6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written,
'Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him' 1 Cor. 2
To pursue after wisdom is a noble task, and it is one that would direct the true steps of those who would follow after it.
There are various forms of wisdom, with some of them being ancient and yet others, more of a contemporary viewpoint. Perhaps each and every religion and philosophy, has a type or form of wisdom that is inherent within it. If one would delve into history and various cultures, they would find that there is a type of wisdom that originated as that particular culture evolved.
Most wisdom that is tied to different cultures is also linked to a particular form of religion. When one considers such thoughts as, 'Universal truth is found in a oneness of all things,' they would soon find out that this originated from Hinduism. This particular belief system says that there is this oneness of existence and pluralism. One could lead an ascetic life style, forsaking the pleasures of the world, and develop self discipline, to acquire a 'type' of wisdom. And yet, this type of wisdom would leave one feeling hollow inside and hopeless because there was no life in it.
One will find in researching the ancient Greeks, that wisdom was key to them, particularly in the writings of Plato and Aristotle. Much of the world that we see around us today is seen through the lens of Aristotle. For he documented as it were, the myriad of different compartments of life that he saw around him. As such, he didn't see beyond the realities of the human mind or sight, but sought to organize all of life into the units of nature, government, families, etc. Aristotle stressed biology instead of mathematics, like Plato did. The end result of Aristotle's philosophy was that every action that a person takes is taken in the belief that it will bring him closer to eudaimonia.
Eudaimonia is essentially the state of having lived a successful life - it is a way of living rather than a mental state of absolute happiness.
Plato took on a different direction and as such, his influence on western culture and civilization lies at the roots of our societies even unto this day. For he combined in his dialogues ethics, political philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics, and moral psychology into an interconnected and systematic philosophy.
I don't want to chronicle every type of philosophy or belief system because that would take a book, and my intent here is of something else. It isn't something that one can exactly pin-point or give detail to, that I'm really trying to get at here, because the underlying message is spiritual in content, and doesn't take on the reality of a form that one could hold in their two hands. For you see, what God has revealed to us through His Spirit, is given as we search all things, even the depths of God.
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. I Cor. 2
It's like a road that one would take on a long journey, and this journey enables one to see and experience more and more, as each passing day transpires. For of course one sees and experiences new and different things as they would take a short vacation to a certain place. There would be new scenery to see, and perhaps new food to eat. Certainly there would be new places to sleep and stay in, and all of these would be remembered and maybe even treasured.
But as we grow in our wisdom and in our relationship with God, we experience at times an insight into our eternal purpose and also the transitory and yet even, an aspect of eternity in the moment. There are times when perhaps the entire spiritual road is seen out in front of us, and it is unveiled in the backdrop of eternity.
As William Blake once said,
To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour.
It isn’t just in returning a soft reply to an angry person that exemplifies wisdom. It isn't just in learning how to deal properly with one's neighbor, or even how to put aside money for the future of a child, that wisdom is seen. It isn’t just in how one might measure their words or speak carefully, that wisdom is experienced. All of this is true and is important for one to experience wisdom. But this type of wisdom is something that one acquires through experiencing life and learning from it. The wisdom from above however, is like a mystery and yet, it is the reality of Christ 'in us.'
I truly think though, that the focus of seeing how our lives are but for a moment, is how one should frame this wisdom. For actually this wisdom, is the key in knowing not only our life's purpose and calling, but it flows forth from the very throne of God Himself. For this wisdom is the Lord Himself. We don’t worship wisdom, but we experience it in seeing how it points to God Himself. One doesn’t worship love or faith, or even hope either. But these things which we are told are the greatest, are but attributes of the Father.
'But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.' James 3:17
'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.' Proverbs 9:10