Poor wise Men

Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 “Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

When I read the words of Solomon I’m intrigued by the idea of how poor men and women are perceived. What is it about a person’s level of wealth that makes them think they are superior to the poor? Is it because of their family name, their level of education, or their perceived I.Q.?

My friends in the U.K., are quite familiar with the legacy of a name. The royal family has been revered for generations. Tabloids, gossip columns and even worldwide interest follows a major event within this family. We read of nobles in times past, those with land or birthrights to a throne. The world has placed value on preeminence and recognition is attributed to hierarchy…. but not so in God’s Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence.”

Absolute power is almost certainly the lead in to absolute corruption. Pharaoh fell into this trap of power corruption, he not only exalted himself as a god, he thought he could defy the One true God and it lead to his downfall. Pharaoh and his army were utterly destroyed while chasing the Israelites into the Red Sea, the chariot wheels can still be found on the floor of this crossing today.

Caesar likewise was enraptured by his power and influence. Desiring to be worshipped as a god, his kingdom eventually fell into obscurity and his name committed to the annals of history of those who rose and then fell.

Mixed into the narratives of kingdoms and lore, hidden among these nations are the poor wise men and women who transformed their culture and consequently their eternity into one of great honor—An honor that was often times not received by men but by God.

True Honor

1 Corinthians 2:14-15 “The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.”

*How wisdom and foolishness are perceived is another matter.

When I was a very young man I was shown the value of wisdom. My dad taught this to me as well as many other prominent people in the churches I attended. This desire for wisdom became my constant prayer. When I read about Solomon and the choice he had whether to seek wealth or wisdom, he chose wisely and wealth accommodated his greater desire for wisdom. I have found it difficult to see in myself whether I have acquired any wisdom at all. When I make a foolish decision, I am confronted by the lack of practicing the very wisdom I so desire.

James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”

We often perceive wisdom in ourselves far differently than we do in others. If I go about touting wisdom, invariably I’ll be reminded of the contrary. I will quickly place my foot in my mouth, say something before I think about it allow others to see the ridiculousness of the question. I have attempted to model myself after many wise men, which is easier said than done, and I have learned the character expressed in wisdom is earned through practice not just by observance.

How I perceive wisdom is found in what I value.

When the world tries to mimic the wisdom of the Lord, they prove themselves foolish. They don’t understand that the wisdom of God cannot be acquired on their own…the source is God Himself.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

The mystery of God’s wisdom is found within the Kingdom of God. The world cannot attain it, they seek after it within false religion, they may look upon the mountains, or chant mantras, but they will be left empty when all their searching is complete.

What is God’s wisdom?

1 Corinthians 1:20 “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.“

God’s wisdom is manifest by certain qualities: righteousness (walking in accordance with God’s divine or moral law), holiness (the sacred dedication or consecration to God), and redemption (the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil).

The wisdom of the world looks far different than godly wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Worldly Shame

The wisdom of the world is an attempt to take the things that are of God and relate them apart from God. The focus on creation apart from a Creator yields beauty without purpose, order without knowledge, complexity without understanding, and a scope of size and grandeur without knowing its limit. The world takes that which reveals God’s glory and attributes glory to man or to the creation itself. Creation, mankind, and wisdom for that matter reflect it’s source. As a painting reveals the heart of a painter so creation reveals the heart of our Creator.

Romans 1:20-23 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”

The end result of worldly wisdom is idolatry. The pride of man exalts the mind. When they attribute the source of all existence to a ‘big bang’, they delegate deity to the universe, and worship the created versus the Creator.

If people neglect the spiritual they neglect a large part of who they are. Having worked in healthcare for the past 30 years, I can appreciate the complexity of the human body. If you only knew how many times a cardiologist has guessed incorrectly as to whether someone is having a heart attack, it’s no wonder why psychiatrists are perplexed by the absolute complexity of the mind. It’s no wonder David proclaimed in Psalm 139:14 “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”

The Legacy of Wisdom

Wisdom has showcased itself among so many, I could never do it justice. From Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego exiled in Babylon to the single leper who returned to give thanks to Jesus for healing him.

We would do well to know where our help comes from. How often do men glorified for their knowledge begin to look at themselves as the source of all knowledge. Men and women in positions of authority can easily view themselves as the ones carrying absolute authority. I read of a man by the name of Herod who once received the acclaim meant for God and received it unto himself.

Acts 12:22-23 “And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.”

The wisdom of Ruth lives on in Jewish folklore, from Rahab to Mary, Deborah to Esther, many women have shown themselves to be wise in history. Whether you admire a man or women who has excelled in wisdom, it’s important we pay attention to their lives.

Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.”

~We all make wise and foolish decisions in life, the crux of life is not based on the magnitude of our wisdom but on the wisdom of God manifest in us. If you lack wisdom, pray and ask God to show you His wisdom and then He will lead you in it.

It is God’s wisdom that affects lasting change that will endure forever.~