Make and Model of Wisdom
What comes to mind when you hear the word wisdom? This is a word we throw around quite frequently, especially in the realm of spirituality, and it’s important to have an understanding of what the word means. A helpful phrase that’s stuck with me is wisdom is truth acted upon.
It’s imperative to remember that there are competing “wisdoms.” Biblically we’re told in James that there is a “wisdom from above.” This wisdom is “first of all pure, it is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” (James 4:17).
And also, “For the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). From the Biblical lens, it is clear there is a wisdom of the world and there is a wisdom of the Lord and these two are antithetical to one another.
Now, where do we find this wisdom from above? Proverbs 8 offers a whole chapter written from wisdom’s personified perspective. Wisdom is described as raising her voice “On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in from of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud” (Proverbs 8:2-3).
There is a sense that wisdom is all around us, and in many ways calling out to us. “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man” (v.4). And also, there’s a promise to him who seeks wisdom, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me” (v.17).
Think back to when you were shopping for your last car. You’ve decided on the make and model, you’ve got it all planned out. Before you’ve made your decision, you’re on your way to work and suddenly you’re seeing the car you want everywhere. Is that specific make and model appearing on the road for the very first time? No, it’s always been there, but because you’re now looking for it, you begin to see it everywhere. Wisdom is like this.
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate” (v.13). And lastly, “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (v. 35). How do we discern between the competing wisdoms? Well, we first need to understand what is good. And we know that God’s character and nature never changes and that He is love, He’s good, and He desires us to become more like Him.
Therefore, the greater we come to understand what God is like, the more we’re equipped to see the things around us that line up with those qualities. This is where discerning wisdom actually becomes easy, because evil is simply the antithesis of God. We say yes to the wisdom that’s like Him and no to the wisdom that’s not.
Friend, the best way for us to sharpen our discernment and open our eyes to the wisdom from above is to know God. Regardless of where you’re at on your spiritual journey, the Bible is where we have clearly laid out the character and nature of God. Let’s practice opening His Word together, and the more we come to know what He’s like, the more we’ll see the make and model of His wisdom has been right beside us this whole time.
