Wisdom

We live in an age of information, an age where we can access knowledge quickly and easily, every day we are able to read reports and accounts from around the world. We hear information on the radio, we the news unfold before our eyes via satellite straight to our T.V. screens… but does this knowledge bring with it wisdom or is wisdom something different?

Wisdom comes to us through story and image, simile and riddle- her story been passed down through the ages by oral tradition and through wisdom literature whose roots are steeped in the Jewish and other traditions…
Wisdom is personified – Lady Wisdom – who is the antidote to Dame Folly. Wisdom has her origin in God (Prov. 8:22), and comes into the physical world with a distinct mission (Prov. 8. 4; 31-36). Wisdom is a divine gift (Prov. 2:6) and requires a disciplined approach from those who seek to attain knowledge of her (Prov 4: 10-27).

Jesus sought wisdom, spoke wisdom and knew wisdoms ways to such an extent that he could be said to have personified wisdom herself- for this reason it is profitable to pay close attention to Jesus teachings.

In the wisdom tradition beatitudes (blessings) were taught to convey practical wisdom, Jesus used beatitudes (Luke 6:20-26) in a new way to teach a reversal of values that were commonly placed upon earthly things like wealth and power, to point to a new way of living a life in God’s new kingdom. At the same time he gave a series of warnings against living self centred lives, of being satisfied with the temporary.

He taught wisdom through parable; teaching his hearers to prepare their lives to be good soil in which to receive the seeds of his teachings (Luke 8 1-15) ; to show what it means to be a good neighbour (Luke 10: 25-37) to store up treasure that would last, rather than earthly riches. (Luke 12:13-21).
Jesus confused his contemporaries, he confuses many today; yet for those who have eyes to see true wisdom will out, for those who would seek her wisdom was and is attainable. (Luke 7 :35).