Where is wisdom? - Part 2

In last month’s article we asked the question: ‘Where is wisdom found?’ This was the question posed by Job when he said, ‘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. We considered that wisdom is not simply found by asking someone who has all the answers. Neither is it found in science, observing life, the good old days, old age, working harder or surrounding ourselves with powerful people. There is a ‘kind of wisdom’ in all of these things, but they don’t of themselves equal the wisdom of God.

In chapter eight of the book of Proverbs, wisdom is portrayed as a woman taking her stand and lifting up her voice in the place where two paths meet. There will be many times when we come to a fork in the road, so to speak, and we have to make a decision. Where will we live? What job will we take? How will we approach a difficult situation with a work colleague, friend, or family member? In all of these situations we need wisdom. However, let us consider that wisdom is ‘more’ than knowing which pathway to take. Wisdom is ‘more’ than knowing what to do. We generally think of wisdom as a ‘means to an end’, but it is vital to understand wisdom as an end in itself. Wisdom is the pathway and the goal. The book of Proverbs says that ‘wisdom is better than jewels, and all the desirable things cannot compare with her’. Prov 8:11.

Continuing in this most pivotal chapter in the book of Proverbs, wisdom is portrayed as saying, ‘The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.’ Prov 8:22. This is the answer to the question: ‘Where is wisdom found?’ Wisdom is found in one place, and one place only. We have to look at the beginning of the Lord’s way. We have to look at the way the Father, Son and Holy Spirit live together in a fellowship of giving and receiving. The wisdom of God is the way of offering.

The apostle Paul spoke of this as ‘God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory’. 1 Cor 2:7. It has been fully revealed by the death of Jesus on the cross. This is a wisdom that is not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Had the rulers of this age understood the wisdom of God they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Cor 2:6-8.

The crisis for each of us is that this kind of wisdom is often not what we are looking for. We are looking for the kind of wisdom that gives us an answer to a problem. We are looking for the kind of wisdom that will help us achieve our goals and aspirations. But we are not looking for a wisdom that simply says, ‘Make offering’. Nevertheless, this is the wisdom of God established from the beginning from the earliest times of the earth. This is the wisdom that God gives to all generously and without reproach. James 1:5. Where is wisdom found? It’s found by following the footsteps of our Lord Jesus in a life of offering.

David Baker

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Feature Articles
November 2009

The word of His grace

Where is wisdom?
-Part 2

Believe and be established

Poured out

Yes and no

The gates of righteousness

Sufficient grace

A living sacrifice

Where your
treasure is

Strong in the Lord