So What Wisdom

Why Is This So Important?

To heed correction requires focused listening that leads to action. Heeding includes careful listening that leads to active responses. Heeding leads to prudence. Prudence leads to sound judgment, and sound judgment leads to wise actions. James points out that a person who foolishly rejects discipline is in danger of being deceived and lost. It is very much like looking into a mirror and seeing the need to take action on what is seen but refusing to do anything about it. A fool is offended by discipline. A wise person humbly accepts discipline that leads to taking action.

A person who is quick to speak and express anger does not have time for listening and learning. Perhaps you have a story like mine about being so convinced by ambition and ego that you refused to listen, choosing to be quick to speak and express anger. Ambition, ego, and self-centeredness have the ability to make us deaf and dumb. We are too busy listening to our own narrative about our own plans, and even when we are confronted with the convicting evidence that we are on a pathway toward evil and moral filth, we foolishly walk away and immediately forget.

When we read James and hear his stern warnings, we might lose sight of his positive emphasis on the result of living wisely in a broken post-resurrection world. James does not back away from pointing to the harsh consequences of unwise actions. Yet in every instruction, he cites the eternal benefits of godly wisdom. First, after identifying our world’s brokenness that brings inevitable trials and troubles, he urges us to consider it pure joy to persevere because in the end, we grow “mature and complete … lacking nothing” (James 1:4). Then James warns about temptations that threaten to drag us into desires that “gives birth to sin, and … when it is full grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15). But he follows this dire warning, reminding us that we can defeat temptations by remembering, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17). Thirdly, James condemns a common flaw of focusing on our own wisdom, refusing to listen while being quick to manipulate others with our words and anger to get what we want. However, he points out that we have access to [God’s] “perfect law that gives freedom” (James 1:25).

So What?

(Adam, Eve, and Me)

When I choose to listen to my own self-centered internal narrative instead of God’s word, I am continuing the legacy that began with Adam and Eve. They had only one law to follow, one rule to heed, one voice to trust. Yet they chose to listen to a lie that fit their desire to be autonomous. That decision led to being cast out of a perfect garden into a broken world and into a broken relationship with their Creator. Consequently, we all have inherited divided hearts that lean toward choosing our own designs and plans while rejecting God’s good and perfect design. In Proverbs 1–9, Solomon illustrates this struggle between that which promises temporary pleasure and that which promises lasting value. By personifying worldly wisdom as Lady Folly, the Adulteress, and godly wisdom as Lady Wisdom, Solomon concludes his instruction in Proverbs 9 by describing how both women plan separate banquets and invite all those who hear to their parties. Invitees must decide which invitation to heed. Both invitations begin with the same words: “Let all who are simple come in here!” (Prov. 9:4, 9:16).

Lady Wisdom’s invitation is transparent and direct: “Come and eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding … the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:5–6, 9:10). Her invitation includes full disclosure of a promise and a warning: “For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (Prov. 9:11–12).

However, Lady Folly’s invitation to those who lack judgment emphasizes salacious innuendo: “Stolen water is sweet: food eaten in secret is delicious” (Prov. 9:17). There is no such promise or warning from Lady Folly, but Solomon adds a chilling comment that concludes his entire instruction on godly wisdom: “But little do they [those who attend Lady Folly’s party] know that the dead are there, that [her] guests are in the depths of the grave” (Prov. 9:18).

These two invitations could not be any more different. One invitation promises long life and wisdom. The other makes no promises but uses seductive hints knowing there are many who will opt for temporary pleasures that feed carnal desires over the eternal benefits of godly wisdom. Solomon’s final pronouncement should evoke our need to be quick to listen to godly wisdom instead of other voices that lead to the grave. In other words, this is a life-or-death issue!

Frankly, I know I crave rebellion and the excitement of the moment. Thus, I am capable of rejecting Lady Wisdom’s invitation in favor of going my own way. By valuing false promises of sensual delight and gratification, I can think, “What’s the harm in having a little fun? I deserve it.” Ironically, Lady Wisdom’s banquet also offers physical pleasures of well-prepared food and fine wine. Yet despite the promise of goodness and long life, as a rebel, I lean toward choosing friendship with the world rather than knowing and understanding the Holy One.