Description

Definition
This is the ability to help someone by speaking an appropriate truth at the right time. It involves having specific wisdom about a situation intuitively and helping the person apply that understanding effectively. Wisdom is an understanding of how specific principles and knowledge apply to the situation at hand.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom . . .” (1 Cor. 12:7-8). The phrase, “for the common good,” shows the primary purpose is to benefit others rather than yourself, which is true of all aptitudes God gives. The term “message of wisdom” reveals its specific nature, offering intensely relevant insight about the immediate situation. It is not a general, philosophical wisdom about life.
“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began” (1 Cor. 2:6-7). God’s wisdom is different from its human counterpart and is vastly superior to it. Human understanding cannot obtain supernatural wisdom and sometimes cannot even understand it. This was true in Stephen’s situation, when his accusers “could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:9-10). God’s wisdom is clearly superior to human wisdom and understanding.
“Wisdom is proved right by her actions” (Matt. 11:19). Understanding the true nature of things, instead of looking only at appearances, will enable you to take much more effective action. Because others judge by appearances, they may reject your insight initially, but the results of your wisdom will prove you right in the long term.
You can see simple, practical solutions when others are overcome by conflict or confusion, and you can give them helpful advice. You provide guidance that helps people take practical action to solve their problems.
Your insight comes to you intuitively, rather than by rational evaluation of the facts. You often have extraordinary insight into the causes of problems; for example, you might see why people are behaving a certain way and know how to respond. You often see past symptoms or seemingly important facts to identify key principles that must be honored, which gives you an objective perspective. This allows you to see past the “urgent” to identify the “important.” Because your judgments are primarily intuitive, you might make rapid decisions. Once convinced of the wisdom of your decision, you are very unlikely to change it.
This aptitude primarily involves speech rather than action because its focus is giving counsel. Wisdom should motivate someone to act, usually the person to whom the advice is relevant, but action is a response to the wisdom rather than part of the process. Because “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Cor. 4:20), the intent of the wisdom is to produce a specific result, to encourage action, or to release power, not simply to give insight.
You recognize the wisdom of yielding to more qualified people and you know you cannot force wisdom on those who reject it. Therefore, you will yield to the opinions and decisions of others, offering your advice and allowing it to prove its value. Because your wisdom often opposes people’s desires or emotions, however, you may need to convince them of the wisdom of your advice. You are unlikely to challenge people in the sense of being argumentative or combative.

Typical Characteristics
● Extraordinary insight into the nature of problems.
● Giving helpful, practical advice to others facing complicated life situations.
● Speaking appropriate truth at right time, applying knowledge effectively.

Tendencies
● Priorities:
● Spiritual. The spiritual realm is the source of your wisdom and it supersedes intellect or analytical abilities. Your wisdom will uphold truth and principles, which your intellect may honor, but it is spiritual in origin. The more you develop your relationship with the Holy Spirit, the more effective you will become.
● Probably ideas and concepts, specifically principles. Your wisdom comes from identifying relevant principles and applying them to the current situation.
● Possibly people. You want them to be effective, to avoid foolish or costly mistakes.
● Issue Perception: objective. Your advice may be sensitive to personal desires and emotions, as true wisdom will be, but your primary emphasis will be on values and principles, making your advice more objective than subjective.

Misunderstandings
You focus on underlying principles, even in complicated situations, so you may appear to have a simplistic or irrelevant perspective to those deeply submerged in the details. To them you may seem to ignore obvious facts and even be out of touch with reality.

Vocations and Roles
Counselor or advisor.

Perversions

Self-Centeredness
(Perverts your aptitude by focusing it on you, emphasizing the pleasure or fulfillment it gives you.)
Self-centeredness causes you to value your own insight and wisdom above that of other people, so you want others to be impressed with your wise counsel and honor you for your great insight. The respect and prestige you receive from others who value your wisdom are very gratifying to your ego.

Extremes
(Perverts by exaggerating, taking your characteristics and tendencies to extremes.)
In the extreme, you may frequently give unwanted advice or far more counsel than necessary. Also, extreme self-centeredness may cause you to reject correction and become unteachable. In the same way a giver has difficulty receiving, you may not be willing to receive another’s wisdom since it does not originate with you. It is easier for you to dispense wisdom to help others than it is to acknowledge your own need and make necessary changes.

Control
(Self-centeredness makes you want to be in control, and you struggle for control in a way that is unique to your character.)
When faced with a conflict yourself, you may use the prestige of your wisdom to intimidate the other person. If someone rejects your counsel, you may become angry, refuse to help them in the future, or become critical of them. These are self-centered expressions you might use to force the person to concede.

Redemption

Putting on Important Traits
Certain godly character traits are especially important to you. Consciously developing the following traits will help you offer intensely relevant insight about the immediate situation.

● Humility (Considers self relatively unimportant compared to others; prevents using abilities for one’s own satisfaction.) Humility prevents you from giving unwanted advice or wanting to impress people with your wise counsel and insight.
● Agape (Considers others’ welfare, needs, interests, and desires more important than your own; motivates you to act for others’ benefit regardless of personal impact.) Agape motivates you to help people identify solutions, become more effective, or make appropriate choices.
● Goodness (Action on another’s behalf, whether pleasant or unpleasant to them; motivates you to do what is best for others.) This helps you offer needed wisdom when the person prefers not to hear it.
● Faith or faithfulness (Firm conviction regarding something for which there is no proof; action based on such conviction.) Because you receive this wisdom intuitively, you have no proof of its value yet a revelation from God will be accurate, so faith can be very important.

Repentance, Renewing Your Mind
(The changes you need to make in the way you think, including your attitudes, standards, priorities, and perspective.)
Your role is to use intuitive wisdom for the benefit of others, to give them the understanding or insight they need to become more effective, solve a problem, or overcome a difficulty. You serve others by offering them practical insight, and then you honor them by yielding to their decision.

Denying and Humbling Yourself
(Rejecting your own desires and self-interests. Refusing to be motivated by desire for recognition or credit for the results.)
You must refuse the temptation to use intuitive wisdom to gain power, which includes trying to make someone follow your advice. Allow the person to consider the value of the wisdom and decide how to respond. Your purpose is to give others wise counsel, not to force your opinion on them or draw attention to yourself.

Taking up Your Cross
(Accepting that which has potential for great harm, threatens to break you down, or reveals your inadequacies.)
Even if your intuitive wisdom is relevant, the person may ignore it for a long time. They may later respond to it without your knowing what happened. In such cases, you have no way of knowing whether what you say is worthwhile, so you must offer your advice and accept the possibility that you are wrong, leaving the results to God.

Following Jesus
(How you uniquely imitate Jesus by doing what He would in your situation.)
Jesus made the principles of God’s kingdom practical for daily life.

Becoming Like a Child
(Accepting what God gives you, believing what He tells you, trusting Him to take care of you, and simply doing what He says.)
When you are confident God has given you wisdom, accept what He revealed and expect Him to show you how to use it. Then do exactly what He says.