As anyone who reads this column knows, I love reading the Bible and believe it is the ultimate source of wisdom for every area of life. One section of the Bible comes under the heading of 'wisdom literature'. It starts with the book of Job, where the meaning and purpose of suffering are discussed. It's a thorny problem and one where glib answers are not appropriate. As Job struggles through circumstances that challenge every fibre of his faith, he asks many questions. This is normal and part of working through tough situations in life.
In Job chapter 28, he poses the question - Where can wisdom be found? This is still a relevant question. Look at all the intelligence in our nation. We live in a country with many universities, and over 45% of people in the United Kingdom have some form of post-secondary education, but wisdom often evades us. Ultimate wisdom is found in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Daniel, one of the outstanding Bible characters, said, 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him[1]'.
In the same chapter, Job states that even in the early days of human history, humans had developed the ability to discover wealth and natural resources. They harnessed nature and found vast reserves of mineral and physical wealth. They surpassed all of the rest of the animal creation in this ability, but what is his point?
Job is teaching us that the ancient world was exactly the same as the world of 2024. Wisdom is harder to locate than natural resources, and we often don't even understand its value. It is priceless and impossible to value, and it cannot be found purely by human ingenuity and intelligence.
Job concludes this section of his book by writing that only God knows where wisdom is to be found, as He is the source of it. 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.[2]' This is the recurring theme of the Bible (see Proverbs 3, 5, etc.). Wisdom is giving God respect and worship and rejecting what is evil and wrong.
In conclusion, let me suggest that you read the words of the Lord Jesus on this subject in Matthew's Gospel chapter 7, verses 24-29. He is claiming that He is the ultimate source of wisdom, and without Him, you will miss the life you were created to know. The Bible states - 'And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life[3]'.
All quotations are from the ESV Bible unless stated otherwise.
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