Searching for Wisdom
Most people go out to search for precious stones and gold and silver to gain some wealth. To do that, much energy and dedication is required. And yet any wealth that is gained is only for a limited time.
A good picture of what I am saying is in the book of Job, 28:1-11. In that passage, Job has shown us what happens when mines of gold and silver are being constructed in order to acquire these precious metals. All the mining processes are done by the wisdom that is in man and not in wild beasts. Man’s wisdom has proved to us where gold and silver can be extracted. That is from underneath the earth, and yet Job continues to pose a question for us: “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?”
Have men bothered to search for wisdom as they do for gold and silver? What we ought to know in the first place is that wisdom is more valuable than gold and silver, because the man who gains wisdom gains life and favour from the Lord (Proverbs 8:35). Again, “Where is wisdom from?” Is wisdom in the deep as gold and silver? “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’ and the sea says, ‘It is not in me’” (Job 28:14).
In Proverbs 2:1-4, we read of the Father’s instructions to the son. It is therefore the duty of the son to take up every word and commandment that the Father gives us. In that passage there is mention of the ear and the heart. The function of the ear is listening, and that of the heart to do what has been listened to. Our heavenly Father has some instructions and commandments for us as His sons and daughters for the taking. Who is the wise son and daughter? The fact is that God’s instructions and commandments are indeed wisdom for our taking. Therefore if any of us is looking for wisdom, the place to turn to is not in the depth of the earth or the sea, but in God’s Word.
As it is said many times, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Job echoes the same, “And he said to man, ‘Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom and to turn away from evil is understanding’” (28:20).
There has been only one person who has appeared to be our role model in this: “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2-3). These words of Isaiah refer to no other man than Jesus Christ. If we want to achieve our goal of searching for wisdom, let us imitate Jesus who is at the same time both the author and finisher of our faith.
Bro Sylvester Tembo (Mzuzu, Malawi)
