HUMANITY'S WISDOM DEFICIT

In the media there is much talk about national and global financial deficits.  Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain all have one.  Here in the USA we have a whopping one the burden of which will be with us for a long time.  But the greater problem in not merely financial, which begs the question, “What could be more threatening?”  To that I would ask, “Does humanity suffer from a wisdom deficit?” Each day the news of the world is mind-boggling.  What a mess. Financial deficits are just one symptom of bigger, scarier things.  Like Diogenes walking around in the light of day with a lantern “looking for an honest man,” we find ourselves walking around looking for wise persons.  Where are obvious examples of wise discernment in local, national, and global leadership?  Where can we see practical wisdom?  Of course Diogenes was a cynic.  Cynicism aside, there are persons of practical of wisdom, but they are few and often not as apparent as their absence when so sorely needed. 

We see this at home from the US Congress and Executive Branch to life at the municipal and local level. There seems to be a shortage of wisdom in the world today, a deficit of the kind of wisdom that comes from exposures to good thinking and reflection in the context of learning from our mistakes.  At the same time, there is great wisdom to be found in obvious places, like the Scriptures, Old and New, the Psalms, Proverbs, and the sad story of God’s continuing grace in the face of Israel’s continual saga of hard-hearted disobedience and sin.

The Apostle Paul’s life was not easy.  He endured hostile rejection, persecution, physical violence, and a long litany of resistance to his ministry.  In the face of overwhelming adversity, by God’s grace he maintained a remarkably upbeat spirit. His spirit is seen in the words of wisdom that come from his life in the Spirit, through Scripture, prayer, listening to God, and reflection.  We see this early on in his letter to the Thessalonians written around 51 AD.  He writes a follow-up letter of encouragement to them from Corinth (selected verses of 1 Thessalonians 5:11-24):

“Encourage one another and build each other up. . . respect those who work hard among you . . . live in peace with each other . . . warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone . . . always be kind to each other and to everyone else.  Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire . . .Test everything.  Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, should and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful. He will do it.”

Paul’s affirmation and encouragement is but one of so many passages in Scripture that speak wisdom into our hearts and lives.  So why is there seemingly such a shortage of wisdom in the world today, even among so many Christians.  Here’s part of the answer. We are too busy being attracted and distracted by other things.  There’s no time to read wisdom literature and ponder its value.  We are so distracted we lack the time and commitment to read, ponder, discuss, and apply the treasure trove of wisdom right at our finger tips. Perhaps we just don’t love ourselves and our Lord enough to take the time to listen (See Jeremiah 13:11), and too isolated from others by technology to hold each other accountable for our mistakes.   

I am speaking here about myself as well.  I confess my own failure when I say that Facebook, Twitter, high definition television, entertainment, sports programming,  and more have captured our hearts and shaped our habits.  They are quite amazing in what they offer, but face it.  We lack the windfall  of wisdom God provides because we are so attracted and distracted pursing other priorities.  You might say we are captured by subtle, but otherwise real idolatries which are increasingly available and distracting.

The one thing I can say in response to this shortfall in my own life:  Thank you God for the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.  Conviction is a good thing that moves me to repentance, to an about-face from my old dysfunctional habits.  In repentance I turn my heart and attention toward you, O God, the source of all wisdom.  I know that in pondering and responding to the wisdom of your Word, you sanctify me, as the Apostle Paul says, “through and through.”

Thanks be to God!