What's the difference between truth and wisdom? Truth is timeless. Wisdom is contemporary. Wisdom is timeless truth applied temporally in the context of our struggles with life lived before the face of God. When we ask God for wisdom, as James urges us to do, we don't ask for new revelation. Rather, we ask for guidance and illumination of His Spirit in bringing the truth given us by God in His Word to intersect with our lives in order to interpret the times and instruct our efforts to honor God in them.
As we walk in our life-spheres as witnesses for Christ, we need both to exegete the Scriptures and exegete the people and circumstance in which we engage those people. This sort of witness requires great wisdom and implores God for that wisdom to stay real and relevant for Christ. What do I say? Lord, grant me wisdom. How do I say it? Lord, grant me wisdom. Where do I begin? Lord, grant me wisdom. How much do I say? Lord, grant me wisdom. Whatever question we face, whatever challenge meets us, our reflex in the face of our weakness and pride and ignorance must be to ask our God for wisdom. That plea can take place on the front line where a response is needed, or formed in the prayer closet through studied reflection.
I'm not a golfer myself, but I enjoy watching it sometimes. I am amazed at how creative professional golfers can be. They analyze the lie of the ball, the need of moment, the stance and stroke required, and factor in all the variables appropriate for the shot to be made. I'm particularly intrigued when they do unorthodox things, like strike the ball with the toe of the club rather than the face, all to achieve a desired result dictated by seasoned judgment. That seems to be a good picture of wisdom. Wisdom is not ordinarily gained on the fly (although I have seen God do some pretty amazing things in the moment), but proceeds from developed discernment, instructed insight and practiced experience. That impromptu golf shot on the TV screen has likely been practiced and practiced and practiced again away from the camera's eye.
Wisdom is timeless truth applied temporally in the context of our struggles with life lived before the face of God. The wisdom God gives us is not simply academic but is realized in the trenches of life in prayerful dependence upon Him. There we find our route to wisdom in witness.
2 comments:
The distinction that you make between truth and wisdom is the same that i make between the moral law of God and the civil law of God to theonomists.
The moral law of God is eternal truth while the civil law is an application of that eternal truth to a particular circumstance.
God has blessed us with so much in His Word...and though the Scripture is timeless and singular in its interpretation, there are many applications that can be derived from it.
I think that so much of the problem today rests with improper interpretation of Scripture. We must certainly interpret Scripture correctly before we can ever hope to apply it correctly.
And then we can fall into the trap of either: 1) wanting certainty where God has not given it; 2) treating what God has made certain as if it is up for different interpretations.
I wonder if God had put both the truth and all application in Scripture...would we read the Bible with less reliance on the Holy Spirit's illumination? Would we sever the Spirit of the Word from the Word itself and seek to live by the Bible apart from that Spirit which gave it?
God is not only merciful and gracious enough to give us His Word, but He has promised to give us wisdom if we but ask for it...
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (Jas 1:5 ESV)
And the one area that i believe God loves seeing us put Him to the test is in reference to His promises to us. May we be as the widow to the unjust judge as we approach God with His promises with great imporunity! (Lk 18)
I agree that wisdom is applying God's revelation in particular circumstances. To take it to another level, that's what "knowledge of good and evil" refers to. It is not referring to revelation or information (Adam and Eve already had that), it is referring to wisdom. Thus the tree of knowledge of good and evil represented wisdom. It was something that Adam would have eventually been allowed to eat from, as he matured in wisdom. But the only way to mature in wisdom is to ask God for it. Adam and Eve rejected that idea and thought they could gain wisdom on their own.
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