Job 15: Arrogance and Wisdom

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 15:2-5

2“Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
3 Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?
4 But you even undermine piety
    and hinder devotion to God.
5 Your sin prompts your mouth;
    you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
    your own lips testify against you.

In a bible study that I had taught to our church’s youth, I had asked the question – What is Wisdom? Many of them had answered from several different perspectives. A general consensus was that it was a sense of knowledge and knowing how to make good decisions. And although this is entirely true, there is a hard truth for us to swallow: That even if we know the right thing to do, there are many times that we’ve chosen to do the exact opposite. Wisdom then is so much more than just knowing. It is not merely information. It is a will to do the good thing even when it is not profitable to us. This requires humility.

Wisdom requires humility.

When is the last time we have seen someone who is arrogant whom we would consider wise? It is an oxymoron, a contradiction, a hypocrisy. One cannot be proud but yet be wise. Just as in the same way, someone who is arrogant or proud cannot be taught wisdom or given wisdom unless they are humble enough to receive it. Wisdom requires of us to be humble in our circumstances. Wisdom acknowledges our own brokenness and is willful enough to admit it and learn what is good.

You don’t have to pretend or try to save face.

Eliphaz is the one speaking in Job 15. Amongst Job’s friends, Eliphaz has also been the most compassionate and understanding of Job’s circumstances and difficult times. But Job’s anger and pride have gotten the best of him to the point none of his friends are able to console him nor help him back onto his feet. Instead he has outrightly rejected his friends even when they have come from distances just to be with him and help him through. Eliphaz especially points out all the condescending talk from Job, and points out that he is not only being arrogant, but trying to justify his pride.

4 But you even undermine piety
and hinder devotion to God.
5 Your sin prompts your mouth;
you adopt the tongue of the crafty.

There are times when we make mistakes. We say things in error and out of hot anger and frustration. Sometimes it is embarrassing or too painful to admit our faults. This is our brokenness and our pride! I am certain everyone has been in such a seat where it is too embarrassing to admit our problems and try to navigate our way out of situations and conflict so that we could avoid our guilt. But if we are to receive the gift of wisdom from God, we also need to be humble enough to receive it.

Today, what are some of the areas of pride and arrogance that have overshadowed the opportunities to choose humility and gain wisdom? Or will we choose to be stubborn as Job has been?

Key Idea: Being wise requires Humility. It is not pretending to know everything.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 16:1-18:28, Luke 19:1-27, Psalm 87:1-7, Proverbs 13:11

Image by: Patrick Tomaso, https://unsplash.com/impatrickt