In the Old Testament, wisdom...
Illustration
In the Old Testament, wisdom was an important word. The Hebrew root-word had a
range of meanings. It could designate technical skill or special expertise such as a
weaver, a carpenter, or a navigator. Wisdom was a meat-and-potatoes word -- it dealt
with the practicalities of life. When we think of wisdom we think sometimes of some
professor sitting in a book-lined room. Nothing could be further from the truth. The wise
are rooted in the reality of their world. They get things done. They follow the right
path.
Rumor was that the wisest man in town lived on its outskirts in a little house. Two boys decided to see just how wise he really was. After much consultation, they caught a bird. "We will go," they said, "to see the old man. We will tell him we have a bird in our hands. We will ask him if the bird we hold is alive or dead. If he says alive -- we will squeeze the bird to death right there. If says the bird is dead -- we shall open our hands and let the bird fly away." They found the cottage, knocked, and an old man with blinking eyes opened the door. They told him they had heard he was the wisest man in town and they wanted to see if this was true. They explained about the bird they held in their hands. "Is it alive or dead, wise old man?" The man thought for just a minute and then looked at the boys and said, "It's whatever you want it to be." True wisdom does not buy into the games people play. It sees through pretense and hypocrisy. It is authentic. No wonder Proverbs talked again and again of wisdom. It is essential for discipleship.
Rumor was that the wisest man in town lived on its outskirts in a little house. Two boys decided to see just how wise he really was. After much consultation, they caught a bird. "We will go," they said, "to see the old man. We will tell him we have a bird in our hands. We will ask him if the bird we hold is alive or dead. If he says alive -- we will squeeze the bird to death right there. If says the bird is dead -- we shall open our hands and let the bird fly away." They found the cottage, knocked, and an old man with blinking eyes opened the door. They told him they had heard he was the wisest man in town and they wanted to see if this was true. They explained about the bird they held in their hands. "Is it alive or dead, wise old man?" The man thought for just a minute and then looked at the boys and said, "It's whatever you want it to be." True wisdom does not buy into the games people play. It sees through pretense and hypocrisy. It is authentic. No wonder Proverbs talked again and again of wisdom. It is essential for discipleship.
