The foremost book of wisdom through all of time, the book of Proverbs, begins the ascent to higher thinking and learning by stating the pillars of wisdom: righteousness, justice, and equity. It can be seen that the basis of this true wisdom is different than most renditions of wisdom in this world. And it can be seen this is because it is from God Himself, and not mere man conjuring up in his own mind what he thinks is true wisdom.
For any subject of study, there is competing thought. This is a natural and expected condition, and especially so for a subject of thought that influences one’s life habits, has implications for eternity, and changes the way in which one views all of life. Is there anything more impactful of human life than a belief system?
Wisdom is the pinnacle of learning, the highest point of achievement in thinking. It is driven by knowledge, and proven by action, and expressed in words. Because wisdom is the pinnacle, it stands to reason that it is exclusive, and following the law of non-contradiction, wisdom is one. It is not two, nor three. Wisdom, by its very nature, demands that there be nothing else that precludes it, nor precedes it, nor refutes it. There is only one wisdom, and it is from the premier source.
And who is that?
God Himself. Again, applying the law of non-contradiction, the concept of God is that of which there could be no greater. And thus, what comes forth from Him is that of which there could be nothing greater. Hence, there is one true wisdom.
First, all true wisdom is based in righteousness. Righteousness is based in the character of God, for it is blatantly clear that all humanity is flawed and equally clear that God is all that is right and flawless. The logical consequence of this truth is that if wisdom is righteousness, and God is righteousness, than true wisdom is all that is God Himself. It has no other source.
Second, wisdom is justice. Justice is fairness as applied to law. In other words, if there exists a law and conditions are interpreted by that law and found to abide by it, there is justice. Justice is the ultimate conclusion of what is right. Wisdom is based in justice, and justice in wisdom, and in many ways, they are synonymous. Since all people everywhere consider justice an ideal achievement, a worthy goal, it follows that all people naturally seek the effects of true wisdom. And where is that definition of justice found? In the character of God Himself, and His revealed word.
Finally, wisdom is based in the concept of equity. Equity is a close cousin of justice, but is defined by the aspect of fairness and equality. The icon of measuring scales comes quickly to mind. In any interaction of human affairs, if equity is attained, wisdom has been applied. The application of wisdom makes that which is unfair fair, and gives to all an equal share of what is rightfully their’s, both good and bad. Hence, wisdom is a blessing to any society, and it creates structure and solidity that cannot be achieved without it.
Based on three pillars of wisdom, the concepts of righteousness, justice, and equity sustain the foundation. These three conceptual pillars are derived from God Himself, and are a description of who He is. We should seek those qualities which are true wisdom, for in doing so, we are being wise. 🙂
Leave a Reply