Where can wisdom be found? Job 28

In the proverbs of King Solomon, we are admonished to acquire wisdom and to gain understanding. Man has sought to find wisdom since the dawn of time. Many have come claiming to be wise, others have purported to know the way of wisdom, but few there are who have found true wisdom. Job asks, "But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" (Job 28:12)

Job recounted how that men in his day had traveled to the ends of the known earth and returned without finding the source of wisdom. In his day, men even explored the depths of the earth, tunneling deep beneath its surface, and they returned with great treasures, yet without finding the source of wisdom. Even in our day, man has traveled the length and breadth of the earth. We have even explored the depths of the seas and the expanses beyond our own atmosphere, yet in all those places, we have not found the place of wisdom.

We can search far and wide, but wisdom is not found in a place, yet it is very near to all of us. Nor is wisdom some commodity that may be bought or sold. Even a man with great wealth can not purchase wisdom, yet it is available to even the poorest among us. Wisdom is not always found among the aged (as Job's friends proved) yet even the youth can find and understand wisdom. So where is the place where wisdom may be found, and where may understanding be gained? Job tells us, "God understands its way, and He knows its place." (Job 28:23)

Wisdom is not found in a place, nor is it bought and sold in the market. Wisdom is found in a person, in the Lord. If we want wisdom, we must come to the one who embodies all that is wise; we must come to the Lord. We must grow in relationship with Him; to learn and understand His ways. Then we will begin to understand wisdom. Then understanding will begin to be ours. All our efforts to obtain wisdom apart from the Lord will end in futility. Paul tells us of the wisdom of man,

"For it is written, 'I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." (1 Corinthians 1:19-21)

We have two choices, the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of God. James tells us that the wisdom of this world is "earthly, natural, demonic." (James 3:15) Yet the wisdom from above is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." (James 3:17) And the most amazing thing about the wisdom of God is that it is available and accessible by all. We just need to know where to go and whom to ask, "if any of you lacks wisdom , let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

Let us lay aside the wisdom of this world. Let us cease searching for wisdom on our own, in our own way. And let us come to God, who gives liberally, that we may become wise indeed.

David Robison