Where is Your Source of Wisdom?

A Precious Commodity

Wisdom is truly a precious commodity in this world. The sad reality is that many have forgone the greatest source of wisdom which is found in the Word of God. There are many causes for such a situation, but most rest at the feet of man’s own arrogance. The seeking of knowledge is considered a carnal rather than spiritual pursuit, largely because many spiritual things cannot be defined empirically. The greatest wisdom the world embraces is what can be touched and examined. Anything beyond is simply a waste of time.

A Foolish Attitude

This attitude is a great tragedy because it exchanges true wisdom for utter foolishness. This is the beginning of those who would refuse to heed what has been known for centuries. “Fools despise wisdom and instruction,” Solomon warns in the Proverbs (1:7, NASU) and his warning is as true today as it was 3,000 years ago. It was God’s very wisdom which was the basis of the founding of the earth (3:19), so any study we make of His creation must include His wisdom. In a somewhat facetious sense, wisdom is its own beginning: “The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom” (4:7). Wisdom is never to be found unless one is looking for it.

Does this mean that wisdom is “hidden” or “secretive”? Not in the very least. In the Proverbs we see wisdom as a woman shouting in public (1:20). Where wisdom to be found, in the very same place wisdom has been forever. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (1:6). Here we find the trouble for those in the world, they want to become wise without God and in the end discover nothing. The truth concerning wisdom is that there is none without God, because He is the source of all life, knowledge, wisdom, being, etc. To seek wisdom apart from God is to seek anything apart from God: a waste of time.

Are We Immune?

Is the Christian immune from such foolishness? Oh, that it were so, but it is sadly not the case. The body of Christ can become caught up with the foolishness of the world just as easily as anyone else living in the world, if we allow ourselves to lose the focus of our wisdom. James warns believers to remember “the wisdom from above” (1:17, 18). He is not talking about any new wisdom, but the same from ages past: the source of wisdom found in God. Where is your source of wisdom?