Godly Wisdom, an Evaluation of Man’s Wisdom through a Survey of Select Sciences and “The Question of the Hour.”

“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Also Sprach Benjamin Franklin. At one point in my life, I saw Franklin as the wisest person who ever lived—his contributions to mankind were so numerous that in my eyes, none but the most wisest could perform so many noble acts. Franklin’s inventions include water-wings, bi-focals, the lightening rod. He made contributions to the fields of medicine, agriculture, banking, printing, heating and air. He was an educator, a politician, founded libraries, published, and was the first to go postal. Ironically, when it came to personal and spiritual development he made many failed attempts at morality and sought to arrive at perfection by his own means, admitting at last that he could not. Regardless, Franklin was a leader.

When we look for leaders, two facts come to the surface: first, we should strive to see wise people in leadership positions. I say, “should” because when I think of something grand like the Presidential Elections I am not sure people are consciously looking for “wisdom” in their candidates. But this leads us to the second fact: what we look for in leaders says something about we who do the seeking! If we are not seeking for wise leadership, what are we doing looking for leaders to begin with? Wisdom actually means something to us. If we choose to reject it and choose something like “strength” or other capabilities, this shows what we think of wisdom.

In my opinion, the secret of gaining wisdom is not the application of knowledge. It is not found in how we live and/or what we experience. Wisdom is not deep thinking. The secret of gaining wisdom is no secret at all, actually. Something “secret” infers that some have a right and/or ability to access and acquire, leaving others without. There is no secret to gaining wisdom. The truth is that wisdom is either accepted or rejected. Wisdom is the application of truth to life and both truth and life are found in the same source: God alone. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5). Applying truth that does not come from God to a life that does not come from God is applying lies to death! Gaining wisdom is gaining God!

James 3:13-18 describes and defines a godly life filled with godly wisdom. This is a life that has integrity, the conduct reinforcing the wisdom. There is no bitter envy or self-seeking nor is there any boasting or confusion, but truth-telling. Wise and godly living is sourced objectively, a life of peace, gentleness, willing to yield, full of mercy and evidence of it. There is no favoritism or hypocrisy.

Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Wisdom has a love-motive: it does not seek it’s own, nor does it puff itself up. This is what James means by “meekness of wisdom.” The Lord Jesus said the one who is meek is blessed. If we consider that our objective source is the Holy Spirit[i], then we find that the nature and source of so-called human wisdom is earthly, sensual and demonic (3:15). This should stand as a warning to that on which we depend for wisdom! There is no middle ground here. True wisdom is from God, therefore any wisdom not from God is not true nor is it wisdom at all but senselessness! Senselessness is without understanding, identifiable by wrong conduct and is a bully. Senselessness is without love being bitter, envious, self-seeking, boasting and lies. Senselessness rises from below, is confusing and evil. Senselessness is impure, divisive, harsh, proud, full of mercilessness, prejudiced and hypocritical. Senselessness sows unrighteousness.

There’s a 14 year-old girl I know who I would love to introduce you to, but can’t for she changes her name about once a week. Right now her name is “ . . .” (pronounced, “Lasting Silence.” No, I’m not kidding). She changes her hair color just as often as her name and covers her black-painted eyes so you can’t see her face. She describes herself as “unloved and unwanted” and is angry all the time. My son met her a while back and we’ve spent a little time with her, but she keeps everyone at arms-length. She actually came to church a number of times, but would sit in Bible study huddled in a corner, trembling. She lives her life by senselessness—and this is normal and acceptable to her. Her hodge-podge messy ideas and convictions those that belong to others and she has embraced them as her own.

God’s wisdom is pure, unmixed with anything. God’s wisdom is transcendent, unearthly, from above, holy, gentle, sweet, reasonable, not contentious, full of mercy and forgives. This is why the Psalmist asks and find an answer, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.” (Ps 24:3-4). Jesus could then say, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt 5:8). A life that is objectively filled with God’s wisdom is certainly identifiable just as objectively. Is it any wonder then why a saint may be identified to be “a particular individual completely redeemed from self-occupation; who, because of this, is able to embody and radiate a measure of Eternal Life.”[ii]

Again, there is no secret to attaining wisdom. Proverbs 2:1-7 plainly states that wisdom comes from the mouth Lord and to attain Him is to attain wisdom. Since in Christ Jesus Himself is all wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3), He should be desired, received, treasured, heard, applied, sought for. Wisdom is not the goal of attainment, but God Himself through Christ Jesus, for He is the giver of wisdom. We must guard our hearts and minds not to venerate wisdom and thus make it an idol and break the first and second commandments for when we do, we lose wisdom and our fellowship is no longer in the light! To grasp godly wisdom is to do theology!

We embrace the fact that God is necessary to the fact of man; that man is dependent on He who is independent; that God makes sense of our existence for without God nothing makes sense; and, that all our problems, solutions and blessings--everything is suddenly theological. We begin from God, understanding that God is exalted and man is not. Let us now put to the test our systems of self-understanding against God’s and see which remains in the end. One good place to do this will be with man’s understanding of himself through science. Let’s compare and contrast man’s wisdom as seen in a few fields of science against the Biblical perspective to discover who is the wiser: the creator or the creation. Man has many points of view, but God has infinite viewing points.

Anthropology: “The study of diverse human societies both of the past and present.”[iii] As a science, anthropology shares the interests of other sciences (Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology, Theology, Linguistics, Paleontology and Archaeology, Biology). As good as anthropology this may sound, the science does not provide a satisfactory answer to WHO man is and WHO man is to be like and what will become of man. Also, anthropology does not provide an answer as to HOW man is to think about himself. Anthropology only states “approaches,” ways of thinking, ways man tries to understand without providing any answers. In other words, anthropology only repeats back what we already know about ourselves in less scientific categories. It tells us we live as people in communities, we have ancestors, we communicate and we had a beginning. (Congratulations, you now have a degree in Anthropology!)

Sociology: “the scientific study of social life, including how groups are organized, how they change and how they influence individuals.”[iv] Sounds like Anthropology, doesn’t it? Here’s how it works: Some sciences give man control over his surroundings by modifying what exists in the world around him, but Sociology supposedly frees man from “ill-regulated experimentation” allowing man control over himself.[v] Though Sociology, one is made to think one should overcome all he is taught[vi], to overthrow all standards and break the Moral Compass by no longer “fitting in” and “stand out” (remember Fleetwood Mac “You can go your own way”). Stop being what others want you to be and be yourself!

Socrates said, “There is something ridiculous in the expression ‘master of himself’ for the master is also the servant and the servant the master; and in all these modes of speaking the same person is denoted.”[vii] In the spirit of Socrates, let’s experiment: when man has all his badness under control, he is considered to be “disciplined” or to have become the “master of self.” When the bad in a man is not under control he is called “undisciplined” or, “enslaved to self.” So which is it? Is he master, or slave? Obviously there is no replacement for a broken compass.

Philosophy: “the love of wisdom.” Herein is “an activity undertaken by human beings who are deeply concerned about who they are and what everything means.” [viii] Why do we study philosophy? To sharpen the mind. To help is clarify issues so we can make better decisions. To enhance our lives by enlarging our world beyond our private interests (shares with Anthropology here). To challenge presuppositions and establish convictions.

Someone once said “logic is the art of going wrong with confidence” and it becomes easy to think or “philosophize” oneself into a corner. Why? Mortimer Adler responds: [ix]

• We are unaware of the contents of our minds and how ideas work.
• We confuse perception with reality: assumptions.
• We misunderstand “meaning” and how to get it.
• We can’t often distinguish between opinion and knowledge.
• We can’t consistently judge what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil.
• We are not content and cannot distinguish what we want from what we need.
• We don’t know if “freedom” means to do as you want, or to do as you should?
• We cannot agree on the identity of human nature.
• We don’t know how to relate to one another.
• We don’t know where to live: in the physical or spiritual realm.
  
  

Now let’s enjoy some Psychology, which literally means, “the study of the soul.” I found this to be intriguing from a textbook on Psychology: “Although it is sometimes useful to have clear and simple definitions of the subject one is studying, these definitions are frequently misleading. Such is the case with psychology. The most widely accepted definition of psychology is simply that it is the science of behavior and experience.”[x] Some observations:

1. There no clear definition of what psychology is from man's perspective. It’s a science, but the ones who use it can’t say what it is;
2. Throughout the rest of the same textbook quoted above, starting with the paragraph that immediately follows the one above, the margins are filled with definitions—how can definitions be useful if they are misleading?
3. Psychology sounds much like the mixing of sociology (behavior) and philosophy (experience) and squeezes out anthropology in the end.
4. There is no claim that psychology is helpful to any of man’s behaviors or “conditions.”
   
   Now some questions:
   
5. If psychology is the study of the soul, where in these definitions is the soul even mentioned?
6. If psychologists are interested in man’s behavior and experience, how is the soul of man helped by psychology?
   
   

Right away we begin to understand that psychology is a self-contradictory pseudo-science.[xi] “True psychology (i.e. “the study of the soul”) can be done only by Christians, since only Christians have access to the resources for understanding and transforming the soul.”[xii] These resources are none other than those that begin with God; namely God Himself, the finished work of Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Bible. So what answer does the science of psychology give to man? What hope is offered? “The feeling of emptiness . . . which we have observed sociologically and individually should not be taken to mean that people are empty, or without emotional potentiality. . . the experience [emphasis mine] of emptiness, rather, generally comes from people’s feelings that they are powerless to do anything effective about their lives or the world they live in”[xiii]

So the question of the hour becomes, “how can one tell if he is receiving man’s wisdom or God’s?” To find the answer, we must ask other questions based on James 3:13-18:

1. To whom does the wisdom point, a man or his Creator?
2. What relationship does this wisdom have with truth?
3. Does this wisdom lend to confusion, is it sensual and does it make friends with evil, having any mixture of the demonic?
4. Does this wisdom come “from above” being pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, have good fruits, is without partiality and hypocrisy?
   
   

The wisdom of this world should have no influence over our thoughts, opinions, values, way of life. This means there should be no integration of worldly wisdom. Godly wisdom is just that. There is no “middle of the road” wisdom that balances between biblical values and worldly values.

Richard Baxter has composed a set of directs we should hereto attend in the exercise of gaining godly wisdom in agreement with James. Baxter writes:

“Sleep: Measure the time of your sleep appropriately so that you do not waste your precious morning hours sluggishly in your bed. Let the time of your sleep be matched to your health and labour [sic], and not to slothful pleasure.

First Thoughts: Let God have your first awaking thoughts; lift up your hearts to Him reverently and thankfully for the rest enjoyed the night before and cast yourself upon Him for the day which follows . . . Think of the mercy of a night's rest and of how many that have spent that night in Hell; how many in prison; how many in cold, hard lodgings; how many suffering from agonising [sic] pains and sickness, weary of their beds and of their lives. Think of how many souls were that night called from their bodies terrifyingly to appear before God and think how quickly days and nights are rolling on! How speedily your last night and day will come! Observe that which is lacking in the preparedness of your soul for such a time and seek it without delay.

Prayer: Let prayer by yourself alone (or with your partner) take place before the collective prayer of the family. If possible let it be first, before any work of the day.

Family Worship: let family worship be performed consistently and at a time when it is most likely for the family to be free of interruptions.

Ultimate Purpose: Remember your ultimate purpose, and when you set yourself to your day's work or approach any activity in the world, let HOLINESS TO THE LORD be written upon your hearts in all that you do. Do no activity which you cannot entitle God to, and truly say that he set you about it, and do nothing in the world for any other ultimate purpose than to please, glorify and enjoy Him. "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Diligence in Your Calling: Follow the tasks of your calling carefully and diligently.
Temptations and Things That Corrupt: Be thoroughly acquainted with your temptations and the things that may corrupt you - and watch against them all day long. You should watch especially the most dangerous of the things that corrupt, and those temptations that either your company or business will unavoidably lay before you.

Watch against the master sins of unbelief: hypocrisy, selfishness, pride, flesh pleasing and the excessive love of earthly things. Take care against being drawn into earthly mindedness and excessive cares, or covetous designs for rising in the world, under the pretence of diligence in your calling. If you are to trade or deal with others, be vigilant against selfishness and all that smacks of injustice or uncharitableness. In all your dealings with others, watch against the temptation of empty and idle talking. Watch also against those persons who would tempt you to anger. Maintain that modesty and cleanness of speech that the laws of purity require. If you converse with flatterers, be on your guard against swelling pride. If you converse with those that despise and injure you, strengthen yourself against impatient, revengeful pride. At first these things will be very difficult, while sin has any strength in you, but once you have grasped a continual awareness of the poisonous danger of any one of these sins, your heart will readily and easily avoid them.

Meditation: When alone in your occupations, improve the time in practical and beneficial meditations. Meditate upon the infinite goodness and perfections of God; Christ and redemption; Heaven and how unworthy you are of going there and how you deserve eternal misery in Hell.

The Only Motive: Whatever you are doing, in company or alone, do it all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Otherwise, it is unacceptable to God.

Redeeming The Time: Place a high value upon your time, be more careful of not losing it than you would of losing your money. Do not let worthless recreations, television, idle talk, unprofitable company, or sleep rob you of your precious time. Be more careful to escape that person, action or course of life that would rob you of your time than you would be to escape thieves and robbers. Make sure that you are not merely never idle, but rather that you are using your time in the most profitable way that you can and do not prefer a less profitable way before one of greater profit.

Eating and Drinking: Eat and drink with moderation and thankfulness for health, not for unprofitable pleasure. Never please your appetite in food or drink when it is prone to be detrimental to your health.

Remember the sin of Sodom: "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food and abundance of idleness" - Ezekiel 16:49. The Apostle Paul wept when he mentioned those "whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame -- who set their minds on earthly things, being enemies to the cross of Christ" - Philippians 3:18-19. O then do not live according to the flesh lest you die (Romans 8:13).

Prevailing Sins: If any temptation prevails against you and you fall into any sins in addition to habitual failures, immediately lament it and confess it to God; repent quickly whatever the cost. It will certainly cost you more if you continue in sin and remain unrepentant. Do not make light of your habitual failures, but confess them and daily strive against them, taking care not to aggravate them by unrepentance and contempt.

Relationships: Remember every day the special duties of various relationships: whether as husbands, wives, children, masters, servants, pastors, people, magistrates, subjects. Remember every relationship has its special duty and its advantage for the doing of some good. God requires your faithfulness in this matter as well as in any other duty.

Closing the Day: Before returning to sleep, it is wise and necessary to review the actions and mercies of the day past, so that you may be thankful for all the special mercies and humbled for all your sins. This is necessary in order that you might renew your repentance as well as your resolve for obedience, and in order that you may examine yourself to see whether your soul grew better or worse, whether sin goes down and grace goes up and whether you are better prepared for suffering, death and eternity. May these directions be engraven upon your mind and be made the daily practice of your life.

If sincerely adhered to, these will be conducive to the holiness, fruitfulness and quietness of your life and add to you a comfortable and peaceful death.”

**********

[i] Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
[ii] Underhill, Evelyn. An Anthology of the Love of God. New York: David McKay Co., 1953. p. 113
[iii] Crapo, Richley. Cultural Anthropology. Sluice Dock: Dushkin Publishing, 1993.
[iv] De Fleur, M., DeFleur, L. and D’Antonio, W. Sociology: The Human Society. 4th ed. New York: Newberry, 1984.
[v] Burgess, E. and Park, R. E. Introduction to the Science of Sociology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1921.
[vi] May, Rollo. Man’s Search for Himself. New York: Signet, 1953. pp. 17-18.
[vii] Jowett, B., transl. Plato. The Republic and other works. New York: Random House: 1973.
[viii] Honer, S., Hunt, T. and Okholm, D. Invitation to Philosophy. Belmont: Wadsworth, 1982.
[ix] Adler, Mortimer. Ten Philosophical Mistakes. New York: MacMillan, 1985.
[x] Lefrancois, G. Psychology, 2nd Edition. Belmont: Wadsworth, 1983.
[xi] MacArthur, J. and Mack, W. Introduction to Biblical Counseling. Dallas: Word, 1994.
[xii] MacArthur, J. “The Psychology Epidemic and its Cure.” Our Sufficiency in Christ. Waco: Word, 1991.
[xiii] Ibid. May, 22.