The Pursuit of Wisdom

In a world that prizes knowledge, education, and expertise, wisdom is often equated with the accumulation of facts or the ability to make shrewd decisions. In this view, wisdom is a perspective. That is certainly part of wisdom— but not the whole. The book of Ecclesiastes—and ultimately the entire counsel of scripture—teaches us that wisdom isn’t just about intellectual mastery or a list of best practices. True wisdom is not merely a perspective. Wisdom is a person, and his name is Jesus Christ.

 Throughout Ecclesiastes, we see the preacher (the author of this book) wrestling with life’s biggest questions:  

• What is the purpose of life?
• Where can joy be found?
• How should we handle wealth?  

He examines various paths—pleasure, achievement, and status—only to conclude that all are ultimately “vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). His reflections lead him to a sobering realization: the wisdom that endures is found in fearing God and keeping his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). But this isn’t just about obedience; it’s about a relationship.  THE SHEPHERD OF WISDOM Ecclesiastes 12:11 tells us, “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.” In the Old Testament, God is pictured as a Shepherd (as in Psalm 23). But the identity of this Shepherd is fully revealed in the New Testament. Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), is the ultimate source of wisdom. He is not just a dispenser of wise sayings; He is Wisdom itself, the One who orders and sustains all things (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus does not simply teach wisdom—He embodies it. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Wisdom is not merely about moral principles or effective deci­sion-making. It’s about knowing and following Christ—the very wisdom of God.

Ecclesiastes exposes the limitations of human wisdom. The Preacher, likely Solomon, was the wisest man of his time, yet even he struggled to make sense of life’s paradoxes. He pursued knowledge and understanding, yet they were insufficient to provide ultimate meaning (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

Many of us live under the illusion that if we could just gain enough knowledge—through books, experiences, or mentors—we would finally “arrive” at wisdom. But knowledge alone cannot answer the deeper cries of our souls. Even the wisest man in the world cannot escape death (Ecclesiastes 2:16). Even the most knowledgeable person still experi­ences suffering and uncertainty.

True wisdom, then, cannot be found merely in education or personal achievement. It must be received from outside of ourselves. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This means trusting in Christ, who alone can lead us in true wisdom. JESUS: THE EMBODIMENT OF WISDOM

When Jesus walked the earth, He did not fit the mold of a typical philos­opher or sage. He did not establish a school of thought or write scholarly treatises. Instead, He called people to follow Him. His invitation was not merely to adopt a set of teachings but to enter into a relationship with Him.

He declared, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). Notice that Jesus does not say, “Come learn my principles” or “Come master these doctrines.” He says, “Come to me.”

To know wisdom is to know Jesus. He is the One who reveals the Father (John 14:9), the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). If we want to be wise, we must do more than study theology or gain life experi­ence—we must know Christ personally.

The world offers a counterfeit wisdom—one that is rooted in self-reliance, pragma­tism, and personal achievement. This kind of wisdom exalts human intellect and mini­mizes dependence on God. However, James 3:17 draws a stark contrast between worldly wisdom and the wisdom from above: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Worldly wisdom seeks control, but godly wisdom submits to Christ. Worldly wisdom is prideful, but godly wisdom is humble. Worldly wisdom tells us to seek fulfill­ment in the things of this world, but godly wisdom invites us to follow Jesus, the only one who can truly satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.

WALKING IN WISDOM: ABIDING IN CHRIST If wisdom is a person, then the way to grow in wisdom is to walk closely with Jesus. This is not a one-time decision but a lifelong journey of abiding in Him. Jesus taught, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4).

Here are some ways we can grow in wisdom:  

• Spend time in God’s Word—Not just for in­formation, but for transformation. Scripture is where we encounter Christ and hear His voice.
• Pray and seek His guidance—True wisdom comes from asking God for understanding (James 1:5).
• Live in obedience—Wisdom is not just knowing what is right but doing what is right.
• Surround ourselves with wise counsel—Proverbs 13:20 says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.” A Christ-centered community helps us grow in godly wisdom.
• Trust Him in uncertainty—We will never have all the answers, but wisdom teaches us to trust the One who does.
• Apply wisdom to finances and work—Ecclesiastes warns against seeking fulfillment in wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:10). True wisdom teaches us that money is a tool; a gift; a means to godly good deeds, but not a source of ultimate meaning. Honoring God in work and finances is an essential part of wise living.
• Develop a heart of gratitude—The Preacher in Ecclesiastes reminds us to enjoy the simple gifts God gives (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13). A wise life is one marked by thankfulness, not endless striving.

 

THE INVITATION TO KNOW WISDOM At the end of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher concludes that humanity’s duty is to “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). But for those of us living after Christ’s resurrection, we see the fuller pic­ture: To fear God is to follow Jesus. As Peter declared, He is the only One with the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68); as Paul proclaimed, He is “Christ the power of God and the wis­dom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).

If you are searching for wisdom, the answer is not simply to study more, plan better, or seek deeper insights. The answer is Jesus. He is Wisdom Incarnate, the One who leads us into all truth.

So the question is not, “How much wisdom do you have?” but rather, “Do you know Wisdom Himself?”

Come to Jesus. Walk with Him. Learn from Him. For in Him, and Him alone, is the wisdom that leads to life.

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