Calling all wise guys. Only what if they aren’t?
Remember that old advertisement, “let your fingers do the walking?” It promoted a thing once upon a time called the yellow pages, which was a companion piece to the telephone book, which sat beside a thing that dialed.
I don’t know about yours, but my fingers still do a lot of walking in search of information. And sometimes a little too much walking. We can google it, youtube it, listen to podcasts or books all without moving from the chair we’re sitting on.
We should be greatly concerned at the ratio of our overload of knowledge to our immersion in real wisdom.
We live in a world of keystroke answers. Experts of every kind abound at our fingertips. People describe it as information overload. But wisdom is not so easily found, nor has it ever been.
Where Do You Go For Your Answers?
How do you choose your experts?
What do you look for in a trusted source?
On what do they base their answers?
Who Is a Wise Person?
King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams troubled him. So, he called for his wise guys, magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers.
Nebuchadnezzar wanted more than just an interpretation of his dreams. He wanted the experts also to tell what dreams he’d had.
“No one can do that!” the wise guys answered.
The king offered incentive. “I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble,” he said. (Daniel 2:5 NIV)
To give him some slack, he’d just had a bad night, but then kings aren’t known to be reasonable. Nor was he in a negotiating mood.
Daniel, came to the rescue. He knew exactly where to go for answers.
“Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…” Daniel 2:27-28 ESV
The book of Daniel shows us when God isn’t even part of the equation, when God isn’t the first consultant, He isn’t honored as God.
Where Can We Find Wisdom?
It’s great to have the information at our finger tips to stop a leaking faucet, build a flower box, or be rid of those pesky fruit flies, but for deep problems of the soul, do we know where to go? Today with all our ready solutions, we sometimes defer to experts with tons of knowledge but without true wisdom.
We need a foundation of wisdom. Wisdom is found in an All Wise God. Values, and judgements which frame mindset and actions require a deeper footing than opinion.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)
As Jesus followers, we look to the Master and search what He says.
Daily life is an ongoing, infinity puzzle of what to do, how to think, and where to find answers.
- Should I change jobs?
- Would public school or another solution for my children be better?
- Maybe we should move to another house?
- Is this the right church for our family?
- Is it a waste of money?
Little gods of Daniel’s day fermented their thoughts in vain and ignorant knowledge. Yet they were foolishly considered wise.
If we are honest, we too have our own magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, or whatever they may be called, that we consult first. Even before asking Him for wisdom.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10 ESV)
God wants us to search for wisdom through knowing Him.
I find that it takes discipline to consult God’s Word first and not swerve around it. I have to intentionally pray for direction, seek wise counsel, and wait on Him concerning life’s little and big decisions. I must determine to listen to Him carefully as I consider what others have to say or think. Not once but ongoing.
When I sidestep Him I show the same kind of arrogance and pride which paraded a bunch of ineffective foolish magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers before the world’s highest leaders. As if they knew what only God could know.
God’s wisdom today is just as true, powerful, and available as in Daniel’s day. Although Kings as well as peons, may consult their wise guys with their ready, but fluid expert advice and opinions, we have an option. Next time your fingers reach to do the walking, let it be a reminder, there is “a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
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