On Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 3:7

"A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak"

All of us would like to know what will happen in the future.

All major decisions we face in life carry the risk of an element of divination in which we try to figure out for ourselves the best course of action. The one that will provide the most benefit.

Our problem is not a lack of prudence. We want to make the best decision... We want to take the deal that will make us the most money, say the words that will make us most liked, move to the city where our dreams will be realized... in fact, most of our day is spent with anxiety as we diligently try to see and anticipate the future.

Ecclesiastes is full of practical advice urging us to be prudent. God is prudent!

A wise man isn't "caught off guard" in life. He does not sit on his hands and let life happen to him...

In our pursuit of wisdom and prudence, though, we must be careful not to fall into divination, which God despises.

There is "a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

Further, "if the light you have is actually darkness, how great is that darkness!"

The wisest conclusion that you can come to, the start of true wisdom... is that you do not have wisdom!

To realize "yes, there is a time to be quiet and a time to speak... and I don't know the difference." This is where wisdom starts.

Jesus said, "I came to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

He came to give wisdom.

He did not come to point to wisdom... He did not bring a 12-step program or an e-course.

When Jesus entered this world, wisdom entered the world.

"Christ, the wisdom of God," did not come with words of wisdom. He did not come with wise instructions, though His words and instructions are wise... He is wisdom incarnate.

It is no wonder, then, that divination is such an abomination to God.

Here, God provides for us, in His Son, true, unadulterated wisdom, and yet we run to The New York Post for our daily horoscope...

Standing in front of us is the creator of the universe, the one who wrote its laws and holds the elements together, and we turn inward, trusting "intuition", trying to reason with our created minds something that can not be reasoned.

Not only is it poor decision-making on our part, but it is a terrible sin that prevents fellowship with our Father.

At what point will we give up the fruitless pursuit of searching within ourselves for answers only God can provide?

At what point will we humble ourselves enough to admit, "I do not know, and I do not have the ability to know."

How much pain and suffering would we as a people avoid if tomorrow, the newscasters and scientists and philosophers and teachers and students were honest enough to say, "I do not know, and I have no way of figuring it out."

This would be the beginning of wisdom!

It isn't until we reach the place of Job, who said, "God alone understands the way to wisdom," that we are in a place to receive an answer to any of our questions.

Until then, we will speak when we are supposed to be quiet, and we will be quiet when we should be speaking.

We will be like blind guides leading the blind who, together, fall into a ditch.

Praise God that He has given us the account of Job so that we can learn from reading rather than by firsthand experience, what is required to reach the point of being able to acquire wisdom...

There is a way in which God can force you to understand... He can strip away everything around you and leave you with nothing except humbleness...Or you can humble yourself.

You can reach the end of your life and realize that you have wasted it, stumbling blindly in the dark from one path to another, without understanding or insight, ending up no further down the road than where you started... Or you can stop where you are and admit "I do not see and I can not see."

At this moment, you stop being someone who "thinks they see" and you start being someone in need of the one who gives sight.

At this moment, He will show up.

"For the eyes of the Lord range the entire earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

Job 28

There is a mine for silver

and a place where gold is refined.

Iron is taken from the earth,

and copper is smelted from ore.

Mortals put an end to the darkness;

they search out the farthest recesses

for ore in the blackest darkness.

Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,

in places untouched by human feet;

far from other people they dangle and sway.

The earth, from which food comes,

is transformed below as by fire;

lapis lazuli comes from its rocks,

and its dust contains nuggets of gold.

No bird of prey knows that hidden path,

no falcon’s eye has seen it.

Proud beasts do not set foot on it,

and no lion prowls there.

People assault the flinty rock with their hands

and lay bare the roots of the mountains.

They tunnel through the rock;

their eyes see all its treasures.

They search the sources of the rivers

and bring hidden things to light.

But where can wisdom be found?

Where does understanding dwell?

No mortal comprehends its worth;

it cannot be found in the land of the living.

The deep says, “It is not in me”;

the sea says, “It is not with me.”

It cannot be bought with the finest gold,

nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,

with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.

Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,

nor can it be had for jewels of gold.

Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;

the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;

it cannot be bought with pure gold.

Where then does wisdom come from?

Where does understanding dwell?

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,

concealed even from the birds in the sky.

Destruction and Death say,

“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”

God understands the way to it

and he alone knows where it dwells,

for he views the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the heavens.

When he established the force of the wind

and measured out the waters,

when he made a decree for the rain

and a path for the thunderstorm,

then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;

he confirmed it and tested it.

And he said to the human race,

“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,

and to shun evil is understanding.”