Exploring Biblical Wisdom - Words From the WiseSample

We ended the last piece by stressing that wisdom goes beyond what we normally know and can do. Let’s explore this further.

In the gospels, Jesus warned his disciples they would one day be brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, but they were not to worry about how to defend themselves. He assured them, ‘I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict’ (Luke 21:15; see also Luke 12:11-12, Matt 10:18-20). God-given wisdom to the rescue!

As well as knowing what to say and when to say it, part of being wise is realising it might be better not to say anything at all. In one of the Old Testament wisdom books we read, there is a time to be silent and a time to speak (Eccl 3:7b). This is part of a longer passage which says there is a right time for everything and also for its opposite (Eccl 3:1-8). Sometimes, the same set of circumstances may require a different approach at different times. Wisdom helps us decide which course of action is the correct one and when to take it.

If wisdom is about making better decisions, one aspect of this is knowing the right time to make a decision. This can be crucial. Making a decision straightaway or too early may be disastrous. Sometimes, the correct decision is to not make a decision, or at least delay it. But on the other hand, indecision could also be harmful. So do we ‘look before we leap’, or is it a case of ‘he who hesitates is lost’? Both are true in their own way; knowing which to trust and when requires wisdom.

God’s gift of wisdom provides an understanding of life and how it works because it comes from the one who made us and gave us life. His wisdom tells you how to get the most out of the particular life you have been given, how to successfully play the hand you have been dealt. In particular, wisdom helps in the more difficult times in our lives, times of suffering and disaster. It helps us think through what has happened and possibly why. It counteracts knee-jerk reactions and negative responses, such as getting angry with God or indulging in self-pity. Instead, wisdom can give us a correct perspective which then empowers us to make positive responses, such as compassion or patience. Wisdom is often most valuable in such hard times.