Wisdom is a word that cannot be defined by a simple word or phrase. For certain individuals, wisdom means the ability to exercise sound judgment in the application of knowledge, insights, and intelligence, determining accurately which knowledge or intelligence to use and when.
When it comes to the Bible, the word of God tells us that Jesus Christ Himself is our wisdom.
“It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV
(By the way, this continues the series we started a few weeks back. The focus remains on mentoring a young man in accordance with the teachings of Proverbs 1 to 9, beginning from his early years, to equip him for a life of peace and stability in this tumultuous and dark world.)
What do we mean when we say, “Christ is our wisdom?”
Among the myriad names attributed to Jesus, one of them is the Word of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-3, 14 ESV
The Word is the Son of God Himself. And John writes,
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:11-13 NASB
Isn’t that remarkably straightforward?
To have and meditate on the Word of God in our hearts and minds is to have Jesus Christ Himself within us, guiding and illuminating for us the path of righteousness. This constitutes living a life both in Spirit and wisdom. As the writer of Proverbs expresses,
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 ESV
Furthermore, the author of Proverbs says,
“My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, 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;” Proverbs 2:1-6 ESV
Those who earnestly seek God will find Him, yet it is solely through His word that God can be found and truly known; there is no alternative route. As we mentor a young man to ingest the word of God daily, much like he consumes food for sustenance, the aforementioned passage illustrates that through the word of God, the young man will inevitably attain the knowledge of God and grasp the significance of the fear of the Lord. This knowledge and comprehension transform the heart and mind of the young man into a sanctuary of wisdom, a gift bestowed solely by God. Such wisdom imparts teachings, safeguards, and rescues the young man from various perilous life encounters, including an adulterous woman.
Listen:
“So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life. ” Proverbs 2:16-19 ESV
Take note: Wisdom doesn’t merely advise a young man to flee from a half-naked woman who appears at church. Such a situation is typically recognizable to a young Christian man, and, by the mercy and grace of God, he can easily run away from her. True wisdom shields him from a seemingly flawless, excessively appealing woman who isn’t genuinely spiritual but rather preys upon his life. She doesn’t allure him with immodesty but rather masquerades as a devout woman while lacking genuine spirituality.
Only wisdom sees and knows this woman, not the young man.
In the Bible, this woman is referred to as the forbidden woman (ESV) or the strange woman (NASB). She earns this designation because although she may be present among believers, her true allegiance lies outside the word of God. Her thoughts, motives, and pursuits are not aligned for the glory of God and the well-being of humanity, but rather for her own selfish, sinful, and carnal desires.
This woman fails to uphold promises; rather, she shatters them. She breaches her covenant with her youthful partner and with God. To understand this within a Christian framework, consider this: as a Christian, she is betrothed to one Man, Jesus Christ, and is expected to lead a life that glorifies Him, bringing honor and blessings to her as a single or married woman (2 Corinthians 11:1-3).
“I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:1-3 NIV
However, this particular woman has broken her vow. Her heart strays from Christ. Where does her path lead? It leads to naught but destruction, and she desires a companion to accompany her there. Thus, she lures a young man with her seductive words and smooth talk.
Without a foundation of wisdom derived from the word of God, it becomes challenging for a young man to distinguish this woman from others on his own. She might participate in the church choir or engage in various church ministries, presenting herself in a favorable light. However, wisdom possesses the ability to deliver the young man from her allure, preventing him from becoming one of the departed who ventured towards her and never returned.
What other distinguishing characteristics does this strange woman possess that the young man should be aware of? . . . Contd. ///