Which Wisdom is Which?

"Wisdom"... is it always wonderful? Is it only wonderful? Or is there another side, another kind of wisdom?

I suppose in a way "wisdom" is what grad students are seeking. We look through books and endless articles on a sometimes seemingly obtuse topic, and I often remember what my cousin Jonathan O. told me, "You just need to remember that you'll spend a lot of time working on something that not a lot of people will care about." Though this statement may seem disheartening, it's somewhat relieving and refreshing. I understand why he said it. It's important, essential, to keep perspective. Whether a large part of our lives focus on the 'wisdom' of taking care of children, researching old archives or making sales, it helps to remember that there is a greater 'wisdom'... one that is above and beyond our simple lives... one that causes us to trust in the Lord instead of our own unwise wisdom.

The Unwise Wisdom

⁹ “‘I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. ¹⁰ I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. ¹¹ I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, ¹² and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. ¹⁴ And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.

¹⁵ “‘But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his. ¹⁶ You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places, where you carried on your prostitution. ~Ezekiel 16:9-16

In this passage, the Lord is speaking about Israel as His bride, an allegory which is carried throughout several books of the Bible. He mentions all that He did for His people (the bride) to care for them. But, as mentioned throughout Ezekiel, Israel turned to idols. In this text, it is described as the bride "trust[ing] in [her] beauty" and going into prostitution, giving herself to false gods. Though for the bride, it is mentioned as beauty, we can understand that for Israel, their misstep was in trusting in themselves- their money, their power, their wisdom.

And this holds true for us. We're often tempted to trust in ourselves. It's no wonder that a widely non-God-fearing society would teach us this. But, somewhere deep down we must know that we cannot trust only in ourselves. And so we must also give all the credit for the care and gifts given to us to the Lord. This past week I was selected from my program to present my poster at the Interdisciplinary Program Community Meeting, where the president of the university gave one student from each program an award. I must tell you that I felt a little like Esther in the beauty competition. Surrounded by seniors who were presenting on their dissertations, I felt somewhat out of place as a 1st year student who hasn't published anything. But just as I was telling Brad that I was disappointed that President Shelton didn't see my poster, from the platform we heard him say, "I'm really looking forward to seeing the posters. I saw just a few on my way in here, and one of them caught my eye- 'How to Use an Adverb'." I can't help but believe that things like this are God. I mean, I'm really not good enough or smart enough or advanced enough to be getting these kinds of opportunities and awards... instead they're the gifts that He's given to me. And I'll keep trying to use them for His glory.

The Wiser Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ~James 3:13-17

James is clear on this account, that there are different kinds of wisdom. The wisdom that Solomon admonished in Ecclesiastes would be the "bitter envy and selfish ambition" that James mentions. But we get a different idea of the "wisdom that comes from heaven." Clearly one difference is that this wisdom is not for our own personal gain. Instead, it brings forth good fruit. In other passages of scripture, 'fruit' is used to refer to the fruits of the spirit as well as bringing others to know the Lord as well as building up brothers and sisters in Christ. That is the kind of wisdom that really makes a difference... that is the kind of wisdom that is truly wise and truly worthwhile.

So this evening I pray for continued wisdom as we continue to work with the church start. It's difficult to step outside of a 'ready-made' congregation, knock on doors and invite people and have a church that's a little different. But someone, we still feel led to go and bear fruit. Lord, give us Your wisdom for Your church... so that we could continue to do Your work.... for Your glory.

Satisfying Sacrifices

After reading Romans, you may get the idea that 'sacrifices' are something to avoid. An 'outdated' Old Testament word, you may say. But that's not quite true. Take a look at today's Hebrew verses, and we understand that the 'new-fangled' sacrifices are anything but antiquated. In fact, they are downright fashionable. Try some on for size. Instead of a belt of obligation, it has a sash of joy!

Faithfulness & Devotion

⁵ Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

⁶ And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”

⁷ Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. ⁸ He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.

⁹ And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.” ¹⁰ So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel. ¹¹ In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

¹² He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’” ¹³ Again, he said, “You will see them doing things that are even more detestable.”

¹⁴ Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz. ¹⁵ He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.” ~Ezekiel 8:5-15

Yes, Ezekiel was sent with a not-so-nice job at a not-so-nice time in the history of Israel. God was angry at Israel, and Ezekiel was the one to tell them about it. But, we can learn something from the Israelites' false steps. The Lord's anger over and over again comes out at the adoration of idols and false gods. No wonder this angered the Lord. They had broken the very first commandment! So what sacrifice does God desire? Our faithfulness and devotion to Him only.

Of course this seems simple enough, but is it? Unfortunately I think we sometimes it's easy for us to shrug off the idea of 'idols'. But there may be "idols" that we don't term "idols" in our lives. I once heard a graduate student jokingly mention that she was going to "church" when she was going to the gym. That made me so upset, because the fact is that some of us certainly do make time for going to the gym, going to the movies, watching our favorite tv shows, studying or doing homework, more than the time we make for the Lord... when it should be exactly the opposite. That doesn't mean giving up everything else, because the Lord who loves us gives us wonderful gifts. But it does mean giving time to focus on the Lord, to be devoted to Him above all things.

Praise & Service

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. ~ Hebrews 13:15-16

And here it is, at the end of Hebrews, the mention of 'sacrifice' in a New Testament context. In fact, it makes a lot of sense to find our new 'sacrifice' here, since this book was written to Jews. Paul (or perhaps another writer closely associated with Paul) taking a familiar Jewish concept and revamping it. He was describing that God doesn't want the obligations of sacrifices that required blood offerings... since they soon lost their meaning and were done without any thought. (Much, I think, like the reason some go to church on Sunday.) Instead, the heart of sacrifice is critical. Sacrifice is about praising the Lord, doing good, and sharing with others in His name.

One critical difference I see here is that our sacrifices should not be for our glory. It's easy to want to be a popular 'philanthropist' with all of our good deeds out there in the open for many to look proudly upon us. But that's not what we're called to do. Instead, we are called to do this for the Lord. In high school, I volunteered with Christmas ministries in which we anonymously gave toys and gifts to individuals, and I was often glad to do this. Tuesday night at Bible Study, we discussed making Operation Christmas Child boxes. Katie C mentioned that kids like to have pictures of the one who sent it in the box, and I jokingly said, "We should put a picture of Jesus, then!" (Of course, 'what kind' of a picture of Jesus is another issue.) Though I said this in jest, it's not that far from the mark. The good we do should be just as much for the Lord as the praise that we offer to our Maker.

Far From Home

^{At this time of year, it is easy to remember the tunes that sing "there's no place like home for the holidays" and feel ourselves so very far from home. Yet, in a way all of us are far from home in the ins and outs of everyday. Far too often, we are far from our Father who waits patiently for us to spend time in His word, in prayer, in community with Him. And no matter our location on the GPS or our illegal/legal status, we are all aliens, far from our home that God has made for us in heaven.}

^{Running from Home}

3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. ⁴ The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ ⁵ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. ⁷ You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. ⁸ But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” ~ Ezekiel 2:3-8

A quick analysis of the above verse from Ezekiel, and one recurring word and theme will jump out at the reader, so much in fact that we could argue that the verses are not so much about what God was going to say to Israel nor about Ezekiel being called ... but it's about the characteristic of the Isrealites who are... rebellious. In fact, we learn little else about them, except that they are termed 'scorpions' by the Lord and their words could be frightening, but it is their rebellion that has caused the Lord to be so angry. And yet, like Jonah to Nineveh, the Lord is merciful and sends a prophet with a message to give this rebellious people a second chance.

And isn't that lucky for us? It's so easy sometimes to read this passage and say, "Silly, Israelites! They ought to know better. Why are they rebelling like that?" It's so easy to think of 'them' as rebellious, forgetting that all too often, we are the rebellious ones in need of a second chance. The Lord waits for us every day, waits to have a quiet time with us... when we read His word, when we pray to Him. And every time we choose something else, even work, ahead of our Lord, we are rebelling against His commands to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength." We are rebelling against our Father; we are running from our "home". But, just as he offered a second chance to those rebellious Israelites, He offers a second chance to us, inviting us 'home.'

Running towards Home

¹³ ...[All these people] did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. ~Hebrews 11:13-16

This chapter in Hebrews offers a beautiful long list of individuals in the Bible who acted upon faith, like Noah who made the ark and Abraham who followed where the Lord led him. And then, the author of Hebrews goes on to explain that these individuals did not get all the promises. Abraham did not live to see the fulfillment of all the promises made him. But... they were "foreigners and strangers." Sometimes we forget that many people in the Bible were sent to new places. They were "aliens" who were far from home. Yet, the author is playing with a double meaning here. It is not just the political status he is concerned with. Instead, note that they were 'foreigners', because they are seeking their own country which is a 'heavenly one', prepared by God.

If we really are living out the radical love that is evidenced in the Bible, we will be 'strangers' even in our own physical backyard. God gave us an example, by loving rebellious kids like us! Now, we need to love those who do and don't deserve it.... 'love them as ourselves', because when we love others, we have 'done so to our heavenly Father as well' ... our Father who has prepared a place for us in heaven. And that is our true home. Remember when Jesus in the temple said, "These are my mother and brothers" about those to whom he was talking? He showed us that "family" and "home" mean very different things from a Christian perspective. Our Christian brothers and sisters are our family, and our home is in heaven.

When we pray, we read the Word, and we worship, we are a little closer to home.

Looking Back & Looking Forward

Though we oftentimes think of looking back (remembering) and looking forward (hoping) as essentially different, this morning's scripture reading reminded me of the important bridge that can be made between the two. For by remembering God's faithfulness in the past, we can overcome the trials of the present and look towards the hope we have in the future God has in store for us.

Looking Back

⁷ In the days of her affliction and wandering
Jerusalem remembers all the treasures
that were hers in days of old.
When her people fell into enemy hands,
there was no one to help her.
Her enemies looked at her
and laughed at her destruction. (Lamentations 1:7)

Lately I've had a little health trouble of my own, one that pales in comparison to many, I know, especially to the problems suffered by Jerusalem in the times Lamentations was accounting. But nevertheless, my bouts of nausea and reflux have left me giving up my goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon since I had severe reflux when running. The sleepless nights of reflux symptoms certainly make me feel sometimes like I am 'wandering' and just trying to get through the day with the little energy I have. And like Jerusalem, I remember my days of old- when I could run, when I felt more like myself, when I was able to eat without so many restrictions.

And yet, this remembering doesn't have to stay in the realm of nostalgia. Instead, remembering what God has brought me through reminds me that He is watching over me. When I was sick before, the Lord helped me. He has already given me a wonderful husband to help me with so much, so very humbling, which is often so very hard. There is a Spanish hymn that says, "God did not bring me here for me to turn around and go back." No, I have faith that God is directing my paths, wherever they may lead... and I'll keep following Him.... praising Him for the many treasures He's given to me and the many that He will give me in the future.

Looking Forward

¹ The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. ² Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. ³ But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. ⁴ It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4)

Last night our GCF (Graduate Christian Fellowship) group had a Bible Study on Hebrews, and it was helpful to remember that this book was probably written to Jews who were 'on the fence' about this Christianity stuff. So, the author goes through many highly esteemed Jewish authorities in order to point out that though these were 'shadows of the good things that [were] coming', they were not the thing itself.

In fact, in a way that is how we should live our lives, remembering that though we have many wonderful treasures here on earth... this is not the end goal. Our home is heaven, and we are homeward bound. Looking back through history, we are reminded that Jesus came so that we might be able to look forward to a future with Him... paid for by His own blood... no longer the sacrifices of "bulls and goats [that cannot] take away sins".

Today, take some time to remember the good gifts the Lord has given to you- the greatest gift of His son Jesus but also the gifts of a beautiful child, a comfortable home, a loving husband/wife, a good joy, a cute puppy, a new lab position. Whatever it is, give thanks to the Lord! It is the season!

And remember these gifts will inspire us to thank God for the future blessings He will provide for us- help with a move, healing, and also the home He has prepared for us in heaven!