A LOVER OF WISDOM

Tuesday 24 December

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 8:12 (NKJV)

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding

Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV)

What is philosophy? ‘In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other.’ This is the generic meaning but we need to break down the actual word to gain a greater insight.

The word philosophy comes from two Greek words; ‘philos’ and ‘sophia.’ ‘Philos’ means loving and ‘sophia’ means wisdom. The original ‘philosophia’ in the Greek has become philosophy in the English language. So the true definition of philosophy is loving wisdom. A philosopher therefore is by definition a lover of wisdom.

If we believe the Biblical account that God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge, then true philosophy should always point back to the personification of all wisdom, which is Christ.

Colossians 2:3 says of Christ ‘in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’

I Corinthians 1:30a says ‘But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God’

There is no point as a believer entering into philosophical discussions that do not lead to the personification of wisdom Himself, Jesus. Christians are not supposed to be philosophising or sharing man’s wisdom that has no reference to the Word of God. The world’s version of philosophy is empty as it is devoid of Jesus, who He is, what He came to do and what He finished. This should be the centrepiece of any discussion with those who claim to be lovers of wisdom.

John 1:1 says ‘in the beginning was the Word.’ We are not talking about the Bible here but the person of the Word. Wisdom is a person and His name is Jesus Christ. When Christ is not the end goal of our philosophical discussions then we may truly have lost sight of the purpose of loving wisdom altogether.

In Colossians 2:8 Apostle Paul warns us about this very thing:

‘See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).’

Sometimes all preachers and teachers use is famous quotes and human anecdotes or their experiences from the platform. I like the way Paul calls it ‘so-called’ philosophy and intellectualism because it’s a pseudo philosophy. We need to get back to sound doctrine.

2 Corinthians 4:2 says ‘We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s conscience.’

It’s not our role to speak in parables to get people to understand what we’re saying. That was before the New Creation came on the scene. Paul says they ‘stated the truth clearly and openly.’ There are Christians who believe the New Testament is difficult and cryptic in its communication. It is simply not the case. The problem comes when those who are supposed to know the revelation of scripture don’t know themselves and therefore can’t teach what they don’t know.

This is why we have to grow in grace which is the knowledge of God’s word if we want to live out a Christ-centred gospel and not fall prey to ‘idle fancies and plain nonsense following human tradition’

Jesus spoke against “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Love wisdom. Keep His word.

That’s true philosophy.

APPLICATION

Take stock of your philosophical positions and if they are devoid of the Word of God, throw them out and stop wasting your time on ‘crude no