2.  It depends on how we define wisdom. There are different perspectives on that. For instance, the Eastern idea of wisdom begins with age and experience. Wisdom is a sense of calm and free from emotions. “He who understands both good and evil as they really are, is called a true sage.” It is the person who has mastered themselves who has become wise. They call everyone “grasshopper”. No, seriously, you have an image in your mind of Eastern wisdom figures. They have the ability to make the right choices in impossibly complicated situations. In that sense, Solomon is almost Eastern in his wisdom. Remember the story of the two women and the baby? He had a solution no one could have predicted but it resolved the conflict immediately. Typically, they are older, calm, somewhat detached and speak in memorable aphorisms. Wisdom is what is passed on to the disciples of the next generation.

It is much the same in Greek wisdom. Wisdom was the way of moderation. Nothing too much in life was the Golden Mean. It was the best kind of natural wisdom. Balance, morality, civility, order. There was very little interest in the afterlife and the truly wise were often detached from the day to day and left free to think, write and build schools of followers. It was special knowledge reserved for a few. Wisdom was control but not dependent on any supernatural outside source of authority. There was no god to obey. Wisdom was explaining things with no transcendent Creator. This is the wisdom Paul references in 1 Corinthians and Colossians: It is a life controlled by the basic principles of this world. It is the appearance of wisdom. Basic principles are not necessarily evil. “Honesty is the best policy” or “A stitch in time saves nine.” are basic principles of this world. They work and there is nothing supernatural about them. But so are “might makes right” and “talk softly but carry a big stick.” Not all the basic principles of this world are bad but not all of them are godly.

This is the wisdom described by John Bunyan in Pilgrim’s Progress. It is in Christian’s encounter with Mr. Worldly Wiseman. When told of Christian’s desire to rid himself of his burden and to find the narrow gate Mr. Worldly Wiseman says,

“Who told you to go this way to be rid of your burden?”

“A man who appeared to me a very honourable person- his name, I remember was Evangelist.”

“I curse him for his counsel!” exclaimed Mr. Worldly Wiseman with disdain, “There is no one as dangerous or troublesome! I can see that you have come across disaster already; the dirt of the Slough of Despond is caked on you. Take my advice- the way you are going, you will encounter pain, hunger, want, perils, lions, dragons, darkness and death! Should a man so carelessly cast away his life, by listening to a stranger?”

“Sir, this burden on my back is even greater than all the things which you listed” answered Pilgrim.

“How did you get your burden?” insisted Mr Worldly Wiseman, becoming exasperated.

“By reading this book” replied Pilgrim.

“I thought so! I can show you how to obtain what you desire, without the dangers of this way! In the next village of Morality lives a fine gentleman named Legality, who has the skill to help men off with such burdens. If he is not in, his son Civility can help you just as well. You can send for your wife and children, and reside in a now empty house in the town, and live by honest neighbours, in credit and good fashion.”

3.  When we come to Scripture we find different perspectives of wisdom as well. Let’s look at three in the Old Testament.

First, there is the wisdom of Proverbs.

Wisdom is something one gets and holds. “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” Proverbs 4:7-9. It is precious – more precious than rubies. The whole purpose of Proverbs is for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair. The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is not something just for the aged. It is something you acquire from youth. It is practical and beneficial. It is the key to a good life…and that is why the wisdom of Proverbs is so appealing to us. We are practical people who desire a better life. Look at Proverbs 2:

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Proverbs 8:14-21:

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
15 By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,
and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.

Our favorite passages from Proverbs often reflect that. They are practical advice about life in a family and community. Don’t cheat, lie, steal, be lazy or fail to discipline your children. Don’t fall into the hands of prostitutes. If you follow these Proverbs you will be a good person but just as the Law was a tutor until our real teacher came, so the Proverbs are as well. They are not God’s final say about wisdom…but we’ll get to that.

Second, there is the wisdom of Ecclesiastes. Here, Solomon wrestles with the whole purpose of wisdom. Does it really matter in the end if we all die? Is everything futile and empty? Look at Ecclesiastes 2:13-16:

13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly,
just as light is better than darkness.
14 The wise have eyes in their heads,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.
15 Then I said to myself,
“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
What then do I gain by being wise?”
I said to myself,
“This too is meaningless.”
16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered;
the days have already come when both have been forgotten.

In the end, wisdom is not something we can get. We cannot own it or possess it. It is not something we can master. Even Solomon could not become completely wise, could he? “I am determined to be wise – but this was beyond me. Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound – who can discover it?” Ecclesiastes 7:23-24.

How does Solomon resolve it? He concludes wisdom is not something he can acquire because it is, in the end, out of his reach. What ultimately makes sense is a life of satisfaction – even if imperfect. Look at Ecclesiastes 5:18-20:

18 “This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.”

One cannot be completely wise and explain everything in life but wisdom is more than right answers to difficult questions. Wisdom must be attached to life. Wisdom is the ability to enjoy what God has given.

Third, there is the wisdom of Job. That wisdom comes at the end of an unimaginable trial. It’s one thing to say with Scott Peck, “life is difficult” but quite another to experience the trials of Job. He lost everything and then had to suffer through all the advice and recriminations of his so-called friends. All the wisdom he had acquired was useless in the face of his suffering. There are no easy answers and no explanations for what was happening to him. Nothing in Proverbs could account for what he was experiencing. Still, we call Job part of the wisdom literature of the Bible. Why is that? Because wisdom has limits and there are things in life we cannot solve with sage observations and accumulated experience. What is the wisdom of Job in the end?

Job 42:2-6:

Then Job replied to the Lord:

2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”

It is the wisdom that says in the end, “Though he slay me yet will I trust him.” It is the wisdom of Abraham and Samuel and everyone mentioned in Hebrews 11. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.” This is not simple rules for living, is it? It is not elegant answers to impossible questions or logic that cuts through complications. This is wisdom in the fire.

4.  Then there is the wisdom of the New Testament.

If Proverbs tells us the beginning of wisdom is the fear of The Lord then it is in the New Testament that we discover the end of wisdom. What is the New Testament definition of wisdom?

It is not right answers for difficult questions or even the accumulation of experience that comes with age.

It is not merely belief in God in difficult times.

It is not practical advice for a successful life.

It is not finding a way to be satisfied with our lives – as good as that is.

The way of wisdom is found in Colossians 3:3-17:

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wisdom is Christ in us. It is not special knowledge or something we achieve through discipline. Christ is God’s Wisdom and our only way to wisdom is an exchanged life – not an improved life. The old life must die. We cannot add wisdom to the old life. We put on the new self which is being renewed in the image of the Creator – but without the death of the old self we are hopeless. Wisdom is not a right answer. In fact, not everyone in this new life has the ability to give right answers to difficult questions. It is a certain kind of life in the midst of confusion, difficulty, hardship, persecution, stress and trouble. It is not detached. It is not the desire for control. It is becoming more like Christ. That does not mean pretending to be Jesus. It means a life that exhibits the fruit of the spirit.

In the end, it is foolishness to the world because it is the way of the cross. The wisdom of Proverbs is not foolishness to the world. The wisdom of Ecclesiastes is not foolishness to the world. The wisdom of Job is not foolishness to the world. Only the wisdom of the cross is foolishness because it is God’s only way of reconciling the world to Himself. It is not something we can learn or acquire. It does not make sense to the world.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25:

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

We cannot become wise through our own efforts. Wisdom is not something we acquire or possess or get. It possesses us. It does not guarantee a successful life or even satisfaction in life. It is not principles or living by certain standards of morality and civility. While many of those things may be good they are not Christian wisdom. Wisdom is the life of Christ incarnated in us. As the hymn says, “Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to the cross I cling.”

Christ is the wisdom of God. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job were tutors and foreshadows but not the final word on God’s wisdom. It does not mean we throw them out but God’s final word is we have died and our real lives are hidden in Christ. We may not have all the answers to the questions we talked about at the beginning. There is no Solomon or guru on a mountain with the simple solution. In fact, there is probably not a well-defined and perfect “Christian” response to every debate. No one has the answer but what we do have is something far beyond the weak principles of this world. Here is what Gordon Cosby said years ago about that: We have the power of Christ to love each other.

Agape love is the power to love the unlovable. It is the power to love people we do not like. Jesus commands us to love our enemies in order to be like God. We are not told to love in order to win our enemies or to get results, but that we may be children of God, who sends the rain on the just and the unjust, who looks after both the good and the evil. The predominant characteristic of this agape love is that, no matter what a person is like, God seeks nothing but his or her highest good.”

That is supernatural and impossible on our own. Yet, it is the one characteristic Christ uses to define us as believers. They will know you are my disciples because you love each other. Not because you are powerful or always right or the best and brightest. What does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 13? If I have all the wisdom and knowledge and understanding in the world I have nothing if I do not have love. What is Christian wisdom? It is the life of Christ growing in you and transforming you more and more to the image and likeness of the Creator.