The Power of Wisdom
There is such power in paying the price to become a wise person, precisely because Wisdom is Worth It!
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Socrates said, “The only true wisdom is to know you know nothing.” Deep! But is the great philosopher right? In a sense, yes, because to know you know nothing means you must be in relationships to know anything.
One of the most powerful draws in my journey to Orthodox Christianity was this palpable connection to real people through the centuries and the heavy and obvious connection to those who would follow me after I left this life. In other words, I was a debtor to those who lived before me and a teacher to those who would follow!
This powerful realization opens up a place in a person’s soul that creates humility and responsibility. These character-building virtues shape me into someone who can become “like Christ” IF I value wisdom over my feelings and desires!
Look at our lesson today in Proverbs 14:27-15:4:
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death. In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot. He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him. The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing, but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity. Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding, but it is not known in the heart of fools. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Wise instruction after wise instruction in the wonderful Book of Proverbs. I always recommend the regular reading of Proverbs to parents, especially fathers, precisely because reading Proverbs and absorbing its wisdom corrects two great weaknesses in the hearts of humans.
First, reading Proverbs invites me to confront the weakness of my perspective. None of us ever really assume we are wrong right off the bat. It’s natural for us humans to assume that what we think we know is correct. Nothing wrong with that as long as it’s accurate. But all too often, it isn’t. And it isn’t that we are completely wrong. Most of life is simply not that black and white. The weakness is making final decisions about any subject before we have all the facts. Which always leads to a warped perspective. This never ends well for us. When I confront the tunnel vision of my perspective and the need to expand my perspective, I am invited to true humility and true wisdom.
Next, reading Proverbs invites me to confront the weakness of my pride. It is a true spiritual poverty in humans when we speak as if we need nothing and no one else. No wonder the consistent wisdom of the Fathers of the Faith offers us silence as the path to wisdom. In patience, silence, and humility, I open my heart up to a flood of wise living and insight from those who came before me. And it offers those who follow me a wonderful lesson to protect their lives from the folly of a foolish life.
St. Michael, the New Martyr of Smyrna, was a young man in Smyrna in 1772 AD. He was a coppersmith in the city and was born to Christian parents. When Michael was 18, he was tricked into declaring himself a Muslim by a coffee house owner and then became an employee of the man. One Pascha Sunday, he heard some young Christian men singing the Resurrection Hymn “Christ is Risen,” and he was moved greatly by the sound. Michael went and joined in with them and sang the hymn as well. The next day, on Bright Monday, Michael went to see the local Muslim leader and asked him, “If someone is fooled into giving gold in exchange for lead, is it lawful for him to return the lead and get back the gold in as much as the exchange was not just and in the open but due to ignorance and trickery?” The leader replied, “Yes.” Michael then said to him, “So, take back the lead which you gave me that is your religion, and I will take back my gold which I gave you that is the faith of my parents. The leader was so impressed he tried to promise this young man much if he would remain a Muslim, but Michael refused. Finally, after many attempts to get Michael to remain a Muslim, he was sentenced to death for returning to Christianity.
If I am ever going to broaden my soul enough to be a fit habitation for the Holy Spirit, I will have to confront my narrow mind. The wisdom of the Orthodox Christian faith and her sublime theology of Christ risen from the dead means I am never disconnected or alone. I have an unbelievable wealth of wisdom pooled within her Life to draw from all my life, and I am responsible for passing on this wisdom in word, deed, and example to the next generation.
Today, are you wise? The first step in being wise is realizing you are not and having the courage to embrace the treasure of wisdom laid at your feet in the Orthodox Faith. It’s all about living a Normal Orthodox Life!
P.S. Your Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for You received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from You, our immortal God. For since he possessed Your strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since You are merciful.