T H E O P H I L U S

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 28

20 Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds in the sky.

Wisdom is something you cannot simply learn in school. It certainly cannot be obtained simply by “trying” to be wise as that would only be pretentious. Wisdom, Godly wisdom, transcends simple knowledge. It is being able to take information or knowledge and utilize it for the greater good. It is an ability to navigate through both the good and bad of life, and especially what is just and unjust.

An Empty Hunger for Knowledge.

In an age where access to information is unlimited and often at our fingertips, the most ironic aspect of today’s society is that we have not grown much wiser in comparison to our ancestors. Despite our wealth of information we have, our inability to learn from history and our brokenness as humanity greatly contradicts our hunger for knowledge. When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree which was named “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, that is precisely all they obtained. The knowledge of good and evil – but not necessarily the wisdom to guide them through it.

Even secular science fiction novelist, Isaac Asimov states:

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”

 ( Isaac Asimov is a Science fiction novelist and author of titles such as “I, Robot” and “Bicentennial Man”.)

Then where does wisdom come from? 

Were there ever moments we challenged our parents when we were children? When we wanted to do things our way rather than our parents way? I am sure we all have had those moments. Many of us also have had times of major failure from our own decisions. But the smack of the hand when we reach for the mug filled with hot coffee, or when we were told not to play with the doors because we’ll get out fingers jammed, was only given to us because of a wisdom of experience. Such wisdom is only given to us to spare us the pain before it is too late.

Amos 28:23-24 says:

23 God understands the way to it
    and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 for he views the ends of the earth
    and sees everything under the heavens.

Where do you look for your wisdom? Is it merely a search for knowledge? Or is it being formed and shaped by the love of God and the truth in which he has given us in his Word? We must be weary to base the practice of our faith merely on the information given to us by preachers and teachers. And I dare say, that we must also be weary to base the practice of our faith from simply reading the scriptures because it is not simply reading it that will make you wise with it. But it is in submitting to the Father and asking him for the wisdom to interpret and apply it that must be our first humble approach.

There is no wisdom in evil. There is only wisdom when the application of information is directed in Godly love. If God is love, and he is  also the creator of all the earth and all of the universe, then our wisdom can only come from the Father. If we truly believe that God loves us and that in every way his love is perfect, then we ought to cling to his wisdom. This means learning to hear the truth, and receive it even if we hate to admit to it.

Today, ask the Father to give you His wisdom. Not so that we would be puffed up with information, but so that we may be able to love as unconditionally as he does; To be as just as he is; To be made holy by it and come closer to knowing Him above all things.

Photo by: Samantha Sophia, https://unsplash.com/samanthasophia