The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2015Sample

Wisdom

Oprah Winfrey says, ‘Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom manifests itself.’ In other words, like so many, she believes that wisdom comes from within and that it is a kind of intuition. Since we are all created in the image of God, there is some truth in this. However, as we see in today’s passages, the biblical view is that true wisdom comes ultimately from God and it is supremely acquired through our relationship with him. Knowledge is horizontal. But wisdom is vertical. It comes down from above. We gain and grow in wisdom as we learn, reflect and live in relationship with God.

We all desperately need wisdom. In the Old Testament there are several books of ‘Wisdom’: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. In addition, sprinkled throughout the Bible are various writings which might loosely be described as ‘Wisdom Literature’, dealing with such diverse areas as the power of the tongue, the dangers of adultery, the hazards of strong drink, the inequalities of life, the sufferings of the righteous, the skill of leadership and the art of parenting.

‘Wisdom’ has been defined as ‘sanctified common sense’, ‘the ability to cope’, ‘the art of steering’, ‘practical knowledge of the laws of life and of the world, based on experience’, ‘a parent’s legacy to children’ and ‘the quest for self-understanding and the mastery of the world’. We have seen already that wisdom is ultimately found in Jesus Christ, who is the ‘wisdom of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:24).

Proverbs 8:12-21

1. Seek wisdom from God

Wisdom is immensely valuable. ‘My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus’ (vv.18–19, MSG). This wisdom is worth more than all the material wealth in the world. Apart from anything else, unlike material wealth, it lasts forever (v.18).

In this passage, we see why wisdom is so valuable and how we should seek God for such wisdom:

• Wisdom comes from God
  Wisdom begins with a relationship with God. It starts with the ‘fear of the Lord’ (v.13). ‘Fear’ means ‘respect’ and a deep awareness of God that is the foundation of all wisdom.
• Wisdom is pure and beautiful
  The writer of Proverbs says, ‘To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech ... I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice’ (vv.13,20). As the apostle James puts it, ‘Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere’ (James 3:17).
• Wisdom helps you lead well
  Wisdom is of particular importance for leaders. If you want to be a good leader you need wisdom and common sense. ‘With my help, leaders rule, and lawmakers legislate fairly; With my help, governors govern, along with all in legitimate authority’ (Proverbs 8:15–16, MSG).
• Wisdom is available to you
  God promises wisdom to all who seek after it. ‘I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me’ (v.17). As the apostle James puts it, ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5).

Lord, I desperately need your wisdom today. Thank you for your promise that if I seek wisdom I will find it and you will give it generously without finding fault. Please give me wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Luke 7:36-50

2. See people with wise eyes 

Have you ever made a judgment about somebody based on outward appearances? 

In today’s passage we see a woman with a past, who sold her love by the hour as the town prostitute, washing Jesus’ feet with her hair, kissing them and pouring perfume on them. The Pharisee’s reaction was the natural one: ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner’ (Luke 7:39).

But Jesus, ‘filled with wisdom’ (2:40) right from his earliest days, could see beneath the surface. He saw the fact that the woman was expressing her immense love for him because she knew how much she had been forgiven. She may have had a negative past but she had a positive and blessed future.

We see the wisdom of Jesus both in his insight into people and in the way he chose to teach. He tells a parable about an eccentric bank manager. He has two customers. One owes £5,000, another £50,000. He lets both of them off completely. No human bank manager is likely to act like that. But that is exactly what Jesus’ love is like. All your sins are wiped out. You receive total forgiveness. The greater the debt, the more grateful you should be and the greater your love for Jesus.

This parable enabled Simon the Pharisee, unwittingly, to answer his own concern (7:43). Jesus wisely and gently points out that Simon had not given him a very warm welcome, nor shown a great deal of love. Simon’s problem was that he didn’t realise how much he needed forgiveness.

On the other hand, the woman loved Jesus much because she knew she had been forgiven much (v.47). She was willing to risk rejection and give of herself practically, emotionally and financially.

She wept so much she ‘wet his feet with her tears’ (v.38). In order to wipe his feet, she let her hair down in public (something regarded as shameful). She is in the grip of her emotions and oblivious to what others thought. She did not stop kissing his feet out of deep reverence.

Then she poured rare and expensive perfume (normally reserved for the head) on his feet. She loved Jesus with all of her heart. Jesus saw her heart, rather than her past. He says to her, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace’ (v.50). Her love was a result of her faith. As the apostle Paul puts it, ‘The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love’ (Galatians 5:6).

You may not have had a good beginning in life but this does not mean you cannot have a great finish. Whatever your past life, with Jesus, you can make a completely new start and have a great future. You do not need to go around burdened by guilt – from previous relationships or from incidents in your past. The moment you repent and put your faith in Jesus, all your sins are wiped out. It is important that what you know in your head drops to your heart.

Jesus wants you to acknowledge that you are a sinner. You can’t pay off your debts. But Jesus forgives you. You do not need to go around burdened by guilt. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you today with an overflowing love for God and love for others.

Lord, give me wisdom like Jesus not to judge by outward appearances but to see the heart. Give me wise words to guide others. Thank you that you have forgiven me so much. Fill me with the Holy Spirit today. May I overflow with love for you and for others.

Numbers 26:12-27:11

3. Show wisdom in practical decisions

Moses shows very practical wisdom in chapter 26, allotting the size of land according to the size of the group (v.54).

Sadly, not everyone was as wise as Moses. When they were in the desert they rebelled and grumbled against God. As a result, God said that they would not enter the promised land. This is exactly what happened. Of those counted in the desert of Sinai ‘not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun’ (vv.64–65).

As the ditty goes:

Zelophehad’s daughters also showed great wisdom in being courageous and speaking out. They stood up for women’s rights (27:1–11). Had these women not done so, the results might have been very different. They were right to have the courage to speak out.

Moses dealt with the situation with great wisdom. He did not simply follow the customs of his day. He was remarkably open-minded. He had the wisdom not to make a hasty decision in his own strength, or automatically equate God’s will with ancient custom.

Yet the heart of Moses’ wisdom lay in his recognition that true wisdom comes from God. Again and again we have seen how Moses brought the problems and challenges of the people to God. He sought God’s help and guidance, and it was this that made him wise.

Lord, I need your wisdom for all the decisions I have to make each day. Help me not just to look within at my own instincts but to seek your wisdom that comes from above, to follow the example of Jesus’ wisdom and to be guided by the Holy Spirit, who gives me wisdom in my heart.

Pippa Adds

Luke 7:36–50

It is so easy to judge. I remember being on the London Underground with my daughter when she was very small. As we went through the barrier I saw a young woman arguing with the inspector and I made a judgment.

Meanwhile, I had taken my daughter out of the buggy to get on the escalator going down (as you are required to) and the woman had gone ahead of us. My daughter was standing on the step below me when she fell. I had the buggy and bags in my hands and I couldn’t catch her. To my horror I could see the bottom looming and I was convinced she would get caught in the mechanism.

There were people around but it was this woman who turned, ran and scooped up my child, and handed her safely back to me. I felt deeply repentant of my attitude towards her and very grateful to the woman – and to God for his provision of the kind woman. 

Notes:
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.