Where is wisdom? - Part 1

Wisdom is the most precious possession for any Christian who wants to fulfil the will of God. And it is particularly important for a leader. King Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom above all else, because he wanted to know how to lead the nation of Israel in the ways of the Lord. He wrote in the book of Proverbs, ‘Wisdom is the principal thing’. Prov 4:7. The question before every leader, and indeed every Christian believer, is how do we find wisdom? This was the enquiry of Job all those years ago. ‘Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where they refine gold ... but where can wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?’ Job 28:1,12.

In our pursuit for wisdom, we must be aware that there is a ‘wisdom of this world’ which is quite different to the wisdom of God. The prophet Jeremiah called this a ‘kind of wisdom’. Paul called it the ‘appearance of wisdom’. There are many things that look like wisdom, but they don’t equal the wisdom of God. I’ll briefly mention seven from the writings of Solomon and the life of Job. Of course, there are many more.

Firstly, wisdom is not found by thinking we have all the answers to every situation in life. Job had this dilemma with his friends. They thought they had the answer to his predicament, but in the end he had to say to them, ‘O that you would be completely silent, and that it would become your wisdom!’ Secondly, wisdom is not found in science. It doesn’t matter how much we discover about the world and our surroundings, we will never find the wisdom of God. Solomon said concerning the creation, the work of God, ‘Though the wise man should say, “I know”, he cannot discover’. Eccl 8:17.

Thirdly, wisdom is not found by observing life alone. There is most certainly a kind of wisdom that we gain by observing the successes and failures of others, and indeed, by learning from our own mistakes. But again, this does not of itself equal the wisdom of God. Fourthly, wisdom is not found by looking at the ‘good old days’. The days ‘gone by’ may have been very good, but that doesn’t mean the Lord wants us to return to those things. Solomon wrote, ‘Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.’ Eccl 7:10.

Fifthly, wisdom is not automatically found in old age. As we get older, we should be increasing in wisdom, but this is not always the case. If we haven’t sought the wisdom of God throughout our life-time, old age will reinforce our own view. Sixth, wisdom is not found by just working harder. ‘If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.’ Eccl 10:10. This will be particularly true for an independent person. If something is difficult or not working, we tend to swing the axe harder. We don’t take the time to ask for advice so that our effort in life becomes more efficient and effective. ‘Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’ Prov 27:17.

Finally, wisdom is not found by simply surrounding ourselves with powerful people. Again, this is a ‘kind of wisdom’ and espoused in many books on leadership. A good leader will gather other strong leaders around him, but alliances that compensate for our own sense of inadequacy or lack of trust do not equal the wisdom of God. This was the rebuke to King Asa when he enlisted the help of another king rather than trusting the Lord. It was prophesied to him, ‘The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this.’ 2 Chron 16:9. So if it’s not in any of these things, where is the wisdom of God found? This will be my subject in next month’s article.

David Baker

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October 2009

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Where is wisdom?
- Part 1

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