A Word from Joel - August 21, 2024

“It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind.’”
1 Kings 3:10-12

After David dies, God comes to Solomon in a dream telling him to ask for whatever he
wants. Solomon asks for wisdom. I wonder how much of religion and society’s
dysfunction comes from pursuing the relatively low value of getting the right answer
verses the high value but difficult to attain goal of becoming wise. How much of our
schooling has been oriented toward test scores verses the far more valuable goals of
creative thinking and cultivating a deep love of learning? This is the difference between
knowledge and wisdom. In the internet age, knowledge is less valuable than ever, but
wisdom is as valuable as it’s ever been. Proverbs 8:11 says, “Wisdom is better than
jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” Wisdom is better than
winning the Mega Millions. I wonder how many of us believe that?

There is much wisdom we can glean from David’s life, but I believe he is most wise in
his willingness to admit his own faults. It takes him a while. He first takes another man’s
wife, perhaps by force, impregnates her and then kills her husband and tries to cover
his tracks. Yet when rebuked by the prophet Nathan, David repents. Admitting our
wrongs doesn’t amend what we’ve done, but it’s an important step in restoring one’s
humanity. Sin, in all its forms, isn’t wrong because it breaks some list of arbitrary rules
God has in heaven. It’s wrong because it’s dehumanizing to us and others, and
repentance is a step back to our full humanity.

That’s why we start worship services with confession and forgiveness. It’s not meant as
an act of self-hate and flagellation. It’s not meant to put us in our place. It’s simply the
honest recognition that we all fall short of our best selves, both individually and
collectively. Instead of pretending we’re something we’re not, we make it a practice of
humbly owning our stuff, even if in a given week you aren’t personally guilty of
everything we confess. That’s OK because as a species, we are. Wisdom comes from
owning our faults, making restoration where we can, and then resting in the grace of
God. Wise people don’t hustle for their own worthiness. They know they are beloved.
They are secure in God grace, trusting that God’s love never fails, even when we do.
There is nothing wiser than resting in the grace of God.