‘Wisdom from Above ’ ICEL, Leuven September 20, 2015 Pieter Boersema

ICEL 1. What is wisdom from above? In the western world, wisdom relates to education, but wise people are not always highly educated people. Wisdom is not at all times the foundation for decisions of people in authority (politics). There is a kind of hierarchy in wisdom, but real wisdom can be found by the ants: “Consider its ways and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6). This wisdom is from the Bible, but the Proverbs are wise advise for everyone, and can be from everyone.

ICEL 2.‘Wisdom from above’ and the Bible

ICEL Is the Wisdom of Solomon ‘wisdom from above’? Yes and no. The Law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. These laws are good for every human being. Wisdom from above: Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. Looking to God as creator of heaven and earth. God’s wisdom relates to his creation. But is this not common knowledge to everyone?

ICEL 3. What are the differences between ‘secular wisdom’ and ‘wisdom from above’? James 3:13-17 Two kinds of wisdom. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

ICEL The deeds of the believer show if he/she is in touch with the ‘wisdom from above’. Earthly wisdom: bitter envy, selfish ambition. At first sight this looks like a distinction between ‘worldly’ and ‘heavenly wisdom’. The church often uses this as the difference between ‘inside and outside’. But it happens inside (see also Psalm 1). Example of the present situation with the refugees trying to enter the ‘fortress Europe’. James 3: 18 “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness”, are often people outside the church.

ICEL 4.The story of Jesus and his disciples when it comes to ‘wisdom from above’. The continuing story of Jesus with his disciples as heard in last week sermon “Do you know who I am?” Mark 9:30–37. They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

ICEL Mark 9:30–37 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

ICEL The children as the example of those without status. The disciples argued about who was the greatest. In that situation, we would have done the same: ‘organizing the Kingdom of God’ without knowing the wisdom from above about this Kingdom.

ICEL 5. Jesus Christ, the centre of ‘wisdom from above’. The redemption of human life by Christ Jesus (John 3:16) is the wisdom of God. Christ has to suffer, to be killed and to rise again after three days (Mark 8:31; 9:31). The word of the cross is ‘foolishness’ to those who reject it. The essence of wisdom from above is not the ‘the peace of this moment’. Christ is he who is, and who was, and who is to come.

ICEL Marc Chagall, The White Crucifixion ’ Paris, 1938 Here we see the center of the love of God in this world. “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22).

ICEL We can never fully understand Gods wisdom To understand God’s love, is with all the saints: (Ephesians 3: 16-19): “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”.