Articles
Wisdom Calling
“Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud.” (Proverbs 8:1-3)
We receive calls every day: calls from family, calls from friends. Then there are the calls we dread: calls from telemarketers, calls from doctors, calls from a teacher. Do you ever screen a call, letting it roll over to voicemail because you just don’t want to deal with the person at the other end of the line?
There is a call which every one of us receives daily, and we have the choice to accept the call or let it “roll over.” This call is from Wisdom, and she is persistent.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, had a lot to say about wisdom. The primary aspect of wisdom he wanted us to know is that Wisdom is available to us all, if we will but answer her call. As Solomon wrote in Proverbs 2:3-6, “if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
James reminds us that there are two kinds of wisdom: wordly, selfish wisdom from man; heavenly, humble wisdom from God. (James 3:13-18) There are a lot of calls we receive telling us they offer wisdom and understanding, but listen to the warning of Paul in 1Cor 1:25 – “The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom.” We can sometimes imagine a “better” way to do things than the instruction given by God, an easier, less sacrificial solution to a problem than that which God has supplied. But God always gives the wise path, the wise solution. Any advice which differs from God’s way is based on that inferior, earthly wisdom.
Wisdom always starts with God in heaven and God in our hearts: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)
Wisdom is calling. Will you answer?
