294. A Drop in the Ocean on the Way of Wisdom

“For the Lord has made all things; and to the godly He has given wisdom.” Sirach 43:33.

More than anything else, the Lord’s servants need wisdom. Knowledge alone cannot bring anyone to the goal. If wisdom departs from us, we stumble in countless things, and we cannot even begin to speak about performing a ministry for God. Our counsel becomes uncertain, and our judgment in matters starts to falter.

Wisdom rests quietly in the one who has understanding. So outward enthusiasm and outward appearances cannot of themselves confirm that wisdom is present. No, it is most often found with those who are most quiet. Wisdom seeks the honor of God, therefore it remains hidden until the right moment. But he who seeks his own honor is always on the go, and his folly cannot be hidden.

Among young people there is great strength, but their strength needs to be led by the wisdom of those who are older. When we think about the situation in Nehemiah 4:16, where the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt: “So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.”

The nobles stood behind them and directed the strength of the younger people. But if there is someone who has gained wisdom in his youth, it shall be reckoned as wisdom’s gray hair to him. Job 32:1, and the rest of the chapter. Such a one will not allow their youth to be despised.

Riches and honor are with wisdom, enduring riches and righteousness. Prov. 8:18.

In wisdom lies the inheritance from the fathers, and through wisdom we inherit the future and everything it possesses. For Christ, the wisdom of God, has been appointed heir of all things. Heb. 1:2.

I have taught you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in right paths. Prov. 4:11.

The way of wisdom must be learned. Wisdom exalts her children. Those who love her love life, and they who rise early to find it shall be filled with joy. When he puts his trust in it, he will be its owner, and his descendants will possess it. Sirach 4:12, ff.

For at first it will walk with him by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with its discipline, until it may trust his soul, and try him by its laws. Then it will return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and show him its secrets. Sirach 4:17-18.

From this we realize that the way of wisdom is a way of chastisement right from the beginning. This is precisely the reason that so few find it. Most people’s attitude is to rather enjoy themselves and never be corrected. Such people can never be servants in the church.

A person from an ungodly home can be converted in a moment, but it takes much time to partake of wisdom. In this, those who come from God-fearing homes have a great advantage. (I do not mean from religious homes where the parents have a name that they are alive and yet are dead) because continual chastisement and direction toward the right way from a loving father, throughout childhood, has an unspeakably good effect. It is as though wisdom seeps down into the child’s soul. Such people can, as Elihu in Job 32, in the spring of their youth, stand up to those who have gray hair and come out with the victory. It says of Elihu that he was of the seed of Ram. Clearly his family must have instructed him in the way of wisdom. Had he originated from an ungodly home, he would have been struck down in an instant by such wise men as Job and his three friends. For it is written: “The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just.” Prov. 3:33. There will not be much wisdom to inherit from a home where a curse rests.

Servants in the church hear a lot from all quarters, but everything should be passed through the sieve before it is brought forth to the church. The wife of a servant in the church also ought to use the sieve of wisdom before she asserts anything. Wisdom contains love, longsuffering, the ability to bear, and the awareness that we are bringing up a generation who has come out of darkness and ignorance. So we all have good reason to be merciful, especially when we deeply consider that we ourselves need a tremendous amount of grace and mercy.