Where to look for Wisdom (Job 29)

I looked for something cool for the 4th of July--Independence Day, after all!

The chapters were on wisdom--so I looked up for what insightful comments our founding fathers had about wisdom.

Definition first, place: knowledge; insight; good sense.

I have debated at times whether I have the spiritual gift of "wisdom" in addition to "knowledge." I've decided I have the gift of "knowledge" with a heavy dose of "teaching" and "encouragement." (For those of you unacquainted with spiritual gifts, feel free to ignore.)

Here are a few quotes and wise men and wisdom from our founding fathers:

How about this pithy proverb, which we all know? "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." Thank Benjamin Franklin for that bit of wisdom.

Okay, good sleeping habits can bring health and wealth and wisdom.

Thomas Jefferson attributed wisdom to a different reason: "Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom." Honesty, another good character trait.

John Adams promoted education: "Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially for the lower classes of people, are so extremely wise and useful that to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant."

The one who came the closest to what Job might have said is Abraham Lincoln: "It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: 'And this, too, shall pass away.'"

That was Job's hope--this too would end, even if only after death.

But Job had a better answer than any of our founding fathers, as wise as those men were.

[God] focused on Wisdom,
made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
Then he addressed the human race: 'Here it is!
Fear-of-the-Lord--that's Wisdom,
and Insight means shunning evil. (Job 28:27-28)

Wisdom is a gift from God, tested and ready for our use.
It comes from fearing the Lord--and leads to shunning evil.

That kind of wisdom may lead to healthy habits, honesty, perspective.

But it starts with God.