Therefore seek the supreme wisdom, not by verbal debate, but by the perfection of a good life, not with the tongue but with the faith which issues from singleness of heart.
– Columbanus, Sermon I, Irish, 7th century[1]
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
– Proverbs 4.26, 27
Growing in wisdom should be a primary goal for every Christian, in every area of life.
This is true for a lot of obvious reasons; however, it’s especially true because wisdom is the embodiment—in all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities—of the indwelling life of Jesus Christ. He is the Treasury of divine wisdom (Col. 2.3); as He fills us with Himself (Eph. 4.8), He makes Himself known as wisdom in all the things of our lives.
Wisdom is Jesus Christ refracted into eating and drinking and whatever we do, so that God is glorified in our lives (1 Cor. 10.31).
Wisdom is not a philosophical idea; nor is it the domain only of those who gravitate to intellectual pursuits. The Hebrew word for wisdom means something like “skill in living.” It involves how we think, of course, but it goes far beyond just having the right answers or the best information on any subject.
Wisdom is a life rightly lived—lived, that is, according to the pattern intended by God when He first made people on the earth. God knows best how we should live; we know wisdom, therefore, when we are careful about our walk (“ponder the path”) and keep our feet moving along the sure way in every area of our lives.
Wisdom can be expressed in everything we do. We can be wise in our relationships, work, use of our resources, conversation, and in how we comport ourselves among others. We act wisely when we redeem our time for wisdom, rather than folly (Eph. 5.15-17). When we are wise in all these ways, we bear living testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the very Wisdom of God (cf. Prov. 8, Col. 2.1-3). We can learn wisdom by studying the life of Christ and contemplating Him in the gospels and exalted in glory. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and keeping His Law is the path that leads to it (Ps. 111.10).
At the same time, Solomon’s burden in the book of Proverbs is to help us learn wisdom not only from the Word of God, but from His works as well. There is much wisdom to learn by simply paying attention to the way God makes Himself known through His works.
There is always room to grow in wisdom, of course. This is why Columbanus, echoing Paul, John, Peter, and all the prophets, urged his congregation to make “the perfection of a good life”, which is “the supreme wisdom”, their supreme pursuit.
Jesus put it this way: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6.33).
What will the pursuit of wisdom look like in your life? What plans have you made to seek the supreme wisdom, the perfection of a good life, in every area of your life today?
And who will benefit from such a skillful touch of Jesus through you?
Spend time with Jesus; meditate in His Law; offer up your daily path to the Lord in prayer. He will guide you in the way of wisdom, but you must want to walk it.
For Reflection
1. Do you know someone you regard as truly wise? Why?
2. Today, where do you especially need God’s wisdom, that you might glorify Him in your life?
Psalm 111.10 (Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
All they who would true wisdom know must learn to fear You, Lord,
And in that wisdom daily live and praise You evermore.
Give thanks
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Good works of God’s Law
Learning God’s Law can be a bit daunting, but our booklet, A Kingdom Catechism, can help. Here are all the commandments and statutes of God arranged in a question-and-answer format for study and remembrance. Learn more and order your copy by clicking here.
Thank you.
Many of you are faithful and generous in praying for and supporting Crosfigell and The Fellowship of Ailbe. Thank you. May I encourage all our readers to seek the Lord about becoming a supporter of The Fellowship of Ailbe? It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal or Anedot, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
T. M. Moore
All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1] Walker, 65, 67.
