Job 28.12, 23,28 12 “But
where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
23 “God understands
the way to it, and he knows its place.
28 Behold, the fear
of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.
In my world there is a thing called metrics; it’s a way of measuring or evaluating something. We look
at all kinds of data and try to determine what, if anything, can be learned
from such information. I say, in my world,
but there are metrics in your world as well – you may not specifically call metrics,
but they are there nonetheless.
In Job (jōbe) 28, there are metrics: But where shall wisdom be found? Good question. Wisdom, while
sharable or learnable is not available for purchase; although it may be available
for hire... The first metric is the source
of wisdom.
Job, starting at about chapter 3 of the book, is having a
conversation with his three friends, Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz. His friends were
convinced Job had done something wrong because of the catastrophic turn of
events in Job’s life – Job, you musta
done somthin’ way wrong… And so, from Job 3 to about Job 31 a discussion
ensues with Job’s friends accusing and Job defending.
In my reading of the discussion today, Job asks: But where shall wisdom be found? In
other words, If you’re so smart, how’d
you get your smartness – what metrics are you using to measure or evaluate your
smart-idity? ‘Cause it sounds a lot like stupidity! And the question to us
is where do we find wisdom? What metrics do we use?
Well, the first clue is: Go to God. If we want smarts
(i.e. wisdom) we need to find a source and Job says that source is God. Now,
Job’s three friends claimed to have wisdom and insight but their conclusions
were faulty and just spouting the world’s party line: if you screw up there’s payback – that’s how Deity operates!
Multiplied millions of people today believe the same thing: I get paid back what I deserve. What
kind of a universe is that!? What
metrics lead you to that conclusion!?
Job would respond: “God
understands the way to it, and he knows its place. Behold, the fear of the
Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding. Pretty
simple equation: go to God, respect Him, turn from evil (everybody knows what
that is…) and you’ll find all the wisdom you’ll ever need. God desires
friendship, not enmity. But most people’s metrics get in the way; to them,
payback seems to be the only answer – who wants to serve a god like that?
Wisdom does not grow on trees. Nor can one find it on the
produce aisle in the supermarket. Wisdom is found in relationship, in
experience, and first and foremost: in God. St. James once said: If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach,
and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the
one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
I believe that to be pretty sound advice: ask
God for wisdom, believing He will supply…
Father, I ask –
amen.
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