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Wisdom
(Graduation)

May 18, 2008

During the graduation season we emphasize knowledge; and knowledge well used is wisdom. Nothing is more important. James said, “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy” (Jas. 3:17).

So you see, it doesn’t matter how young or old you are, or how rich or poor you are, God can send insights and messages through your brain! Wisdom comes from God. That’s why James said, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But “The wisdom that comes from God is . . . first, pure. Then it is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest” (Jas. 3:17, edb).

James says that when intellectual ability is used rightly by a loving, caring person, it is a great blessing; but when intellectual ability is used wrongly by a selfish egotist, it does great damage. In short, those who are really wise remember their moral responsibility to others. Wisdom is not being a “smart operator.” Wisdom is not knowing how to manipulate people. Wisdom is not having a lot of statistics at your disposal. Knowledge can be gotten from books, but wisdom can only be gained from personal experience. Everything that happens to us, whether positive or negative, has a lesson to teach. Someone said, “There’s only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and that is not learning from experience. John Galbraith said, “The greatest wisdom is to know what you do not know.”

Solomon was known for his wisdom. He wanted it. He asked for it. And, most importantly, he used it. The Scripture says, “The Lord came to (Solomon) in a dream . . . God said, ‘Ask for anything you want. I will give it to you.’ Solomon answered, ‘You were very kind to . . . my father David . . . You allowed his son to be king after him . . . But I am like a little child; I do not have the wisdom I need to do what I must do . . . So I ask that you give me wisdom. Then I can rule the people in the right way. . . the Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked him for this. So God said to him, ‘You did not ask for a long life. And you did not ask for riches for yourself. You did not ask for the death of your enemies. Since you asked for wisdom to make the right decisions, I will give you what you have asked. I will give you wisdom and understanding . . .” (I Kings 3:5-12, edb).

Solomon used this God given wisdom to help hurting people. One famous example concerns two women and a baby. They both claimed the child. Solomon’s solution was dramatic. “And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was . . . and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give (the first woman) the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof” (I Kings 3:24-27).

Now, Solomon knew more than facts. He knew people. He understood human nature. That’s wisdom. How can we value and utilize wisdom?

I. FIRST, WE CAN WANT WISDOM.

It must be a priority above wealth or fame or pleasure. It’s a law of life that we do get what we want most.

Once a man traveled to see a guru in India to find wisdom. When he expressed his purpose, the old priest replied, “Oh yes! Come with me.” As they reached the sacred Ganges, the seeker assumed there was to be a ritual or a Baptism. Instead, the guru led him into the river and held his head under the water until he was finally able to struggle to the surface, desperately gasping for breath.

“Now,” said the guru, “When you want wisdom as much as you wanted air just then, you’ll find it!”

To really recognize your deepest desires, notice what you do. Conduct is a more reliable indication than words. We may say we want education, but if we only spend our time on fun and games, our behavior reveals our true desire. Too often we neglect the essential and major on the non-essential.

William James said, “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” He meant we must learn to separate the significant from the insignificant. A wise person can rightly assess priorities and resist the temptation to make mountains out of molehills.

Years ago, a motorist drove into a service station and asked for ten gallons of gas. Immediately the attendants sprang into action. One began to wipe the windshield, another checked the air in the tires, the third put water in the radiator and checked the oil. When they were through the motorist paid for ten gallons of gas and drove off. A few minutes later, however, he returned with a worried look on his face and asked, “Did any of you put the gas in my car?” The three looked at one another, then admitted that nobody had?

The same thing often happens to us. In the rush of life we become preoccupied with doing the superficial things—the things that “glitter” but which are not of ultimate importance. Solomon wanted wisdom above all, and he got it.

II. NEXT, WE CAN ASK FOR WISDOM.

James said, “But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. God is generous. He enjoys giving to all people, so God will give you wisdom” (Jas. 1:5, edb).

This Scripture brings up the question of prayer. It’s significant that God never commanded us to sing without ceasing, nor preach without ceasing, nor give without ceasing, nor work without ceasing; but He did command, “Pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17).

So, prayer isn’t necessarily bowing our head or kneeling or closing our eyes. It’s obvious we can’t do that “without ceasing.” Instead, it means an attitude. “Asking” for wisdom is done in thoughts and words and acts. We are asking for wisdom when we analyze a situation. We are asking for wisdom when we seek for insights. We are asking for wisdom when we study and learn and listen.

A mother said, “When my husband and I were clearing out the basement, we left Mandy, our four-year-old, sleeping in her bed. Suddenly, a voice from upstairs called, “Mommy!” I answered, “Down here, Mandy,” but before I could quite get the words out, she called again. “Mommy!” Her voice louder and more frantic. I tried again, “We’re downstairs” “Mommeee!” she cried out in real panic in her voice. Thinking something was wrong I raced up the stairs. Mandy was standing in the kitchen, tears streaming down her cheeks. She ran into my arms, “I thought you had left me all alone, Mommy!” she wailed.
Quietly, I held her and then explained, “Mandy, honey, I tried to answer you, but you were making so much noise you couldn’t hear me.”
Does God have that same problem with us? Asking for wisdom involves listening.

III. FINALLY, WE CAN USE WISDOM.

This doesn’t mean cramming facts into our heads. One student said of an obtuse professor, “That man knows more things not worth knowing than anyone I’ve ever heard.”

True wisdom is useful, practical and helpful. The cover of a book read, “Quick and Easy Answers to Life’s Hard Questions. Inside it was blank—one-hundred pages of nothing. Why? Because there are no quick and easy answers to life’s hard questions. Nevertheless, wisdom is available.

A little girl had vision problems from birth. She was almost grown before an oculist finally performed an operation on her eyes. A few weeks later, she stepped outside one night; and then rushed back inside. “Oh! come,” she cried. “Come and see what has happened to the sky.” The family hurried out with her and saw nothing but the familiar glory of the stars. You see, the stars had been there all the time but she had never seen them before. Likewise, wisdom is here all the time; but we must see it and use it.

Wisdom is personalized knowledge. Each of us draws from the wisdom of the Holy Spirit within. Walt Whitman said it this way: “Wisdom cannot be passed from one having it, to another not having it. Wisdom is of the Soul.”

James defined true wisdom as never arrogant or argumentative or negative. Instead it is pure, peaceful, gentle, ready to help, fair and honest. (See Jas. 3:17, edb).

So, when we speak, act or make decisions, let’s stop and ask ourselves: “Does this promote peace? Is it helpful? Is it fair? As Christians, we should want wisdom, ask for wisdom, and most importantly use wisdom in productive ways. I hope all of us and especially our graduates and students will do that every day of their lives.

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(WC1613
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