Lessons on Discernment

Joseph in the Bible in Genesis 42-45 exercised a strong discernment and acted wisely when he met with his brothers who betrayed and sold him off to strangers many years ago. He placed his emotions under strict control and waited until it was the right time to express them publicly. Though he loved his brothers, he exercised restraint and acted wisely so that they also could learn the lesson they needed to learn because of their past misdeeds against him. So he meticulously planned the incidents to touch their consciences and at the same time expressed his love at the right time. Likewise, Solomon also prayed for wisdom when God appeared to him in a dream, and immediately God gave him problems to solve using his God-given wisdom. 

In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, Ask what I should give you.

And Solomon said, You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth and righteousness and in uprightness of heart with You; and You have kept for him this great lovingkindness and have given him a son to sit upon his throne, as it is this day.

And now, O Jehovah my God, You have made Your servant king in the place of David my father, though I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

And Your servant is in the midst of Your people, whom You have chosen, a vast people that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude.

Give therefore to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?

And this word seemed good in the sight of the Lord, that Solomon had asked for this matter.

And God said to him, Because you have asked for this matter and have not asked for long life for yourself and have not asked for riches for yourself and have not asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for discernment for yourself to understand justice;

I now do according to your words. I now give you a heart of wisdom and understanding, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor will one rise up after you like you.  1 Kings 3:5-12

These stories in the Bible are no mere Aesop's fables. They are real-life patterns that I must learn from and live according to it. God also gave me the experience of discernment recently in many practical matters in life.

In Money Matter

Generally, I am a soft-hearted person and I sympathize with people easily. If people came to me for monetary help, I always have a heart to help even as God has always provided me sufficiently. So I have sufficient to help others too if the Lord so wills. In the past, I and my wife have helped a couple of needy ones already. This time around, a family who had been in desperate need did not hesitate to mention their needs to me. Which I initially prayed and considered a lot about. Although I had all the clearance from my wife, and myself, I also fellowshipped with a brother, and that too got cleared. Everything was cleared does not mean it is alright to lend. As I considered and prayed over it again and asked the Lord for His wisdom and discernment, the Lord gradually enlightened me to see that despite all my "generosity" and all the path clearance to help, I still must discern based on what is proper before God and also before man. Then, I came to full clarity that even though I have the financial capacity to lend, it was not proper for me to do so at this time, especially as a full-time serving one of the Lord. Besides, the money we have was offered to my family for some specific purpose and not to lend to someone who may use it for some "dirty" deeds to meet their own selfish needs. Oh, what a salvation it was when this matter got cleared! Praise the Lord for this lesson! 

Later, the Lord showed me what this money was for. There was an urgent need for my wife to be able to do a UPI translation via a bank with her as a primary account holder. For this, a bank with a certain opening balance was required. And the money was meant for this purpose and some investment and saving for future use. Oh, a relief to be cleared of this cloud of confusion.

Similarly, the Lord has been teaching me to discern even in reading WhatsApp messages. There were many messages that my spirit sensed not to even read for the contents would not be spiritually healthy for me. Some were accusations, some were personal promotions,  some were simple personal opinions and just good for time pass. So, I intentionally avoided a good number of messages that were sent to me. In like manner, I also stop receiving many calls that may not be necessary, especially calls from unknown numbers. Even if it was known, the spirit within me gave me the sense, whether to pick the call or not. Likewise, in contacting people or even seekers and saints, I still need to discern if I should necessarily contact them or not. I must follow the Lord's leading by His inner anointing.

Romans 8:6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.

1 John 2:20And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know.

1 John 2:27And as for you, the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you; but as His anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, abide in Him.

The Lord has been teaching me lessons on discernment in my daily living. May I daily experience and enjoy His discernment and wisdom more and more.