The Only True Wisdom

"One becomes competent and expert as far as the orders in life are concerned only if one begins from knowledge of God."  - Gerhard von Rad

We live in very exciting times!. New innovations are presented to the world practically everyday. It wasn't that long ago that smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube didn't exist. Whoever thought that taxi companies would be threatened by growing ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft?

The hospitality industry is feeling the heat from Airbnb, and even the automobile industry has taken notice of the development of autonomous (driverless) cars! Wearable techno patches and sensors that now can monitor a person’s heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs; or using 3-D printers to produce artificial body parts are just a few promising new innovations in health care.

You have to admit, this is all pretty amazing! Some of these have now become so common place, that it's difficult to imagine how we ever got along without them! Humans have always been good at looking beyond a problem and ascertaining a solution. We use our wisdom to cope with everyday demands, decisions, issues, and whatever opportunities that might come our way.

However, as much as our human wisdom has served us, it is not without its limits. Our constant searching for more is infinite and futile, if it all starts and ends with what we ourselves know. Does our self-proclaimed wisdom help us when we are confronted with death, pain, or the meaning of life? When dreams crumble, or we suffer loss does wisdom help us then?

Frankly, there are some things that we simply just don't know enough about. True wisdom cannot be found in any of the usual places, either. If you're waiting for science or technology to discover wisdom through research and development, then I'm afraid you'll be waiting a long time. How about with age? Does it come as one grows older? Can we buy true wisdom? If you're thinking is anywhere along these lines, you're not alone.

So, where does wisdom come from? Where can understanding and the ability to deal with life's hills and valleys be found? Only God knows. The author of the Book of Job tells us as much (Job 28:23-24). Do you remember Job's dire situation and suffering? Even before Job received the ultimate answer from God, he came upon the truth himself.

God sees the entire picture, where we can only catch fleeting glimpses of this or that. Like Job, we are brought down a notch, or two when we realize that this is true in whatever we face. How is it that God can see so perfectly? Job hit the nail on the head when he said that God created the world; he set everything up, and he looked at wisdom and appraised it (Job 28: 24-27). The writer of Proverbs mentions this, as well (Proverbs 3:19).

This of course makes perfect sense. After all, God is the creator of this world; and is intimately familiar with everything in it. Didn't he create you and I? Doesn't he wisely work in your life bringing all things together for his purposes? Do you doubt that he knows what he's doing?

Let's return to the question: "Where does wisdom come from?" It's the same question that was brought up by Job, and is answered in Job 28:28. True wisdom is found in God alone. To obtain this wisdom requires a few things on our part. We must confess our ignorance and trust God. This means we can't depend on our own human understanding.

It also requires faith in God. Life isn't always logical. When things get unstable and chaotic we must learn to trust that God has a plan. And, that plan requires faith on our part, or it won't work. Obedience, trust, and belief (faith) work together in order to obtain the Lord's wisdom.

Those who choose not to believe cannot receive divine wisdom. God revealed his wisdom to the world, but the world didn't accept it. They turned him down (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). On the cross we saw the wisdom of God personified in Jesus Christ. The Jews of the day wanted to see a display of strength and power. The Greeks looked for wisdom and magnificence, but saw only foolishness in Jesus.

However, to everyone whom God has summoned, Jews, Gentiles, you and I, Jesus represents both the power and wisdom of God. Humanity badly needed saving. Something was needed to help us with our sinfulness. God gave us Jesus on the cross as the greatest expression of his supreme wisdom. And, only by trusting in Jesus, can our spiritual eyes be opened to the full wisdom of God.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Ezra 7:25; 1 Kings 3:28; Ecclesiastes 2:26

Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Amen   -Reinhold Neibuhr, 1892-1971

May God bless you!

MaryAnne