The writer recounts the history of Israel from the very
beginning of Genesis. Through every
major inflection point it was wisdom that guided the fathers and then the
nation through trials and struggles.
From whence does this wisdom come?
It doesn't come from a tree and it doesn't come from books, it comes
from Torah. It isn't difficult to work
out why the Jews believed themselves to be unique in the world. They alone had the Word of God, given at
Sinai, to lead them and protect them if they would keep it. Until then, God worked through agency in
giving wisdom to those who sought Him.
We have a two-pronged benefit, we have the Word and we have the
Spirit. We should be the wisest people
on earth. Our lives should look a lot
like Jesus', we have the same Spirit of wisdom.
Does it seem to you that we read the parable of the sower
all the time? I think there is a good
reason for regularly reflecting on this parable, there are so many angles from
which to read it. Today I am thinking
about the wisdom of the sower. It doesn't
seem at all wise to scatter seed where it won't produce any fruit does it? At least worldly wisdom would tell you not to
scatter seed so indiscriminately, but we have something called common grace,
the Lord hasn't left the world bereft of His influence. Romans 1 provides us with an understanding of
that concept for instance. We are to be
like the sower, willing to take the risk of throwing seed on soil that is, at
present, unproductive and hard, in the wisdom of knowing that all the ground
can become fertile through the agency of the Holy Spirit. We can't truly know the condition of the soil
on which we scatter seed, only God knows the heart.
Paul writes of special grace in the body of Christ. We all have different gifts, emphasis on the
word "gifts" because they are not of ourselves, so how can we think
too highly of ourselves. As we have been
given gifts for service it would seem that wisdom is in the laying down of our
lives as living sacrifices to the One who has given them. He would certainly be the one most likely to
know how best to use those gifts. The wisdom
Paul teaches concerning enemies is certainly counter-intuitive. Love our enemies, bless them, don't repay
evil for evil, never avenge yourselves, do good to your enemy and ultimately
overcome evil with good. Sounds like
Paul was familiar with Jesus' teaching and His life. Sound then like wisdom.
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