The writings of wise men does not just mean those of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet
Often, people today seeking for writings and advice of wisdom tend to look toward those who lived within the past 50 years or so. They look for wise men in that range, perhaps feeling that anything prior to that might be "out of touch". But let's take a look at our future: in another 100 years, will people still think of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet as intellectual giants? Will their names and their fame stand the test of time? Even if you think it's still possible they might still be heard of in another 100 years, how about in 500 years? 1000 years from now? How about 2000 or more? I doubt that any of these men, or for that matter any one of their contemporaries will even have been heard of 2000 years or more from today.
Yet I can think of at least two who are truly visionary, truly wise, and their sayings and advice have proved to stand the test of time well beyond 2000 years. The first is Jesus, and the second is Solomon. There are others who are wise of course, but those two stand out head and shoulders above the rest. Jesus because he was the son of God. If you doubt historical records of his existence and his doings, you may like to read The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel; this was an initially unbelieving journalist's personal investigation of the evidence for Jesus. The doings of Jesus are better attested to than of many famous Greek personages whose doings no-one doubts!
Even if you wish to set aside Jesus for a moment because he is God in human form, and not 100% human (which by the way should instead lend him more credence by us, not less), then let's take a look at Solomon.
King Solomon was known far and wide for his wisdom. He lived long before the birth of Jesus. He was not only a king, but also a judge, and he took only the most difficult cases that other judges could not solve. In a way, his job was similar to that of a Supreme Court justice.
Before all this, when Solomon was beginning to rule, God asked him what he wanted and that it would be given to him. Solomon did not ask for riches, fame, or adulation. He asked for wisdom:
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
1 Kings 3: 5-9
Solomon specifically asked for the wisdom to be that of discernment, for being able to distinguish between good and evil, and for guidance in making good decisions for governing the people. This is the type of wisdom he had asked for.
God was pleased that Solomon had asked for something that was in line with what God desired for Solomon and his people. God granted him wisdom, and many other things besides:
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
1 Kings 3: 10-14
Wow! Imagine that - a man who was so wise that there were none like him that had been before and none which shall arise after. In other words, not even Bill Gates, Steve Job, or Warren Buffet were as wise as Solomon.
In that case, wouldn't it be great to read the writings of Solomon? Wouldn't the writings of Solomon actually be a better thing to read than the lesser wise men of today?
Fortunately, we can do that. The book of Proverbs contained Solomon's writings. There is also the books Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes too that contain his words. I personally find the book of Proverbs the most straightforward to read, but all 3 are from Solomon. It's wonderful to know that the words of the wisest man of all time have been recorded and have lived on in documents for a very long time.
Next time you are looking to Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or Warren Buffet for words of wisdom, you might also wish to look at King Solomon; his words have clearly stood the test of time beyond what any of today's wise men are likely to achieve.
If you found this post interesting, you may also like these related posts on this blog:
Yet I can think of at least two who are truly visionary, truly wise, and their sayings and advice have proved to stand the test of time well beyond 2000 years. The first is Jesus, and the second is Solomon. There are others who are wise of course, but those two stand out head and shoulders above the rest. Jesus because he was the son of God. If you doubt historical records of his existence and his doings, you may like to read The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel; this was an initially unbelieving journalist's personal investigation of the evidence for Jesus. The doings of Jesus are better attested to than of many famous Greek personages whose doings no-one doubts!
Even if you wish to set aside Jesus for a moment because he is God in human form, and not 100% human (which by the way should instead lend him more credence by us, not less), then let's take a look at Solomon.
King Solomon was known far and wide for his wisdom. He lived long before the birth of Jesus. He was not only a king, but also a judge, and he took only the most difficult cases that other judges could not solve. In a way, his job was similar to that of a Supreme Court justice.
Before all this, when Solomon was beginning to rule, God asked him what he wanted and that it would be given to him. Solomon did not ask for riches, fame, or adulation. He asked for wisdom:
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
1 Kings 3: 5-9
Solomon specifically asked for the wisdom to be that of discernment, for being able to distinguish between good and evil, and for guidance in making good decisions for governing the people. This is the type of wisdom he had asked for.
God was pleased that Solomon had asked for something that was in line with what God desired for Solomon and his people. God granted him wisdom, and many other things besides:
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
1 Kings 3: 10-14
Wow! Imagine that - a man who was so wise that there were none like him that had been before and none which shall arise after. In other words, not even Bill Gates, Steve Job, or Warren Buffet were as wise as Solomon.
In that case, wouldn't it be great to read the writings of Solomon? Wouldn't the writings of Solomon actually be a better thing to read than the lesser wise men of today?
Fortunately, we can do that. The book of Proverbs contained Solomon's writings. There is also the books Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes too that contain his words. I personally find the book of Proverbs the most straightforward to read, but all 3 are from Solomon. It's wonderful to know that the words of the wisest man of all time have been recorded and have lived on in documents for a very long time.
Next time you are looking to Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or Warren Buffet for words of wisdom, you might also wish to look at King Solomon; his words have clearly stood the test of time beyond what any of today's wise men are likely to achieve.
If you found this post interesting, you may also like these related posts on this blog:
- The Old Testament is not "out of touch" - it is still relevant to us today
- The danger of thinking we are not in the days mentioned by the Bible
- Thinking long-term: this means going beyond our deaths
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