<The owl commercial launches the message>
Did you know that that commercial is almost 50 years old? It’s memorable. It points to a question, provides a practical experiment and even an answer. However, the wise old owl is only validating his own personal knowledge and experience so is that wisdom?
Some claim google is wisdom personified.
I wouldn't claim this. Google, Wikipedia, YouTube videos are all purveyors of knowledge. But knowledge is not the same as wisdom.
Do a Google search for the word ‘wisdom’ and find 447 million posts?
Ask a friend what wisdom is and they may tell you it's the insight you gain just after you do the wrong thing.
Dictionary.com defines wisdom as: the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight and by this definition, this letter from Dr. Bob Moorehead, author and former pastor entitled “The Paradox of Our Age” might be considered wisdom. Take a listen:
<ON SCREEN>
“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;
We spend more, but have less;
We buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses, but smaller families;
More conveniences, but less time;
We have more degrees, but less sense;
More knowledge, but less judgment;
More experts, but more problems;
More medicine, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life;
We’ve added years to life, but not life to years.
We’ve been to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;
We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We have higher incomes, but lower morals;
We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of tall men and short character;
Steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
More leisure, but less fun;
More kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce;
Of fancier houses, but broken homes.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom and nothing in the stockroom.
Now, everything Dr. Moorehead wrote and said is still true. It uses knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. However, I believe it lacks a single perspective which would elevate it from observation to wisdom.
It’s the perspective of the Divine.
We, as Christians, purport that the bible is filled with God’s wisdom. In fact there are 5 books in our bible called the “wisdom literature.” They are the book of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms and the Song of Solomon (Song of Songs).
Over the next seven weeks, we will be exploring wisdom as given to us from the scriptures. Today’s earlier reading was from the book of Proverbs or as the old testament names it, The Proverbs of Solomon. While the book does bear his name, we know he didn't write all of them and some were added after his death. However, the majority are written by him. According to 1 Kings 4:32, Solomon wrote over 3000 proverbs yet only between 300-400 have survived.
A proverb is a terse albeit apt expression of a truth about life.
Throughout the book the author sees a definite connection between common sense and the divine.
Even in 1 Kings 3:12-14, we see how Solomon's common sense request of the Lord results in a wise and discerning heart which is then linked to following the statues and commands of the Law. All of which then conspired to lift Solomon to the status of wise man among the people of God. A status that is solidified in the story of the two women claiming ownership of the same baby. You remember the story - two women coming before Solomon because one mother’s child died and she switched it with the woman whose child did not die. Both claiming the living child as their own so Solomon decreed the live baby should be cut in half with a half going to each. To which the real mother said, “please don’t kill the boy but give him to her so he will live.” An action Solomon knew the lying mother would never do so he placed the child back with his mother.
The story of Solomon’s wisdom grew from that moment and gives us ample reason today to continue to read the divinely inspired words. Hence, the reason we read from the second chapter of Proverb earlier in the service. It was written to encourage the reader to seek God’s wisdom above all else. It uses imagery and immoral examples to stress the point that Wisdom is given to those who pursue it, not just to those who are naturally born with a proclivity for it. A fool can become wise if he/she pursues God’s inspiration.
Now there may never be another person as wise as Solomon, but God has provided us 31 proverbs to read, pray and meditate on. I love that there are 31. One for every day so we need not be overwhelmed by the task of learning but simple enough for us to grasp a little of the divine daily.
Now, here is a reality. God wants to enlighten you in the same way He did Solomon. Jesus’ brother James writes:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Wisdom is a gift for the asking but requires we understand the biblical definition:
Wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
A fear implies faith in God and a realistic reverence, admiration and respect that God is the source.
As the prophet Isaiah first said,
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4
Wisdom does not happen by chance. Wisdom needs to be a priority, and we are told to seek it above all else (Proverbs 3:13; 16:16). When the reality of God’s true nature has caused us to fall down in worship, we are then in the right position to gain wisdom. Wisdom is merely seeing life from God’s perspective and responding accordingly. It is given by God to those who pursue, test and prove its value.
Until our hearts are in a right relationship with God, we are unable to have the “wisdom that comes from heaven” (James 3:17). Without the fear of the Lord, we may gain knowledge of earthly things and make some practical choices for this life, but we miss the one ingredient that defines a wisdom for a Christian - heavenly perspective.
The 12 disciples did not fully understand this when Christ was with them. It would take his death and resurrection to fully grasp the role they had been invited to participate in. The original disciples would find out though. From the moment Jesus broke the bread and drank from the cup, everyone’s life would be different.
You can find more information about the author at www.communitycenter.life
