What is one thing that you can change? For example, if you are facing challenges at home with your child/children, then one of the parents should be able to stop working and spend time with the child or children. You can apply the Christian values according to this priority which state that God is first, family is second and career comes third. This is especially true when the child has been left alone without much guidance from the parents who are busy working. It is better to live on one income, forgo your career and spend quality time with your children until they have grown up. One of you will need to avail yourself to them so that they will have a godly and positive voice in their lives when they are experiencing overwhelming influences from the world. You can spend time to read up or attend parenting courses on raising your children or teenagers. You can spend time to talk to them and educate them about sex, sexuality and many other topics as they grow into pre-teens. The bible tells us to bring up our children in the ways of the Lord so that they will not depart from Him when they are grown up. It is within our ability to make changes despite the pain of dying to our flesh and the struggle of our identity. It will take some time to turn things around at home with the children especially if they are already in their teenage years, but it will be worth it. They need to know that you are serious and are willing to love them with their love languages. This will bring about peace, love and joy in the home. The people in the world or even Christians who hold onto worldly values might advise you differently. That is earthly, sensual and even demonic.
It takes courage to change the current lifestyle and apply the biblical truth. The home front needs to be well managed before we can tackle the issues that we are facing in the corporate or business world. Money and status are not everything.
Sermon Series: Earthly or Heavenly Wisdom
拥有平静，勇气和智慧
这是莱因霍尔德·奈布尔的一段祷告：“神，赐予我平静去接受我不能改变的事情，赐予我勇气去改变我能改变的事情，赐予我智慧去了解其中的不同。”这段话写于1932-33年，至今仍然适用于我们。关键是要有智慧去区分。智慧是应用的知识
智慧（Strong 4678:Sophia）是一种基于知识和理解的正确判断和遵循最佳行动方案的能力。
什么是你可以改变的？例如：如果你在家面对孩子的挑战，父母中的一方应该要停止工作，花时间陪伴孩子。我们可以运用基督教的价值观，根据神第一，家庭第二，职业第三来安排优先次序。尤其是那些把孩子一个人留在家里，忙于工作而没法指导他们的父母，更应如此。宁愿只靠一份收入生活，放弃我们的事业，也要和孩子们一起度过有品质的时光，直到他们长大。父母中的一个人需要帮助他们，这样当他们经历来自世界的巨大影响时，他们的生命中会有一个敬虔和积极的声音。你可以花时间阅读或参加有关抚养孩子或青少年的亲子课程。你可以花时间和他们交谈，并在他们成长为青少年时教育他们有关性别、性健康和许多其他的话题。圣经告诉我们，要教养孩童，使他走当行的路，就是到老也不偏离。就是在我们的能力范围内作出改变，尽管会带来治死属肉体的痛苦和我们在身份上的挣扎。要使家里孩子们的情况好转需要一些时间，特别是当他们已经进入青少年的时期，但这是值得的。他们需要知道你是认真的，愿意用他们的爱的语言去爱他们。这会给家里带来和平、仁爱和喜乐。世人即或属世的基督徒可能会给你不同的建议，那是世俗的，感性的，甚至是属恶魔的。
改变当前的生活方式和应用圣经真理需要勇气。在我们解决企业或商业世界面临的问题之前，我们先要管理好自己的家。金钱和地位不是万能的。
讲章系列：属世或属天的智慧