Finding Wisdom

We stand at the beginning of a new school year. Soon our students will go back to school to receive instruction and to be prepared for a place in society. It is a great privilege that we may still have our own schools where our children are taught in the true wisdom from God’s Word so that they may be grounded in the truth. Much needs to be learned, but I hope that our students every day will hear about that only one thing needful which can make them wise unto salvation.

That is the reason Solomon often speaks in the wisdom literature about true wisdom. Twice he even speaks about “finding wisdom.” About the mocker and scorner he says, in Proverbs 14:6, that they seek wisdom but find it not, but Solomon knew experientially how blessed the man is that finds true wisdom in the Lord. All the wisdom that comes from below could not help him, but by grace he had received a desire to receive the wisdom that comes from above.

When the Lord said to him in Gibeon, “Ask what I shall give thee,” Solomon did not ask for a long life, or riches, or the life of his enemies, but in dependency on the Lord he asked for understanding to discern judgment because he had learned by grace that he was but of yesterday and knew nothing. By nature, that is the image of all people. Oh, in Paradise, we had the true knowledge of God and communion with God. The Lord even said that it was very good.

By our deep fall in Adam, we lost this true wisdom and have become fools before God. There is no understanding that we travel to an all-decisive eternity and that we one day will have to give an account of what we have done in our life, whether it be good or evil. Oh, we can seek to fill our empty heart with earthly wisdom, and surely, we need Christian lawyers, doctors, nurses, and—not to forget—teachers. So, to learn earthly wisdom is in itself not wrong.

However, if that is all we live for, it is too short for eternity, but wonder of free and sovereign grace, in His wisdom and love, the Lord opened a way unto salvation. He gave Christ, the true Wisdom who testifies, “O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” This is necessary because life is short and eternity is neverending; this is also possible, even for the chief of sinners, in Christ who died to teach spiritual wisdom.

When God’s Spirit opens our blind eyes, we see our foolishness before a holy and righteous God since we live without a God for our heart and without a Saviour for our soul. The love shed in our heart makes us long and ask for true wisdom. By God’s Spirit, students in the school of grace become eager to learn what we cannot miss to live and to die happily. James says in James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

Do you see that the Lord makes His people honest and sincere? As humble and restless students at the school of grace, they ask for true wisdom from above. Their heart is broken because the Lord taught that happiness is for the man who finds wisdom and gets understanding, but they miss that. It brings them to their knees where they confess, “O Lord, I have been so foolish by living for my own account! Is there still a way unto salvation that Thy name may be glorified?”

They have no rest until they may find it in Christ. What a wonder when the Lord opens their eyes for the true wisdom in Christ! A gladness which they cannot express fills their heart and makes their mouth overflow. Do you see why Solomon says that happy is the man that findeth wisdom and getteth understanding? They miss this wisdom in themselves but may see it in the chief Prophet and Teacher, Christ, who is able and willing to teach this wisdom unto lost sinners. With Mary, they can be found at His feet to be instructed in the ways everlasting.

At His feet all treasures of the world lose their value. All the riches on earth cannot fill the heart anymore because the merchandise of wisdom and understanding is so much better than the merchandise of silver and fine gold (verse 14). The gold of faith is so much better than all the gold of the earth. One day we must leave all earthly treasures behind, and without true wisdom it will be lost forever. However, those that learned this wisdom from above will then receive a treasure in heaven where moth and rust cannot corrupt, nor thieves can break through and steal.

My dear friend, did you, by grace, receive this true wisdom and understanding already? Our wisdom and understanding will not help us when we stand before the Lord to give an account of our stewardship. Yet, it is still the time of grace. Blessed is that boy and girl, that man and woman, who are given to seek true wisdom and understanding in God. What a blessedness that will be when they receive eternal happiness—when they see Christ in His glory.

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