What is Wisdom?

AM Psalm 40, 54 • PM Psalm 51
Wisdom 6:12-23 • Col 3:1-11 • Luke 7:1-17

What is Wisdom? My trusty dictionary says:

“The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.”

How do we develop wisdom? Most would say age and experience. But I’ve known people who try the same thing over and over, get the same result, and never learn. I’ve known people even older than I am who are not wise. And I’ve known children who have come out with some very wise statements.

Yes, but I think Wisdom in the Wisdom of Solomon is more.

“The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction and concern for instruction is love of her...”

Desire for instruction to me means wanting to learn, being aware, and being willing to change. This combined with “fix(ing) one’s thought on her is perfect understanding” and “she goes about seeking those worthy of her” will lead toward Wisdom. And to be worthy means having honesty, seeking truth, and heeding the laws of Wisdom. These “laws” aren’t specified in the passage for today but those “laws” are found elsewhere. They are in other verses of this chapter and in the New Testament “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40). That might cover Wisdom’s laws.

Wisdom wants to find us. If we seek learning and follow Wisdom’s laws, we may find or be found by Wisdom. Sounds like a plan.

Written by Jacqui Brandli

Seeking Wisdom in each day.