Wisdom And Gratitude!

October 29, 2026

Wisdom And Gratitude!

I am wired to help people.

I might help them lift a heavy box into their pickup or help them take the trash to the curb on garbage day or pray with them when their child is sick.

I might help them rake their leaves in the fall or help them find a good financial planner or help them find a church.

I might help them catch their dog who is loose or help them open the door at the grocery store when their arms are full or help them find some hope by sharing a word of encouragement from the Bible.

I might help them figure out what to say to a wayward child or help them see the positive in a challenging circumstance or help them take the next step in their relationship with Jesus.

I am wired to help people; to support, to encourage, to comfort, to lead, and to teach. I wonder if the Apostle Paul was encouraging the Christ-followers in first century Colossae to more frequently engage in helping other people.

In Colossians 3:16 the Apostle Paul writes; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.”

Paul encourages us to teach and admonish one another with Godly wisdom. He writes; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom…” Note that Paul says the wisdom we teach flows out of the Word of Christ dwelling in us. I share a wisdom that has been given to me by Christ and by the Holy Spirit through other people.

One of the most effective ways we can help another person is to teach them something that is useful.

My brother teaches me how to replace a rotted board in my deck or how to change a sprinkler head in our lawn watering system or how to install composite decking. He shares the wisdom he has gathered on the internet, from other people, and his experience.

The things my brother teaches me make a difference in my life, especially when there is wisdom in what he teaches me.

When the Lord God has given me wisdom, I am encouraged to share that wisdom with other people. Maybe the Lord taught you something about relationships when you went through a divorce. Maybe the Lord taught you something about walking through a season of spiritual dryness. Maybe the Lord taught you something about praying for healing or forgiveness when you desperately needed those in a difficult season.

When the Lord God has given me wisdom, I am encouraged to share that wisdom with other people. Sometimes my teaching with wisdom comes as comfort while other times my teaching with wisdom comes as challenge or correction. The Lord gives you wisdom so you can teach other people.

There is a second thing which Paul encourages us to do. Paul calls us to offer praise to the Lord with gratitude. Paul writes; “…with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” I can sing and speak and share my praise to the Lord. No matter how I express my praise to the Lord, it always starts with gratitude filling my heart.

I can teach wisdom and share gratitude-filled praise with other people. When I share wisdom and praise, the Holy Spirit will use what I share to encourage and comfort and even correct other people. In sometimes small ways and sometimes big ways, the Holy Spirit will use me to help the other person.

I invite you to think of someone who would be blessed if you taught them something the Lord has taught you. When you finish the conversation with them, let the gratitude in your heart be shared with that person in a way that will encourage them. When you do, delight will well up in their heart and in your heart.    

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug