A common topic of tweets, taunts, and challenges of late has been who is 'smarter', who is the 'wise guy', who knows what is really going on, how the world really works. Lots of talk about wisdom--is there any way to separate the talk from the truth?
Yesterday's blog post was on the concept of righteousness, and how (sometimes) misunderstood it is. In thinking about wisdom, I believe it is difficult to come to a meeting of the minds on what wisdom is, how it is noticed, and in what ways it manifests in the lives of those who are wise.
For some help, I turned initially to the wisdom literature of Hebrew scripture. The Proverbs speak a lot to the subject, and in a way that appeals to the cerebral aspects of my personality. "Self," I say, "what do you think about wisdom?" I could have found plenty to fuel my thoughts in the sometimes pithy, occasionally intellectual statements gathered in these sayings.
In the end, I found guidance on wisdom, how to know it when we experience it, from the little, practical epistle of James. It left me saying, "Well, obviously. Wisdom could not make its way in this world in any other way." See what you think:
Who is wise and understanding among you?
Show by your good life
that your works are done
with gentleness born of wisdom.
--James 3:13/NRSV
So. Are you counted among the wise in this world? If you are, you won't need to tell anyone. Your gentle life will speak with clarity about your wisdom and understanding. The way you live will leave no doubt.
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