Discerning to Digest – The Character of Wisdom and the Heart of the Speaker

Wisdom is First

There is a misplaced fear which produces anxiety and unrealistic expectations of what the world could become. Change has become the new norm. Everything around us is changing at such a fast pace. Even keeping up with the transition and adapting to a new environment and new ways of working requires effort and energy.

But in these times, we ought to learn that the world has always been like this. Looking back in history, we read the stories about kings and rulers fighting each other to prove who is the greatest. Plots and alliances to overthrow the rightful heir. Ambitious men, like Alexander the Great¹, who has influenced the world and the Bible and Christianity more than we know. By conquering nation after nation, Greek culture and language were spread and influenced people beyond the land of Asia Minor. In just 13 years, Alexander the Great proved to the world back then and today what it means to change. What is more, raising the bar and redefined what it means to be a true influencer. His conquests created the Hellenistic world, spreading the Greek language across the Mediterranean and founding Alexandria in Egypt; his empire ensured that later Greek-speaking Jewish communities needed a Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint². Which later on was used by Jesus and the apostles in preaching and writing the New Testament when quoting from the Scriptures.

Change is what humanity has ever known. It is the right flow of time and human existence. It is what defines our breathing nostrils.

On the contrary, we learn from the Bible that God is eternally unchanged in his pure character. This makes God reliable and trustworthy, so we know what to expect in different life situations. It rather makes God’s character foreseeable, informing what the course of our actions and decisions may produce as a response from God. God is simple in what he revealed to us through the prophets, the apostles, and lastly through Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son. The unchanging character of God reflects beyond that, revealing further what eternity is like, and how constantly self-sufficient God is in his majesty.

Well-rounded

The marketplace of ideas produces multiple discussions and conflicting views. Speakers talk more and listen less. If possible, loud enough to disturb and distract even the lowest interest in any debate.

I was recently introduced to the term food noise.³ A constant preoccupied mind with what to eat next and constantly thinking about what is in the fridge or the snack cupboard. As informal as the term may be, the reality is that we all relate to it. Especially me: when I have a rather busy day, I don’t just think about it, but crave something sweet.

But within all the noise and the preoccupation with being right on the money about a subject, it seems our minds are loudly taken over by hard thoughts on what to say next to prove my opponent wrong in his views. Investing so much cortical energy in such strategic thinking, forgetting to reflect on what I know and may produce such a contribution to the debate scene.

Not having an already set purpose, one is pushed by feelings, prejudice and the striving not to be wrong into living a double life. On one appearance, as if all things are good and seem to be under control; on the real note is like pitch. Staining and almost impossible to wash away any attempt.

Self-contained

Humanity has lost its compass and purpose, not because it is facing so many innovations requiring adaptations to be made to the physical and the legal infrastructure. I would rather advocate for the loss of constancy and absolutes. For the loss of borders and well-defined limits and limitations. For the loss of freedom and fighting. For the loss of what defines humanity. Materialism is able to explain only one third of the human and is not even touching why that third exists and what made it possible to exist. What I marvel at, hearing such scientists supporting materialism, is that they use the immaterial to explain the material. Such as the mind and consciousness. With no explanation whatsoever of what the mind is or what cognitive processes and consciousness are, they all seem to be very confident in what they think materialism is defined to be.

Nonetheless, it can also be observed that a rather stringent character defends the non-existence of the immaterial. Especially standing against God and the uncaused cause, the focus is lost in an abyss of reasoning, which we already know cannot exist in a purely material Universe. Where life is nothing more or less than a chemical soup. No one would dare to taste it, yet it is depicted as if existence vitally depends on it.

I often reflect on life and think that the one who lost gains more interest in winning and has learned that sour and bitter taste which wakes up feelings, no chemistry book can explain or describe.

Wisdom is Full

Something forgotten, something lost, something buried, seems to be the heart of the speaker in the marketplace of ideas. Because in most encounters, the speaker would deliver a cold discourse intended to prove and substantiate asserted claims. Leaving no place for rebuttal, the scene is set in its ways and scope. Therefore, either comply or lose.

Rhetoric and speech are constrained to a set of rules which do not apply to the audience. Yet, if you dare to stand up and speak, you are now liable and anything you say will be used against you. Because there seems to be a majority interested in how to mock the speaker and prove them wrong by forcing to the surface apparent contradictions within the speech.

However, a wise man and endued by knowledge, will show, out of a good conversation⁴, his character as a speaker, and the wisdom which embodies him. So, to comply with the rules of the debate is rather the norm, already foreseeing that under scrutiny are the speech and the speaker.

The fear is now replaced with power and strength of character. Because the fear of the Lord produces knowledge and wisdom. And wisdom that is from above, it first models the character and then the speech. So that out of the character, the speaker will utter and have a peaceable discourse.

Wisdom is Without

Let’s observe how beautifully the Word of God describes a wise man. Not just knowledgeable, but well-rounded, self-contained, a complete character. Fearing nothing but God. Not afraid of being proven wrong. Because even then, he is right. A true truth seeker, when corrected, rejoices. Not afraid to not know and admit it so. Not afraid to stay in his lane and speak out, without misplacing where ignorance is.

Important to note is what the Bible says about wisdom and discernment. Moreover, in James chapter 3, we find the moral absolutes of speech. Addressing his discourse to believers and the brethren, through the Holy Spirit, James exposed the expected standard of one who teaches God’s Word. In this context, we observe James’ call to reflection on wisdom. And if anyone possesses it, then it ought to be seen in both speech and character.

The marvellous thing is that James’ argument does not stop there but culminates in a contrast between earthly wisdom and wisdom that comes from above. And it seems that James is first concerned about the character of the one possessing earthly wisdom. Speaking more about the heart. Envy, strife and lying against the truth. Such wisdom, or heart and character, produces confusion and every evil work.⁵ Thus, it can be seen with the naked eye what kind of wisdom one possesses. Not only from what they say, but also from how they say the saying. And confirmed when responding to the rebuttal and opposition.

Therefore, wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy.⁶ This is not just describing wisdom’s attributes, but the character and the heart of the one having it. What is more, besides transforming the character, it also impacts and transpires in the speech and the audience. This is hugely important. To desire wisdom is something which the Bible clearly says to do and to ask for. And if one identifies having wisdom, do not be complacent; ask for more.

Wisdom is the End

Nonetheless, wisdom is not just knowledge and a skill to discern. Wisdom affects not only the cortical processes. But it goes beyond; it targets the heart. Unifying the mind with the heart, with character and with speech and discourse.

There is one particular statement in the gospel accounts about Jesus, describing more about his teaching style and doctrine than it seems on the surface of reading it. An observation which requires further reflection and time to understand it. First of all, it is noted that not long after Jesus started his ministry, he was teaching as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ⁷The audience was astonished at his doctrine, for his discourse was with power. This already produced not just respect, but recognition of authority from the teaching and the speech. The audience was impacted profoundly by what Jesus taught and how it was taught: with authority above the scribes. Those witnessing Jesus speaking were able to judge by the standard they already had as high to achieve. Yet Jesus went above it, therefore raising the threshold of what it meant to be wise. From that point on, Jesus maintained and surpassed all his opponents not by speech and doctrine alone, but by composure, rebuttal, and challenging his opponents on the very line of thinking they were using. And in as many situations as possible, humbly testifying he was not speaking from his own, but from the Father, who sent him.

The heart and character cannot be modelled by mere words. Without any power behind the speech, the words remain echoes in time. The Bible depicts God as speaking to generations and nations through people, such as the prophets, the apostles and Jesus. God created the Universe by uttering what was to be. The Gospel is proclaiming what was promised and prophesied; Jesus is the Christ in whom alone is salvation. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Though, naturally, you may expect a recipe for what to do to have more wisdom.

Wisdom is given from above, as Christ was given from the Father. Wisdom is not something, but the One who went to the cross, to the grave and came the third day to life. Wisdom is life beyond the Universe. Hence, Wisdom is attained by grace through faith.

To have more wisdom is to trust and rely on Christ more day by day.

1. Alexander the Great – Wikipedia ↩︎
2. The Septuagint – Wikipedia ↩︎
3. Harvard Health Publishing ↩︎
4. James 3:13 ↩︎
5. James 3:16 ↩︎
6. James 3:17 ↩︎
7. Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:22, Luke 4:32 ↩︎