Pr. 7:4: “Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your nearest kin.”
Wisdom is a wonderful thing. We should always be striving to become more wise. Wisdom brings with it things like prudence, diligence, discretion, respectfulness, humility, boldness, confidence, intelligence, ability, understanding and reason. These are definitely qualities that are wonderful for us to have in this life. Wisdom can help us be successful in our ventures, maintain and cultivate healthy relationships, and keep us from making choices that will endanger our lives.
It’s interesting; however, that Paul told the Corinthians that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Does that mean we shouldn’t try to become wise? Does that mean we shouldn’t grow and learn? Of course not! God has gifted each of us with different talents and abilities. Not only that, but He has given us each different capacities for learning and different interests that He has intended for us to use in pursuit of the eternal goal.
We all have something different to offer this world. Paul reminds us that God did not call many wise or mighty people. He has chosen the foolish and weak things to bring Him glory. I for one am weak. (I didn’t want to admit to being foolish. ha!) Truly I am weak, though, and indeed foolish in many ways. I am not the wisest or mightiest. Paul himself said to the Corinthians,
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
That’s it. He didn’t come to them in his own wisdom and power, but in God’s. And why? That their faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. That’s exactly what our own weakness and foolishness can show in our lives. When we think in worldly terms, we think of those things only as pure weakness. Think of it the way this way, though. When the weakest person gets up and allows God’s Spirit and power to use them in a mighty way, how much more powerful is that for us to witness?
If you know someone is barely able to walk or speak or move, but, under the power of the Spirit, they begin to shout, jump, or minister to people, is that not an amazing thing to witness? If you hear someone who is mentally handicapped in any way begin to speak in a way that inspires and encourages and glorifies the Lord, is that not a power thing? It is.
Our weaknesses are not weaknesses when we use them to glorify the Lord. Yes, we should still strive for wisdom, but let it be through God’s strength as we rely on Him and His Spirit to guide us. Let us allow Him to use us as a vessel that brings Him glory!
Foolishly,
jamie
considering the word 