WISDOM

J. Renton

Proverbs 4: 7; 1 Corinthians 1: 30; 12: 7–9 (to “Spirit”) These scriptures emphasize the importance of wisdom for wisdom is given the premier place in each of them. We usually, and rightly, regard righteousness as our leader, and when it comes to a matter of principle, righteousness is our leader, but there is a great need of wisdom. One of the most important features needed in our localities at the moment is wisdom. Thank God for an understanding of principles and a desire to pursue righteousness, but there is a special need of wisdom. According to Proverbs wisdom is a feature that belongs to the family, and is needed in the family. Solomon writes as a father; he begins chapter 4,

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father”. Wisdom is for children, for sons. It goes along with sonship. “Hear, my son”, Solomon says in verse 10.

“The beginning of wisdom is, Get wisdom”. The first thing that is going to help us, dear brethren, is to realize the need for wisdom, and to apply ourselves to get wisdom. If we do not see the need for wisdom we are not very likely to get it. There is a crying need for wisdom in every

locality. We can look back in our city’s history in Edinburgh—and I suppose it would apply in Plainfield—and see how many things could have been avoided if wisdom had been operating. You might be able to prove from Scripture and from ministry that what was done was right, but was it wisdom? Was it wise? Could sorrow have been avoided if wisdom had been applied? For things to be right is not sufficient for the family. What is needed is wisdom. Once we realize that, we shall begin to desire that wisdom should operate in our localities. “The beginning of wisdom is, Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence”. Let us set ourselves to get.

It says in verse 5, “Get wisdom, get intelligence—forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee. The beginning of wisdom is, “(or it may be rendered, Wisdom is the principal thing)

“Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence”. I am saying this to myself, as well as to the brethren here. Let us see the need every week in our assembly history locally for wisdom.

We come to the verse we read in Corinthians, “But of him” (that is, of God) “are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God”. The first thing mentioned is wisdom, secondly, righteousness; not that righteousness is not our leader (for it is when it comes to principle), but in the application of principle wisdom is mentioned first. Corinth was a locality, just as we are here, just as they would have been at Edinburgh a few hours ago, at a meeting of this character. Paul writes, “Of him” (of God) “are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God”. Wisdom from God is available to us in Christ Jesus; He has been made to us wisdom from God. Wisdom

resides in our Lord Jesus Christ who is Head, and is to be drawn upon when needed in any given situation. In Proverbs 8, in that remarkable chapter where wisdom is personified, we read in verse 22, “Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old”. Wisdom as a quality was in reserve in divine operations. Before His works of old, wisdom was there. “I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was”.

Then he says, “When there were no depths, I was brought forth”. That is, wisdom was brought forth when needed in the creation of this world in which we are. It was always there in reserve, but brought forth, brought out, and drawn upon, when needed as divine resource in these great operations, at the very beginning of things.

If Jehovah, in His operations creationally, drew upon wisdom, how much more do we need to in our operations, because the Lord leaves things to us in our localities. Christ Jesus has been made to us wisdom from God. Once we understand, according to Proverbs 4, the need for wisdom in any situation, then we know where it is—it is in Christ Jesus, and it can be drawn upon from Him.

In 1 Corinthians 12, when we come to the practical operations and manifestations of the Spirit, it is very interesting that the first thing mentioned is the word of wisdom. Other things are mentioned, but the word of wisdom comes first. “For to one, by the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom”. We can look back—I know we can in our city—and see how many sorrows, how many difficulties, could have been avoided if there had been, at the right time, the word of wisdom. If there is at any time the word of wisdom it ought to be heeded. The same Spirit operates other features also, but the first feature mentioned is the word of wisdom.

James helps us in this; because he tells us in James 1: 4, “Let endurance have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”. And then he says, “But if any one of you lack wisdom”—as much as to say that the most likely thing to be lacking is wisdom. That is true of us individually, and it is often true of us locally. Divine principles are known; righteousness is followed usually, but the most likely thing to be lacking is wisdom.

He says, “If any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not”. There is abundance of wisdom available to us, in Christ, from God. Wisdom is resource in any given situation. Wisdom has been often spoken of as the handmaid of love, and as the form love takes. Family feelings can be fostered by the operation of wisdom. It belongs to the family. In James 3: 17, he tells us, “The wisdom from above first is pure”. We need to be pure to look for wisdom; we need purity of motive, love out of a pure heart.

That is all I have to say, but I can see, in our own city, and in other cities, how many difficulties could be avoided by wisdom. How many difficulties could be settled in a few hours by the operation of wisdom. Some may say, ‘We are right’. Others may say, ‘We are right’. Maybe they are in some way, but where is wisdom? Where is the wisdom? May the Lord help us to realize the need for wisdom, and to draw upon the Lord for wisdom whenever needed in any situation, for God’s glory.

Word in meeting for ministry, Plainfield
16 December 1980