Wisdom: the Equalizing Act

(This reading is based on Proverbs 9 and is read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.)

"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed." Prov. 9: 5

Many clubs are formed by people who share a common interest, and who, if not careful, are generally inclined to be elitist in their manner. If we're not careful this could easily be true of our Church in more ways than one. Honour societies on university campuses are also sometimes guilty of this kind of exclusivity to the point of fueling bitter rivalries between each other.

Something that both the Church and honour societies possibly have in common is that they are both deemed to be populated by individuals in whom it is believed is reposited some measure of wisdom. If the claim of this wisdom is to be considered a credible notion; one that stands up to the scrutiny of Scripture, it would need to be free from the taint of arrogance that could be detected among members. For surely, conceit and arrongance are not consistent with the spirit of true wisdom as articulated in this chapter.

"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed," is an open invitation to companionship and camaraderie. It bespeaks the presumed value of the invitee, who though possibly poor, simple and often disenfranchised is here empowered and made to feel the equal of a fellow human being who heretofore may have been considered superior. Wisdom is not by intent confined to a privileged few, but is open to all and serves as a equalizer of all mankind. Those who are true possessors of this wisdom must of necessity display the willingness of wisdom to share itself with the simple. Didn't Jesus say, "To whom much is given, much is required?" It is the burden of wisdom that it propagates itself through those it graces.

Lord, we would learn wisdom today, and then it'd be our privilege and pleasure to share it with others. Grant us this special wish we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

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