Wisdom's Expression
Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of the thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed. Ecclesiastes 8:1
Charles Schultz often used his Peanuts character Linus to deliver the author's insights, whether historical or theological. It is intriguing, then, that Schultz connected the fact that Linus tends to understand more with the fact that he tends to worry more.
That connection extends beyond the comics. If we understand more, even in a limited area, than our peers, with increased perception comes worry. We often count it our responsibility to double down on our thought for tomorrow in a kind of anxiety intercession for our peers who can't see its troubles yet. If you were smart enough, we seem to say at least with our countenance, you would be worried, too.
God gives a rebuke to this sort of thinking from an interesting source. Solomon, the smartest man who ever lived save the Lord Jesus, accompanies his insight with more than his share of fretting. He looks at his peers content with surface realities, and at times it seems he wants to shake them. Yet, the clouds part as Solomon is inspired to pen Ecclesiastes 8:1. Real wisdom as we include this verse in Solomon's panoramic testimony might perceive problems before other people or where other people do not, but Ecclesiastes 8:1 wisdom doesn't stop there. The wisdom epitomized by this verse dwells not in brooding but in a disciplined, calm, patient search for insight.
How might this sort of trained resolution change our perspective on today? If we reason that our real experience teaches us, contrary to the most erratic of our worries, that God Who shows us problems also leads us to solutions, a smile might increase our lips more often. If we dwell on what we see and think about long enough to sift through input and realize how often God leads us to HIMSELF as the Solution, our expression will often dawn from bewildered, to bemused, to beatific.
As true wisdom works its way to our countenance, we will be like the wise men who beheld the Lord Jesus and went on their way rejoicing, Luke says, though they had just been warned that their lives were in danger. As true wisdom works its way into our countenance, even better, we will be like the Lord Jesus in whom our true hope lies, in doubt as He was with the oil of gladness more than His companions. As we keep smiling in spite of the difficulties that are sure to come, the world will wonder what we are up to.
Charles Schultz often used his Peanuts character Linus to deliver the author's insights, whether historical or theological. It is intriguing, then, that Schultz connected the fact that Linus tends to understand more with the fact that he tends to worry more.
That connection extends beyond the comics. If we understand more, even in a limited area, than our peers, with increased perception comes worry. We often count it our responsibility to double down on our thought for tomorrow in a kind of anxiety intercession for our peers who can't see its troubles yet. If you were smart enough, we seem to say at least with our countenance, you would be worried, too.
God gives a rebuke to this sort of thinking from an interesting source. Solomon, the smartest man who ever lived save the Lord Jesus, accompanies his insight with more than his share of fretting. He looks at his peers content with surface realities, and at times it seems he wants to shake them. Yet, the clouds part as Solomon is inspired to pen Ecclesiastes 8:1. Real wisdom as we include this verse in Solomon's panoramic testimony might perceive problems before other people or where other people do not, but Ecclesiastes 8:1 wisdom doesn't stop there. The wisdom epitomized by this verse dwells not in brooding but in a disciplined, calm, patient search for insight.
How might this sort of trained resolution change our perspective on today? If we reason that our real experience teaches us, contrary to the most erratic of our worries, that God Who shows us problems also leads us to solutions, a smile might increase our lips more often. If we dwell on what we see and think about long enough to sift through input and realize how often God leads us to HIMSELF as the Solution, our expression will often dawn from bewildered, to bemused, to beatific.
As true wisdom works its way to our countenance, we will be like the wise men who beheld the Lord Jesus and went on their way rejoicing, Luke says, though they had just been warned that their lives were in danger. As true wisdom works its way into our countenance, even better, we will be like the Lord Jesus in whom our true hope lies, in doubt as He was with the oil of gladness more than His companions. As we keep smiling in spite of the difficulties that are sure to come, the world will wonder what we are up to.
Comments
Post a Comment