Lent 6- Wise

March 6th 2017- Lent 6: Wise

Wisdom is something that has always fascinated me. One of the questions about wisdom is "do you really have wisdom if you think you're wise?" I am not even sure why Owls are associated with wisdom...is it perhaps the glasses shaped feather designs around their eyes making them look intelligent? And if so...is intelligence wisdom or just an increased amount of knowledge?

So many questions...perhaps I should find someone wise to answer them for me! However, there is one thing I know about wisdom. Worldly wisdom and Heavenly wisdom are often worlds apart. For starters, worldly wisdom would choose the strongest of warriors to take on a giant. Heavenly wisdom on the other hand would call out the smallest shepherd boy with no previous experience of fighting in a battle. And then once more...worldly wisdom would suggest a king destined to save the world would come in finery and wealth, riding on the finest horse. Instead heaven says the king of the world must be the servant to all, being born under supposed scandal into a poor family, dining with sinners and riding on donkeys. 

Worldly wisdom makes us feel safe. Heavenly wisdom offends. 

Worldly wisdom follows the trend. Heavenly wisdom stands firm against the changing tides of culture. 

I must admit upon writing this reflection I have been struck by the implications of this. I have never properly stopped to think before about wisdom being offensive. But what if it is? What then? Have we ever been struck down by offence? And what if that offence was a mistake on our part when our minds were so fixed on worldly wisdom when we should be reflecting on what heaven says?

Heavenly wisdom lines up with the Word of God. It never contradicts but instead complements the teachings of God. Heavenly wisdom has the power to transform lives whereas worldly wisdom just keeps us ticking over. 

God never gives up on an opportunity to give us the gift of wisdom, in fact he loves to give it to us if we only ask. Yet we must be sure to seek heavenly wisdom above all else for it is only in the truly ridiculous, outrageous and offensive acts (in the eyes of the world that is) that we can impact lives, communities and even nations in the same way that Christ did. 

Challenge: next time you find yourself offended by something be sure to pause and ask God if your offence is correctly aligned with the heart of God or if it is caused by a perspective relying too much on the wisdom of the world. x