THE UNDERSTANDING OF WISDOM

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

We need to remember that in these sayings as well as in those to come, ‘Wisdom’ is very much defined as Jesus Himself. It is not a form of poise or virtue, nor the ability to be witty and discerning. It is simply the ‘all in all’ of the Messiah.

Past and contemporary history shows us that just accepting Jesus is not enough. Religion often takes an oppressive form thus causing pain and even war. Faith also suffers an identity crisis. Instead of learning and understanding its form and format, everyone wants to just put its label on their own. This always leads to contentions, divisions, denominationalism and sectarianism born of self-righteous pride.

This happens because we get ‘Wisdom’ without getting ‘understanding’. It is like getting a new complicated appliance without a manual of operation. We end up breaking the machine or even using it in a hurtful manner. ‘Understanding gives the form and format of faith. It gives us its context, its culture and tells why things are a certain way and not another.

As we get faith, as we get wisdom, as we let Messiah be our Lord, Master and Savior, let us learn to understand all we can about Him and who God had chosen Him to be on earth. May we understand some of the simplest details like, “Why was He born a Jew?”; Why did He often go to Jerusalem?”; Why did He have to die in Jerusalem?”; Why was He born in Bethlehem?”; Why did He eat the Seder unleavened bread and drank its wine before He died?” How do these things affect us?”

As we learn to understand Wisdom, as we gather around the true identity of Messiah, we will be able to finally have a united vision of a united congregation.