Have you ever been called a wise guy? Likely, you were called a wise guy for saying something sarcastic. This happens to me a pretty often. However, it would be nice if someone meant it in regard to my intelligence on a matter. Most people would like to be considered a wise person in regard to some aspect of life. The question then becomes: “What does a wise person look like?” Do they look like Isaac Newton? Albert Einstein? Spock? How about Marie Curie, Elizabeth I, or Hillary Clinton? In truth, looks are not a reliable factor in determining wisdom.
A wise person is defined by his or her behavior. Behaviors are driven by knowledge and wisdom comes from knowledge as well. Man can demonstrate wisdom in regard to an endless number of subjects. For instance, knowledge gained from a bee sting can lead to the behavior of carefulness around bees. This is wisdom. Similarly, knowledge of cooking can lead to caution around a hot oven. Again, wisdom is shown. Finally, consider the knowledge gained of the human body which leads to urgency involving strokes. All of these situations involve the use of wisdom. If the behaviors of care, caution, and urgency were missing from these scenarios wisdom would be lacking.
When it comes to Godly wisdom, Solomon provides knowledge inspired of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Fear in this text can involve both being afraid of God and having reverence toward Him. Fear and reverence come from the knowledge of God who is Holy (I Peter 1:16). A man with Godly wisdom will exhibit behavior affirming his wisdom.
This series of articles will examine Godly wisdom as seen through the behaviors of a wise Christian. For this particular article, let us consider Proverbs 13:7-8:
“There are rich with nothing; poor with abundant riches. The redemption of an individual’s life is his wealth and the poor do not hear rebuke.”
The individual to imitate in this passage is the poor man. His wealth results in redemption, not rebuke. The words of Solomon here are not discussing earthly wealth. This can be verified through the words of two other scriptures. First from Solomon’s father David, then from the apostle Peter:
Psalms 49:6-8 – “They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him (For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever)”
1 Peter 1:18 – “knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ:”
The poor of Proverbs 13:7-8 are those who have a humble spirit in God such as in Matthew 5:3 (“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”). The richness of the poor comes from their claim in the blood of Christ. Redemption cannot apply for those denying Christ. How can an individual have a claim in the blood of Christ?
2 Timothy 2:11-13 – “Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.”
From this verse observe a number of points. First, living with Christ (which would imply a man was redeemed) requires dying with Him. According to Romans 6:1-9, dying with Christ means man must go through the behavior of baptism. This brings him into contact with His blood and gives him claim in Christ (Galatians 3:27). Second, enduring, so that man can reign with Christ, also involves specific behaviors to engage and avoid. I Corinthians 10:13 makes it clear that temptations to the Christian exist that would cause him to not endure in Christ. Yet, He is faithful such that man can endure in the required behaviors. Third, men deny Christ and are denied by Christ though their behaviors: Titus 1:16 – “They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Jesus said in Luke 6:46 – “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Finally, to have faithful behavior, men must have faith. Romans 10:17 declares “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Based on this passage, man gains faith by knowledge through the word of God which sparks his godly and therefore wise behavior.
These points being identified, there is a conclusion that exists to be gleaned from Proverbs 13:7-8. That conclusion is that a man gains his riches through knowing the value of God’s Truth and then using godly wisdom he acts upon it.
Matthew 13:44 – “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”