Wise Up

Are we too busy living our lives to become wise?

The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; only the one who has little business can become wise. How can one become wise who handles the plow, and who glories in the shaft of a goad, who drives oxen and is occupied with their work, and whose talk is about bulls? He sets his heart on plowing furrows, and he is careful about fodder for the heifers. So too is every artisan and master artisan who labors by night as well as by day; those who cut the signets of seals, each is diligent in making a great variety; they set their heart on painting a lifelike image, and they are careful to finish their work. So too is the smith, sitting by the anvil, intent on his iron-work; the breath of the fire melts his flesh, and he struggles with the heat of the furnace; the sound of the hammer deafens his ears, and his eyes are on the pattern of the object. He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork, and he is careful to complete its decoration. So too is the potter sitting at his work and turning the wheel with his feet; he is always deeply concerned over his products, and he produces them in quantity. He molds the clay with his arm and makes it pliable with his feet; he sets his heart to finish the glazing, and he takes care in firing the kiln. All these rely on their hands, and all are skillful in their own work. Without them no city can be inhabited, and wherever they live, they will not go hungry. Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people, nor do they attain eminence in the public assembly. They do not sit in the judge's seat, nor do they understand the decisions of the courts; they cannot expound discipline or judgment, and they are not found among the rulers. But they maintain the fabric of the world, and their concern is for the exercise of their trade. How different the one who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High! - Ecclus. 38:24-34

I am reminded of the letter from James that says it is our actions that show the world our faith and not our words.

Those in positions of power and judgment in our society, like the Pharisees in Jesus' day, make a living out of holding power over others.

We hold these people in high regard because they have time to study the law and become wise, while we have to work with our hands and heads.

But doesn't true wisdom come from doing our work with God in our hearts and minds?

It is true that we cannot exist without the trades mentioned, even today. And yet we don't hold these positions in high esteem. 

Maybe this is changing, now that we see so many who attend colleges graduating with degrees and no wisdom at all.

We are creating a generation that values pretend work, broadcasting to one another that they have attained popularity for accomplishing nothing.

So, in our attempt to make the world wise, we dumbed it down.

When will we wise up?

More to come...