Almost all my life, I have been perceived by a lot of people, whether they be friends, acquaintances, or strangers, to be this superbrain just because I happen to be aberrant to what may be deemed as “normal.” They automatically assume that just because I happen to be like this, I am this genius who would give Albert Einstein a run for his money – were he still alive. A lot of times however, once they come to know me, they would be found wanting of their assumptions, which would make people end up thinking I’m “normal” after all (whatever that means), or that I’m a disappointment because I don’t blurt out mathematical formulas at the drop of a hat. I find this to be funny, because it’s really a tendency of humans to believe in only two extremes, and never the mean of the two; it’s either black or white and never gray, which cannot actually be said of a lot of things when you get down to it. Anyhow, I’m digressing from the topic I want to talk about (I can hear you thinking, so what else is new?). Having experienced that for quite some time and realizing it when I was in high school, I got into thinking what people deem to be what “intelligence,” “wisdom,” and “being smart” are, and who these people could be. Psychology categorizes intelligence into seven classifications: logico-mathematical, spatial, lingual… Alternatively, it also defines people’s thinking by the skills that they have: if one is good with the objective things, such as mathematics, logic, science, and loves tinkering with things, s/he is most likely to be left-brained; if one leans more toward the arête, that is, in things subjective in nature such as those in the arts and culture, then that person is almost surely right-brained. The day-to-day use of the term leads to more confusion on what these terms mean. People view those who are smart as those who:
(1) Know of things that they don’t. These might come in the form of things a person necessarily has to know, especially in the chosen field of profession s/he might be a part of. It might also be the generally useless trivia people have the tendency of storing it up in their brains and then blurt them out when the person feels the need for the information to be given; or
(2) Agree with the same opinions that they have. You would be amazed to see how many people subscribe to this idea – rather like going back to the Victorian Period when women were prized only for their ability to play a musical instrument, paint, embroider, and mindlessly agree to what the males are saying. There isn’t even a necessity to open one’s mouth to be considered “intelligent” in this regard. One only has to nod his/her head to everything the other person is saying and by the end of the day, the other will see him/her as completely brilliant.
What does wisdom mean then? Should a person not subscribe to this just because being smart is relative to people? Taking the world’s standards, it does seem wiser for a person to choose to live a simple (read: stupid) life instead of trying to live the world’s standards of what an intelligent person should be like. Unless a person is both left- and right-brained (ex. Leonardo da Vinci and Jose Rizal), s/he will not be able to stun everyone by his/her brilliance, because there will always be something lacking. As Socrates has said, (and I will say this in our native language, not only because it was the medium used when I learned it, but also because it has a huge impact compared to when it is said in English): tanga tayong lahat.
Yet what we are not after is what the world thinks. If that were the case, we would have been all turned into complete nutters by now trying to satisfy the whims of everyone in the world. What we are looking for is something more permanent than what the world can offer and believe in, and we can find the answer in the best-selling book of all time.
Solomon is known to be the wisest king to rule the Kingdom of Israel. Up to now, his judgment is still held in high esteem even by the world, as the phrase “wisdom of Solomon” is used to denote great astuteness. For those who can’t really recall who he was, he is most known for almost chopping (or at least pretended to) a baby in half between to women who claimed to be the mother. Ring any bells? He was known for his great intelligence and for his good decision making skills, but for me, the greatest act of wisdom he has ever done was not so much those he has made with other people, but the covenant he has made with God.
When Solomon succeeded the throne of Israel from his father David, he humbly admitted to God of his own inexperience in ruling, and knew of his own inadequacy. Instead of trying (and most probably failing) to make decisions based on what he thinks is right, he instead turned to God. I am a mere youth, nor knowing at all how to act. I serve You in the midst of people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give Your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge Your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of Yours? (1 Kings 4:7b-9) The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s answer, because instead of asking for material things such as wealth, success, and power over his enemies, he has asked for something not for himself but for Him and for the people, that he granted him what he requested: a heart of understanding and discernment.
For me, that is the precise moment when Solomon has acted the wisest: not in his judgments concerning his people, but of his willingness to be open for God to work through him. Indeed, the Bible has defined wisdom not in terms of the amount of knowledge one can store in one’s brain, but on being God-fearing. “God-fearing” not in the sense that a person lives in perpetual fright that God would smite him with lightning if He so pleases, but fear in the sense that a person would not want to hurt Him who loves him/her more than anything. It’s a product of love and not of fright, as Otto’s mysterium tremendum fascinosum illustrates. Wisdom is in knowing who our Maker is, and our own inadequacy as compared to His Majestic Presence. Wisdom is in knowing that we are nothing, and yet He gave us His love in so many ways and forms. Wisdom is in acting with discernment, deliberately making choices for God and not against Him. Wisdom is not relying on what people are saying, but believing in the truth as is said in His Word. Wisdom is in knowing that despite all of the miserable things that will happen to you, you would always know that there is security because God is always on your side. Wisdom is in knowing that He will reign forever, and living for His kingdom. Wisdom, in short, is truly knowing God and believing in Him and in His promises, and to truly live for Him. It’s not just head knowledge as what the world’s perception of intelligence lies in, but should also be exhibited in a person’s actions. These actions should not be for their own sake, but should be grounded on faith. Sure, Solomon acted wisely when he ruled his people, but he knows what the underlying meaning of it is: that this was a gift of God and it was granted to him for him to serve the Lord.
May we all strive to be wise in the truest sense of the word.
Proverbs 2:6-11 “For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; He has counsel in store for the upright, He is the shield of those who walk honestly., guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of the pious ones. Then you will understand rectitude and justice, honesty, every good path; for wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will please your soul, discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.”
Proverbs 4:11 “On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths.”
(1) Know of things that they don’t. These might come in the form of things a person necessarily has to know, especially in the chosen field of profession s/he might be a part of. It might also be the generally useless trivia people have the tendency of storing it up in their brains and then blurt them out when the person feels the need for the information to be given; or
(2) Agree with the same opinions that they have. You would be amazed to see how many people subscribe to this idea – rather like going back to the Victorian Period when women were prized only for their ability to play a musical instrument, paint, embroider, and mindlessly agree to what the males are saying. There isn’t even a necessity to open one’s mouth to be considered “intelligent” in this regard. One only has to nod his/her head to everything the other person is saying and by the end of the day, the other will see him/her as completely brilliant.
What does wisdom mean then? Should a person not subscribe to this just because being smart is relative to people? Taking the world’s standards, it does seem wiser for a person to choose to live a simple (read: stupid) life instead of trying to live the world’s standards of what an intelligent person should be like. Unless a person is both left- and right-brained (ex. Leonardo da Vinci and Jose Rizal), s/he will not be able to stun everyone by his/her brilliance, because there will always be something lacking. As Socrates has said, (and I will say this in our native language, not only because it was the medium used when I learned it, but also because it has a huge impact compared to when it is said in English): tanga tayong lahat.
Yet what we are not after is what the world thinks. If that were the case, we would have been all turned into complete nutters by now trying to satisfy the whims of everyone in the world. What we are looking for is something more permanent than what the world can offer and believe in, and we can find the answer in the best-selling book of all time.
Solomon is known to be the wisest king to rule the Kingdom of Israel. Up to now, his judgment is still held in high esteem even by the world, as the phrase “wisdom of Solomon” is used to denote great astuteness. For those who can’t really recall who he was, he is most known for almost chopping (or at least pretended to) a baby in half between to women who claimed to be the mother. Ring any bells? He was known for his great intelligence and for his good decision making skills, but for me, the greatest act of wisdom he has ever done was not so much those he has made with other people, but the covenant he has made with God.
When Solomon succeeded the throne of Israel from his father David, he humbly admitted to God of his own inexperience in ruling, and knew of his own inadequacy. Instead of trying (and most probably failing) to make decisions based on what he thinks is right, he instead turned to God. I am a mere youth, nor knowing at all how to act. I serve You in the midst of people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give Your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge Your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of Yours? (1 Kings 4:7b-9) The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s answer, because instead of asking for material things such as wealth, success, and power over his enemies, he has asked for something not for himself but for Him and for the people, that he granted him what he requested: a heart of understanding and discernment.
For me, that is the precise moment when Solomon has acted the wisest: not in his judgments concerning his people, but of his willingness to be open for God to work through him. Indeed, the Bible has defined wisdom not in terms of the amount of knowledge one can store in one’s brain, but on being God-fearing. “God-fearing” not in the sense that a person lives in perpetual fright that God would smite him with lightning if He so pleases, but fear in the sense that a person would not want to hurt Him who loves him/her more than anything. It’s a product of love and not of fright, as Otto’s mysterium tremendum fascinosum illustrates. Wisdom is in knowing who our Maker is, and our own inadequacy as compared to His Majestic Presence. Wisdom is in knowing that we are nothing, and yet He gave us His love in so many ways and forms. Wisdom is in acting with discernment, deliberately making choices for God and not against Him. Wisdom is not relying on what people are saying, but believing in the truth as is said in His Word. Wisdom is in knowing that despite all of the miserable things that will happen to you, you would always know that there is security because God is always on your side. Wisdom is in knowing that He will reign forever, and living for His kingdom. Wisdom, in short, is truly knowing God and believing in Him and in His promises, and to truly live for Him. It’s not just head knowledge as what the world’s perception of intelligence lies in, but should also be exhibited in a person’s actions. These actions should not be for their own sake, but should be grounded on faith. Sure, Solomon acted wisely when he ruled his people, but he knows what the underlying meaning of it is: that this was a gift of God and it was granted to him for him to serve the Lord.
May we all strive to be wise in the truest sense of the word.
Proverbs 2:6-11 “For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; He has counsel in store for the upright, He is the shield of those who walk honestly., guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of the pious ones. Then you will understand rectitude and justice, honesty, every good path; for wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will please your soul, discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.”
Proverbs 4:11 “On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths.”
3 comments:
Well, what can else can I say? Great points dear :) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The thing with people is that when they hear the term "God-fearing," they suddenly come up with this weird mental image of being fried by lightning, or crushed by an entire mountain range, or drowned by a tidal wave, or... you get what I mean. The sad thing is that they have such frightening images of God, yet they don't realize that it's the same God who willingly gave up His only begotten Son for us. Yes, He can do all of these, but that would be against His nature as a loving God.
Amen! :D
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