Wisdom

Wisdom

Wisdom is the most exalted thing God can give to mankind. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so wisdom’s ways and wisdom’s thoughts are higher than man’s ways and thoughts.

Jesus wants to lift His disciples to these higher and purer thoughts and ways. We have been raised up together with Him and have been seated in heavenly places to be there always. We have been lifted up in order to partake of the wisdom that is from above, which is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without any doubting or hypocrisy. Jas. 3:17. This wisdom is in stark contrast to the wisdom that is from below, which is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

Once we have come to that place, we will view everything here on earth from a totally different perspective than those who are of the earth—those who are earthly. Our minds are set on things above and not on things on the earth. If we are of this earth, then all the earthly things will influence our joy and peace, and our thoughts will be driven hither and thither in our anxiety for clothing and food. Our thoughts will remain selfish and impure.

Earthly wisdom demands her rights, whereas the wisdom that is from above discovers that it is best to suffer unjustly in order to receive our right from God. The wisdom that is from below seeks to take care of her own person with as many of these perishable goods as possible, but the wisdom that is from above discovers that it is folly to seek your own. She seeks rather to do good and share with the others because it pleases God.

Wisdom wants to possess every man. She stretches out her hand to the multitudes in order to lift every one who wills up to her pure ways.

Wisdom calls out aloud in the noisy streets, in the market places, and wherever people can be found, that they must turn around, stop, and listen. If there is any one who will stop and listen to her reproof, she will pour out her spirit over him and make her words known to him. Prov. 1:23-27. If we laugh at wisdom and will not listen to her reproof, she will laugh at us in our calamity, tribulation, and distress. “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own evil way, and be filled with their own evil counsel.” Vs. 28-31. It will be different if we love reproof and then enjoy the fruits of a life of wisdom. Her fruit is better than gold, even the finest gold, and her gain is better than the choicest silver. It must be terrible to be like a fool in your old age with wisdom keeping her distance, laughing at you. However, if we love wisdom, she will love us, and we will possess her in all of life’s circumstances. If we exalt her, she will exalt and honor us. She will set a beautiful wreath on our head and give us a glorious crown. With her are riches and honor— enduring riches and righteousness. She will cause us to inherit true wealth and will fill our treasuries.

Conceit and willfulness are folly; they punish themselves. However, with the humble, and with those who receive counsel, there is wisdom. They have a future and a hope.