The Cage and the Key

Part 2: Trust and Wisdom

Trust is a large portion of living a life that lacks fear.  In order to live a life with no fear, you must have trust.  Christian or not, you will eventually have to trust someone or something. 
In the Bible, there are 3 "wisdom" books.  You may be asking, "What in the world does trust have to do with wisdom?"  Stay with me here.  Dogs lack the ability to reason like humans.  For example, you have two dogs, and you only give one of them a treat, neither dog will know why you only gave one a treat. Sure the one who didn't get a treat might be sad, but it won't ponder why you only gave one a treat.  The dog will just accept it as it is and move on.  In the same light, humans lack the ability to reason like God.  I know that you think otherwise, but think about it. Isaiah 55:8-9, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." 
Wisdom isn't something we are just born with like someone is born with the ability to work with numbers.  We must desire to have it, and we must ask for it.  If God gave wisdom to you, but you don't exercise it and play it out in day-to-day life, then it will cease.  Just like a muscle.  The more you use a muscle, the stronger it becomes, but if you don't use it everyday, it will eventually deteriorate.
You have to look at the book of Proverbs like a young optimistic teacher.  This teacher has put together a book of quotes, that if you build your life on them, you will be successful.  However, I am not talking about worldly success, but heavenly success.  God is in control as we will see later on.
The 2nd wisdom book isn't so... optimistic, honestly it's quite depressing.  Think of the book of Ecclesiastes as a critic.  This critic brings to light that 1) We are all going to die and 2) the famous time march.  "Generations come and go, but the earth remains forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4) Basically, this points out that we are all going to die.  The wise,  the thief, the poor, the rich, the humble, and the greedy.  They all have the same fate.  And nobody will care. We will all die. However,  the reason that this critic points these things out is to prove a point: Life is short, so enjoy it while you can.  "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot." Ecclesiastes 3:22.  One more thing I would like to point out is the author of Ecclesiastes uses the Hebrew word "heval" to describe life.  Loosely translated, hevel means meaningless.  The author uses hevel over 30 times in the book. The author is NOT saying that life is meaningless, he is saying that like smoke, the meaning of life is not always clear.  Think about it.  Smoke is mysterious.  It takes one shape, then not even second later, it changes. Also, if you get caught up in thick smoke, it is hard to see through. 
All of this will make sense once I explain the 3rd wisdom book, Job.  Let me tell you a little background.  Job was a very religious man.  God found favor with Job.  However, Satan approached God, and challenged the faithfulness of Job.  Satan proposed that Job was just obeying God because God gave Job a fabulous life.  God and Satan then proceeded to make an agreement to put Job to the test.  Satan took away everything Job had, his family, his livestock, even his own home.  Job stayed loyal, but as any human would, he questioned God, and God responds.  However, God doesn't give him a straight up answer, but God does question Job's authority to question God.  "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?  Tell me, if you understand.  Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know!  Who stretched a measuring line across it?  On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?"  Job 38:1-6.  God had to teach Job that He is STILL in control.  Because just as the critic said, life is hevel.  It will take one shape, and then in a blink of an eye, it changes.  However, once Job had proven his faithfulness, God gave him everything Satan took. 
So, what does all of this have to do with trust?  Job had everything, and then the next day, he had nothing.  He questioned God's ability to control the things in this world, and God showed him. 
Once you truly ask and desire for God's wisdom, he will give it to you.  Once you hace it, you will see the world through humble eyes.  You will no longer worry about the worldly possessions, but realize that there is a HIGHER purpose.