8 May | EVERYONE
"And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28
According to Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, wisdom is the supreme knowledge that can only be longed for but never attained. It is a kind of utopia that no human being achieves. Plato, on the other hand, said that wisdom is an innate virtue, a kind of unacquired gift and a privilege granted to a few mortals. For Aristotle, it is the capital science, the precious pearl after which everyone runs. The one who finds it will be fulfilled, pleased, happy, and will make those around them happy.
Centuries before all of them, God explained to human beings that wisdom is summed up in "the fear of the Lord" and "turning away from evil." He probably told this to Adam after his futile search for wisdom in paths of disobedience and rebellion. When he and Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was pleasing to the eyes and that it was desirable to acquire wisdom, they took it and ate it. They forgot that true wisdom follows divine counsel and steers you away from evil (Genesis 3:6).
Human madness! Our first parents longed for wisdom and became foolish, wicked, and miserable by going their own ways. Then the Lord stood before them and told them that true wisdom follows the opposite course.
Acquiring wisdom requires putting aside our most elementary appetites. To attain it, let us surrender our will at Jesus’ feet.
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Are you willing to grow in wisdom at any cost? If you do, you will find that it is worth it. You will be happier afterwards!