Why do we need wisdom? Without it, we will struggle physically and spiritually throughout our lives. Though obtaining wisdom can be hard work, God makes it available to those who love Him and who are willing to learn and follow His ways.
Wisdom and discretion can protect us from many of life's trials and heartaches. "My son, let them not depart from your eyes—keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught" (Proverbs 3:21–26).
Obtaining wisdom is as labor-intensive as building a physical structure such as a house. "Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars" (Proverbs 9:1). The Hebrew word for hewn, chatsab, means to cut or carve wood, stone or other material. Those who have ever hewn stone or wood know it requires strenuous effort!
In Scripture, God has given us His blueprint for wisdom. There are many ways to build a house; tastes and materials may vary depending on one's circumstances, and floor plans may differ, but all structurally sound houses will share certain features or characteristics in common.
What might be the seven pillars that uphold a house of wisdom? The Apostle James lists seven aspects of godly wisdom: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17). Let us consider each of these pillars, and how we can erect them in our lives.
Pillar 1: Be Pure
How can we be pure? The first pillar of wisdom requires us to realize that we, in and of ourselves, cannot be pure and clean before God. "What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? If God puts no trust in His saints, and the heavens are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is abominable and filthy, who drinks iniquity like water!" (Job 15:14–16).
Are we sometimes proud of "being good"? What does Scripture say about the idea that we are "good" in and of ourselves? "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6). Without purity, we cannot build our house of wisdom. But how, then, can we become pure in God's eyes? The Apostle Paul gives us the answer: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin" (Romans 7:24–25).
Only Jesus Christ dwelling in us, through the power of God's Holy Spirit, can make us acceptable to the Father. It is not that we merely "acknowledge Christ's sacrifice" on our behalf; we must work with the gift He has given us—the Holy Spirit—to clean up our minds and put sin out of our lives. As our carnal human nature is replaced by righteous, godly character, God's very purity will begin to become apparent in our lives. "Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1–3).
As Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).
Pillar 2: Be Peaceable
Paul wrote to Timothy; "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1–4).
We cannot achieve true peace without Christ's righteousness. We lose peace when, in self-righteous pride, we insist on having our own way. "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously'? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble'" (James 4:1–6).
Where there is lust for power, position and pleasure, there is pride—and there is no peace. We cannot build our house of wisdom with pride and an argumentative spirit. We must love one another and approach those around us with humility. The Apostle Paul told Titus how to gain and maintain peace. "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men" (Titus 3:1–2).
We should allow God to fight the battles that the world forces upon us. If we find our carnal human nature being attracted to strife and dissent—if we are always eager to hear about other people's problems, and to put them down so we may feel better by comparison, we will not have peace. "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned" (vv. 9–11).
For some, peace will only come after traveling the hard road of correction. "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).
As Christ taught us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).
Pillar 3: Be Gentle
God loves those who have a meek, soft and gentle spirit. "Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:5–7).
We often think of women as more naturally gentle than men—an attribute that helps them as nurturers in the family. But Scripture shows us that God values gentleness in men, too—and that a gentle man is not a "wimp." A meek person is not timid or fearful. Meekness, more than anything else, is humility before God. This is the attribute of true gentleness. Moses, though a firm and strong leader, was gentle. "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3, KJV).
Christ Himself is shown to be gentle. "Come to Me, all you 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). Yes, Scripture shows us that the Son of God—the same Jesus who cast the moneychangers out of the temple, and who is described as having eyes like a flame of fire (Revelation 1:14)—is gentle. He is our example.
Patience is an often-overlooked attribute of gentleness. An impatient person is usually not gentle and humble in enduring trials. Notice what Paul wrote: "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:1–6). A house of wisdom is not complete without the pillar of gentleness.
Remember Christ's words: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).
Pillar 4: Be Willing to Yield
No house divided against itself can stand. Our house of wisdom will not survive if those within it cannot get along with each other. Paul explained the attitude wise Christians should have toward each other: "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.… submitting to one another in the fear of God" (Ephesians 5:17–21).
In today's society, many households are in turmoil because men and women did not grow up with a proper example of how a husband and wife should work together and yield to one another according to scriptural principles. How should they conduct themselves? "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything" (Ephesians 5:22–24).
Too many men misuse the above passage as a license to abuse their wives emotionally—or even physically. A Christian man must not do this; he has an obligation to create a loving home environment that will foster peace and cooperation, and build mutual respect among family members. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.… So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church" (vv. 25–29).
The example of a peaceful, happy home, where the members yield to one another and respect each other's roles and responsibilities, sets a pattern that should extend into the community. Christians should obey the laws of men so long as they do not contradict the laws of God. We must show respect (and pray for!) those who occupy offices of authority. "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" (1 Peter 2:13–17).
God places great value on our willingness to yield. But we are not to compromise with evil, or yield to sin. God promises to give us the grace and strength to obey His law and bring forth its fruits in our lives. The Apostle James explained, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:6–10). Maintaining a humble and submissive attitude is a requirement for salvation.
As Christ said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit [humble, lowly], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).
Pillar 5: Be Full of Mercy and Good Works
God shows amazing mercy and patience in dealing with His begotten children. "And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation" (Exodus 34:6–7).
No, God in His mercy does not encourage the unrepentant to continue in their sins! He intervenes in their lives, and their children's lives, desiring that they might come to repentance. Yet because He may wait patiently before passing final judgment against an evil work, impatient human beings may sometimes get the wrong idea. "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God" (Ecclesiastes 8:11–13). Eventually, those who practice sin will pay its penalty.
We must show love toward all people, whether or not they have repented of what we may consider to be their sins. We need to remember that it is up to God—not up to us—how and when He will deal with a sinner. "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
Notice what Christ taught that our attitude toward forgiveness should be. "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him" (Luke 17:3–4).
If someone comes to you seeking forgiveness, and you do not forgive, you are in danger of losing God's forgiveness. "So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:12–13). If we want mercy from God, we must be willing to extend it to those around us. And our good works will even include our doing good to those who consider themselves our enemies (Matthew 5:43–48).
Christ reminded us, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7).
Pillar 6: Be Without Partiality
Have you ever been tempted to spend time with your wealthier or more successful brethren, instead of with a needy widow or a poor family? Do you avoid the poor because you want to be around wealth—or do you avoid the wealthy because you are scornful or jealous of their success?
What is God's attitude toward partiality? "God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?… Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:1–4).
God calls it sin when we have the ability to do good, yet do not do it (James 4:17). God is impartial, judging all according to His law, whether we understand it or not. "Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:9–11).
Too often, people judge by appearances and show favoritism to those who outwardly seem successful. God, however, looks at the attitude and the heart. "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:1–4).
Our Creator can discern our motives, and He judges by His righteous standards. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" (1 Samuel 16:7).
As we seek to make God's righteousness—not self-interest— our guide in life, we should remember Christ's admonition, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
Pillar 7: Be Without Hypocrisy
The Apostle Paul noted, under God's inspiration, the danger of hypocrisy. He wrote: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:1–2). Paul warned that in our day ("latter times") some will teach doctrines of demons. These teachers will even lie knowingly, yet their seared consciences will not be affected. What does it mean that they will speak their lies "in hypocrisy"? It means they will say one thing, while doing or knowing something else. Those who profess to follow Christ must not deceive others about their thoughts and actions. The Apostle Peter exhorted: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:1–3).
Hypocrites' actions do not match up to their words. Christians know the right words—God has given them to us, in Scripture. But what should we do when our own lives do not fully measure up to the standards God has set for us? Does "avoiding hypocrisy" mean that if we know the Truth, but fail to practice it perfectly, we should not proclaim the full Truth? Should we "water down" the plain teachings of Scripture simply because of some area in our lives where we do not "measure up" to God's word?
Of course not! How many of us, as parents, have had to instruct our children to behave according to a standard we have not ourselves achieved? Because it is God's standard— not ours—we cannot compromise, but our honest and humble self-assessment should help us deal mercifully with those around us whom we also see failing to live up to the standard (Matthew 7:2).
When we truly practice the Way that Christ taught, people will see that, despite our imperfections, we are bearing much good fruit—striving to live purely, being peacemakers, gently yielding to those around us, showing mercy but not showing partiality, and conducting ourselves without hypocrisy.
If we do this, then no matter what trials, persecutions and obstacles we may encounter, we can take comfort in Christ's words, "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12).
Build on the Rock
To build a house, we must first select a site, even before we can pick up a shovel or hammer to start building. Similarly, before we build our spiritual house of wisdom, we must find a place to put it. Jesus Christ, the Master Builder, tells us how to select that place: "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall" (Matthew 7:26–27). Our house must be built on a strong foundation. Those who know the truth, but do not love and live it, will find their spiritual structure washed away when the torrential trials of life come along. By contrast, those who live by Christ's words will be building on a solid foundation. "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock " (Matthew 7:24–25).
In Jesus' parable, the house that did not fall was built on "the rock." So, too, must our spiritual house of wisdom be built. "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:1–4).
To build a "house" of wisdom that will stand forever, we must build our house on the solid foundation provided by Jesus Christ, and it must be built on the spiritual site where His true Church can be found today. God describes His Church itself as a "pillar." The Apostle Paul gave the young evangelist Timothy a telling description of the true Church: "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).
Many "sites" claim Christ as their foundation. But which should we choose? Note Jesus' words: "And I also say to you that you are Peter [petros, a piece of rock, like a pebble], and on this rock [petra, a massive rock] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18–19).
Jesus Christ said He would build His Church on the rock-solid foundation of Himself, not on the pebble of a human being! He also promised that when God's Church makes a decision—of course, He meant a decision made within God's law and His will—that decision would be bound in heaven. He said His Church would never die out, which means it must exist somewhere on earth today.
Do you know the location of that Church? Most of you reading this article surely do. God has granted you the wisdom to discern His Truth, and where that Truth is being preached with unique power. And to those who lack such discernment, God through the Apostle James has given this promise: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).
God's Building
Even as we are striving to build wisdom in our lives, God is working to build us, to prepare us for our glorious future as Spirit-born members of His family. "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:9–15).
Our spiritual house must be supported by the foundation of the Rock—Jesus Christ. On that foundation, we must build the seven pillars of wisdom, as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Our house of wisdom is supported by a central pillar—the pillar and ground of the truth—the Church of God.
Yet there is another work of construction in progress. As we grow, building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, supported by the pillar of His Church, we ourselves can become pillars. God is hewing and shaping Christians with a Philadelphian attitude to be mighty pillars in the Kingdom of God. "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:12–13).