Our family loves movies, witty shows, and most things that offer new perspectives or encourages learning. We’ve passed this on to our kids, but they shoot more for the comedic angle. They easily toss movie quotes into everyday conversations, and are typically used appropriately. For example, our son went to the bathroom and, as he flushed, said, “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” (“Home Alone”) I kid you not, it was hysterical! And he was so proud of himself that he came and told me about it between giggles (he’s 6 years old).
While we were in Southeast Asia this past January and February (Corona-free), one of the few English-speaking channels we kept finding was strictly movies, and they seemed to be in love with the new “Aladdin”. I’m pretty sure we came across it four or five times. Will Smith did a great job, especially since he was stepping into some pretty big shoes left by the late Robin Williams. We’ve since added this movie to our home collection and our kids L O V E it. They’ve watched it at least once a week since the end of February. After, they run off to play, acting out scenes, singing some of the songs, and trying to dance like Aladdin and Jasmine, sans the back flip. While our kids were watching “Aladdin” recently, my husband and I were in the kitchen, and he asked me what my three wishes would be. Things that make you go “Hmmm…”
We have a habit of getting into some introspective conversations. We enjoy digging through scripture, seeking out thoughts from mentors, getting other perspectives, etc. When he asked me what my three wishes were, I couldn’t help but smile and tell him I had no idea what they would be. The same rules applied: no wishing for more wishes, no bringing the dead back to life, and can’t make someone fall in love with someone else. What in the world would I wish for?
Right off we think of health and happiness for our family, financial security, and usually… stuff. These went through my mind, but just as quickly I was thinking I would wish for the ability to travel (to quote Will Smith, “There’s a lot of gray area…”)… okay, the financial ability to travel whenever and wherever I wanted. Also, at the top of the list was being able to teleport. With the financial wish made and the teleportation ability under my belt, I went back to watching our kids watch the movie. There’s been a lot of turmoil with this season we’re in – daughter coming of age, getting engaged, and they know better – and the navigating through has been tough, to say the least. And that’s just a part of what we’re navigating.
With three wishes in mind, I started thinking about some of what I had been reading in the Bible lately, things that I had been praying about and the situations that keep trying to cause strain and anxiety. It all came back to the same thing: wisdom. Wisdom in how to approach those situations with our newly engaged daughter. Wisdom in regard to direction of businesses we operate, where we live, and the educational arena with our three young children. It all boils down to what wisdom (and how much of it) we’re operating in. If I wished for great wisdom, it could very well change what I was originally thinking about for my other two wishes.
What is wisdom? It’s not about education, because there are a lot of people who have a higher education, but I wouldn’t trust my houseplants with them. According to the Oxford dictionary, education isn’t mentioned once, but rather experience, knowledge, and good judgement. Education isn’t even listed in the synonyms! Now what does the Bible have to say about it?
“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:5-7 (NIV)
Wisdom is supreme… I love that! It gives me chills. With wisdom, we have the ability to successfully navigate this life and all of its obstacles. Without wisdom, we won’t even know what to believe while watching the news or scrolling through social media. It’s pretty obvious that the wisdom of the world has seriously been degraded. The wisdom I want to operate in is not the “wisdom” of the world, but a new wisdom that was provided for us on the cross.
Another movie that my family loves (and loves to hate) is “The Shack”. I read the book first, and then read it aloud to my husband, and then we watched the movie. It’s a grab. your. tissues. kind of book and movie. Without spoiling it for anyone, the main character meets God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father is portrayed as a woman of color, the Son is portrayed as a Middle Eastern man, and the Holy Spirit is a lean wisp of an Asian woman. Interesting that wisdom is portrayed as a female…
“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)
There are numerous other verses regarding wisdom and those who are wise, mainly in the book of Proverbs, but also other books of the Bible. In the book of Job, it’s explained that wisdom and understanding are found among the aged and those who have lived long (Job 12:12). In Isaiah we’re told that the wisdom of the wise will perish and the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish (Isaiah 29:14). Kind of a mixed message… especially when we take a look at a passage in James.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NIV)
But scripture doesn’t contradict scripture. Why would we be encouraged to seek out and embrace wisdom, if we’re warned in Isaiah that it will perish and vanish… but then encouraged to ask God for wisdom? What? Paul explains this in I Corinthians:
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” I Corinthians 1:20-21 (NIV)
It’s not the world’s wisdom that saves us. It is God who saves us so that no one can boast in themselves, but instead boast in the Lord. (I Corinthians 1:30-31) God used the weak things of the world to shame the strong; the foolish things to shame the wise; the lowly and despised to nullify those that are not (I Corinthians 1:27-28). Know why?
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength… My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” I Corinthians 1:25 & 2:4-5 (NIV)
God did not bring the world’s wisdom to ruin and leave us lacking but gave us something even better. In John 16, Jesus tells us about the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of truth will guide us in all truth and speak only what comes from God. The Spirit is also called the Counselor. In Galatians 5 we read about what a life led by the Spirit looks like and what the fruit is – very much in step with the passages found in Proverbs in regard to wisdom. And as a side note, I find it interesting that a female was the representation of the Holy Spirit in “The Shack” and is a representation of wisdom in the Bible.
So how can we walk out this wisdom that came at such a high cost (remember, Jesus died to give us the Holy Spirit – Galatians 3:14)? We have plenty of time on our hands and we’ve probably all heard the saying about idle hands do not wise choices make. Seriously, have you seen some of the TikTok videos lately? Is our peace strengthened when we submerge ourselves in tales of devastation? What wisdom can the world really offer us and what is the fruit of that wisdom? I can tell you that one of the fruits is panic followed closely with a run on toilet paper. Instead, I’d rather go for the wisdom God provided by way of the Holy Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Instead of reading everything you can about COVID-19, read everything you can about the promises God made to you regarding your health and healing. Instead of listening to all of the reports about unemployment and stimulus checks and bail-out money, read everything you can about how God will increase your tent during seasons of famine and drought. Listen to God’s report – His wisdom – and discover the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That fruit salad is what I desire and what we all are in need of.