Wisdom: Christ and Him Crucified

Christ- Messenger (angel) of Holy Wisdom Icon

Have you ever read the Proverbs? What are they for? Are they just home-spun advice or clever sayings, or are they something more?

Proverbs 1:2-6 gives good introduction to what the Proverbs are meant for:

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness,

justice,

and equity;

to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth--

Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

These are all desirable things. The Apostle Paul himself gives sage advice to the young pastor Timothy:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,

for reproof,

for correction,

and for training in righteousness,

that the man of God may be competent,

equipped for every good work.

It is 31 days until I am Ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry. There are 31 Proverbs. I want to know wisdom and instruction and be equipped for every good work. So, as part of my devotions and as means to "count down" the days until Ordination, I will be reading a Proverb a day.

If I have some thought about a Proverb, I may post a devotion from time to time on it.

For Proverb 1 the main idea that I get is that wisdom does not come to those who think they have already obtained it. As Pr. Goltz said in his sermon at Good Shepherd on Sunday, a glass full of water can't hold anymore. To obtain and receive true Wisdom, one must be willing to be a fool so-to-speak.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. I Corinthians 1:21-25

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Lord Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God, come to us in our foolishness and fill us with your wisdom, that we may know Your divine wisdom and instruction. Prepare us, unworthy vessels that we are, to be filled with the true and life-giving Wisdom of Your cross. Prepare especially all men who are preparing to serve You in Your Holy Church with Your Living Word and the blessed Sacraments, that they may not seek their own wisdom, but that they may preach Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Amen.

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