Whatever Happened to Wisdom?
What is wisdom?
What I need, I thought as I read Mary Elizabeth Blake’s posts about social media, is a wise tongue. I have begun to be more intentional about how I post, how I comment, and how I spend time looking at people’s pictures and posts with or without commenting. Thinking about a wise tongue made me think about wisdom itself – what is wisdom, and does anyone even want it anymore?
It turns out, based on an internet search, that many people in the 21stcentury think of wisdom in terms of “mindfulness,” which apparently means being attentive to what’s going on in the here and now. There are even entire conferences devoted to wisdom, Wisdom 2.0, for example. The stated purpose of the Wisdom 2.0 conference is to help people learn how “to live with greater wisdom, purpose, and meaning, while using technology in ways that create a more open and healthy culture.”
When I read that, I thought, “Hoo-RAH! I don’t have to shell out 1000 bucks for a conference to get this wisdom! I have a book that’s been around since before time began that teaches me how to live life in the here and now AND the hereafter! Not only that, it points me to the One who made all of that possible!”
Free wisdom!
You probably have it too, or you can read it for free! It’s the book of Proverbs, smack dab in the middle of the Bible. Have you read it lately? I am re-reading it and finding a lot that applies to my here-and-now-and-everafter life.
Consider these five verses and how they might help us grow in wisdom, purpose, meaning, mindfulness, and healthy relationships:
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On paying attention to the here and now in order to learn something, in this case, to work hard:
You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. Proverbs 6:6-8, The MSG.
(Don’t you just love how Proverbs speaks bluntly J!).
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On finding a strong sense of purpose:
Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind
Finds life itself – glorious life! Proverbs 21:21, The MSG
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On finding meaning in life:
Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
Walk up the street to a life with meaning. Proverbs 9:6, The MSG
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On loving someone who is hurting:
Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. Proverbs 18:4, NLT
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On interacting with anyone, anytime:
Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. Proverbs 11:17, NLT
The good news of Proverbs is that there is wisdom for daily life; the better news is that there is One who is living wisdom, who sacrificed his life for us so that we might also live wisely: Jesus.
Wisdom challenge:
Read or re-read Proverbs with Jesus in mind, and pray that you may live and love wisely in God’s story of grace.
Prayer:
Lord, God, we thank you for your wisdom and teaching on how to use words gently, kindly, and wisely. Help us to give life with our words and actions as you have taught us to do through your Servant, Jesus. In his life-giving name we pray, Amen.