Wisdom - In The Palm Of Our Hands

I've been wanting to talk about wisdom for a while, and a couple of different aspects of what can be considered wisdom. Most importantly, how can we be considered wise, and how can we hold onto that wisdom once we have obtained it? I think we're living in a fascinating time for answering these questions, but first, let's take a look at how the Bible defines wisdom.

The obvious source for any Biblical research on wisdom is Proverbs. The book was written by King Solomon, the leader who famously asked God for wisdom and is well-known for this even in the secular realm. However, it doesn't take long when reading Proverbs to see that the definition of wisdom is quite different from how the world defines it.  Solomon consistently describes a wise person as being ethically grounded, wrapped in integrity, and bound by discipline. Put most simply, a wise person is guided by a moral compass, a compass that has as its focus the Word of God.

One of the great elements of Proverbs, to me, is that it consistently parallels the acts of the foolish man with those of the wise. It provides a stark contrast in behaviors, in essence removing the "grey area" the modern scholar is so fond of. Take the closing verses of Chapter 2, for example:

Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted. (Pr. 2:20-22, NLT)

There's not much wiggle room there; live a life of integrity and the pursuit of godliness, or be "uprooted" from the land ("land" can be thought of here as "God's favor"). And lest we think of this as antiquated Old Testament theology, James concurs:

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom - it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats. Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. (James 3:13-17, MSG)

So by now, some people might be panicking. This isn't a life I can lead! How can I possibly know the godly choice in every situation? Well, not to be overly simplistic, but God has told us that His Word is sufficient for us. Everything we need to guide our steps is included in the Bible! And here's why I said earlier that I find today's world so fascinating: I researched and brought up every verse above from my phone.While many Christians bemoan the "instant" world we live in, and the perils of rapidly emerging technology, I think it instead offers an unparalleled opportunity to keep our guide, our compass, right at our side at all times. Can there be anything more encouraging than having God's Word at our fingertips throughout the day?

If you find yourself struggling to live up to God's definition of wisdom, I hope this post encourages you to begin rediscovering the Bible, and what it can reveal to you. If you're all about convenience, look for a Bible app for your phone so that you can keep it with you always. And maybe we can begin to appreciate anew the Orthodox Jewish tradition, gleaned from Deuteronomy 11:18, that encourages us to "tie (the words) to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders." It's a great visual, and one we would be truly wise to replicate.

Have a great weekend, and God bless!