"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." Proverbs 25:11
In addition to the above verse, I would actually encourage anyone reading this blog entry today to read through all of chapters 25 and 26 in Proverbs. There is a tremendous wealth of wisdom found in these two chapters, which we will be addressing as we think about faith and wisdom and how they relate and play together.
Faith, we are told in the Bible, is the assurance of things that we hope for, and the conviction of things that we cannot see (read Hebrews 11 to see this more fully explained). Faith looks at what Jesus has done, and even though it may not make sense why He would do it, or how it would actually change things for us, we put our hope in it, and we are convinced that what Jesus did applies to us, in making us right with God, and in assuring us of a place with God forever.
Wisdom, however, doesn't seem to speak much to matters of faith. In fact, wisdom actually seems to be much more worldly than matters of faith. Wisdom speaks to ways of living in this world, and therefore, can actually seem to be somewhat contradictory to faith. Faith looks at what can't be seen, and believes in it. Wisdom looks at what exists in this world, and talks about how to best utilize it.
So do faith and wisdom have any connection? Well, you may recall that yesterday's blog post began with Proverbs 1:7, that fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. And that right there should show us that there is some kind of connection there. Being in God involves being wise. Being foolish is likened to being apart from God, and is definitely not in line with what God would have for His people.
I suppose one way we could think of it is like this. Wisdom recognizes the pattern that God originally created for us humans to live under, and then works to bring us toward that original will and design. Wisdom isn't forcing someone to do it. Rather, wisdom sees that God's design is the best design, and then works diligently to bring one's self into that, as much as is humanly possible. It's not trying to create a connection with God, but rather, working to live as God designed us to live in His intent in creation.
So wisdom looks to live as God created and designed for us to live. Faith anticipates that day when wisdom becomes inherent in all of us who are in Christ Jesus, for in the new creation, we will actually be living according to God's will and design perfectly. Wisdom becomes reality there. Wisdom becomes a defining characterstic of who we are. We live according to God's wisdom because God's wisdom is perfect, and because, in Jesus, we have been made perfect in that new creation.
In the meantime, wisdom sees that God designed our lives to operate in certain ways. Even though sin keeps us from being able to fully live that way, wisdom still strives to bring that about as much as is possible. It doesn't reconcile us to God, but opens doors to living better and more peaceably among the people of this world. It's like the apple of gold set in silver, of great value, but only realized when we actually live according to it, with the assurance that, in Jesus, the day is coming when we will all live according to God's wisdom.
In addition to the above verse, I would actually encourage anyone reading this blog entry today to read through all of chapters 25 and 26 in Proverbs. There is a tremendous wealth of wisdom found in these two chapters, which we will be addressing as we think about faith and wisdom and how they relate and play together.
Faith, we are told in the Bible, is the assurance of things that we hope for, and the conviction of things that we cannot see (read Hebrews 11 to see this more fully explained). Faith looks at what Jesus has done, and even though it may not make sense why He would do it, or how it would actually change things for us, we put our hope in it, and we are convinced that what Jesus did applies to us, in making us right with God, and in assuring us of a place with God forever.
Wisdom, however, doesn't seem to speak much to matters of faith. In fact, wisdom actually seems to be much more worldly than matters of faith. Wisdom speaks to ways of living in this world, and therefore, can actually seem to be somewhat contradictory to faith. Faith looks at what can't be seen, and believes in it. Wisdom looks at what exists in this world, and talks about how to best utilize it.
So do faith and wisdom have any connection? Well, you may recall that yesterday's blog post began with Proverbs 1:7, that fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. And that right there should show us that there is some kind of connection there. Being in God involves being wise. Being foolish is likened to being apart from God, and is definitely not in line with what God would have for His people.
I suppose one way we could think of it is like this. Wisdom recognizes the pattern that God originally created for us humans to live under, and then works to bring us toward that original will and design. Wisdom isn't forcing someone to do it. Rather, wisdom sees that God's design is the best design, and then works diligently to bring one's self into that, as much as is humanly possible. It's not trying to create a connection with God, but rather, working to live as God designed us to live in His intent in creation.
So wisdom looks to live as God created and designed for us to live. Faith anticipates that day when wisdom becomes inherent in all of us who are in Christ Jesus, for in the new creation, we will actually be living according to God's will and design perfectly. Wisdom becomes reality there. Wisdom becomes a defining characterstic of who we are. We live according to God's wisdom because God's wisdom is perfect, and because, in Jesus, we have been made perfect in that new creation.
In the meantime, wisdom sees that God designed our lives to operate in certain ways. Even though sin keeps us from being able to fully live that way, wisdom still strives to bring that about as much as is possible. It doesn't reconcile us to God, but opens doors to living better and more peaceably among the people of this world. It's like the apple of gold set in silver, of great value, but only realized when we actually live according to it, with the assurance that, in Jesus, the day is coming when we will all live according to God's wisdom.
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