As a schoolboy, I loved our morning school assembly because there was always a hymn to be sung and I loved singing, but as I sat and looked up, the words printed in elegant old fashioned script just above the stage, held my attention, “The Fear of the Lord,” it said, “Is the beginning of Wisdom!”
I was too young to understand the full meaning of those words, but even so, they were always imprinted on my mind, and today, as I see the seeking of knowledge being of paramount interest in the lives of most of us, I realise those words have more meaning now than ever.
Knowledge, when applied in needy situations correctly, is an act of wisdom. But knowledge which has no God in it, is no wisdom at all. Plain and simple.
True wisdom can only sprout from a fear or respect of God. And the only way we can align the application of any knowledge towards accomplishing a just act is by knowing how the Divine wants us to act. In other words, our man-made wisdom, which springs out of the chessboard or Chanakya cleverness is not wisdom at all, but just moves of manipulation.
True wisdom comes from a spiritual encounter with God, and comes from God’s heart. When King Solomon was asked by God what he wanted, he replied, ‘I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in, therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”
And God replied, “ “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.”
Which means his wisdom came not from himself but from being linked to God. I believe we are all like laptops and computers that can produce as much results, from data we put in, till we link ourselves to the internet and suddenly, our knowledge is a billion times greater. God is the one we need to be linked to for true wisdom to flow through us, and for this we need to be like what Solomon said of himself, “I am a little child!”
Those words were said in the awesome presence of God. Words said with a submissive heart, words said with an absolute fear of the Almighty! From that moment of awesomeness, of humility, of fear, and our admission that we are but little children, comes the Divine connection, that makes us wise beyond our years!
It was a schoolboy who saw those words, but it is an adult who has to become a schoolboy again, to get the full benefit of them..!
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