c
When I was a young man, I dated a young woman for a short time. She was a serious “born again” Christian…..and I was not. She was nice, truthful, kind, etc. The only problem was her faith. It terrified me. I could see that Christianity was going to get in the way of my plans. So I broke it off. We talked about important stuff. I once asked her what was her greatest desire.
Her answer…….wisdom.
At the time, wisdom would not have made my top 10. Looking back…..she was well on her way and I was not.
Wisdom is funny stuff. It is arguably the most important contributor to a successful, satisfying life. It is readily available. And, best of all, it is free. Yet, many of us fail to pursue it.
And that leads to the big question.
Why?
Why did I ignore something so valuable, so readily accessible, so inexpensive, for so many years? Why don’t we all make the pursuit of wisdom one of our highest priorities?
I think that it is because other things get in our way.
The things that stop us from pursuing wisdom are other desires…….other goals that we have decided are more profitable, more fun. These would be the things that filled my “top ten” list as a young man.
My list as a young man:
My career…….translation…….money and prestige
A wife……..who would not interfere with my career
A family………that would be subservient to my career
A better car
A big house in a prestigious neighborhood
A good pension plan
Health
Others will have different lists:
Their politics
Sex
Self actualization
Control of their bodies
Freedom
Peace
Drugs
Alcohol
Gambling
Sports
You can sum up all of these impediments to the pursuit of wisdom into one word:
Appetites.
The problem with wisdom is that it will interfere with the pursuit of some of our appetites……of some of your appetites. It has stopped me from pursuing some of the appetites that I pursued as a young man.
But, here’s the thing. Wisdom will lead you to new appetites…….appetites that will fulfill you in a much better way, a much more permanent way………appetites that will lead you to higher levels of satisfaction………yes, even to joy. Wisdom will promote in you appetites that are based on truth……appetites that grow out of the truths that are written on your heart…….appetites that were put there by your creator.
In the final analysis:
Your life is measured by your actions.
Your actions are driven by your appetites.
Good appetites are shaped by wisdom.
Wisdom grows from truth.
Truth comes from the creator and it lives inside of you right now.
All other appetites come from someone else.
In the final reconning, we choose……..eternal satisfaction…….or transient pleasure.
We either persue wisdom………or its natural enemy, our appetites.
“Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
God answering Solomon’s prayer, 1 Kings 3:11-14, ESV
Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding
Solomon, Proverbs 14:33, ESV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Solomon, Proverbs 1:7, ESV
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:14-15, NIV