CRAFTSMAN: A LIFE WELL-LIVED IN CHRIST (WISDOM SERIES PART 1)

AUGUST 12, 2020

By Pastor Steve Peich

“Joyful are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 3:13-15)

In the 20th century, Richard Buckminster Fuller was an American architect, systems theorist, and futurist; one of those super geniuses. One of the things he is known for was something called the “Knowledge Doubling Curve.” He noticed that until 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately every century. By the end of World War II, knowledge was doubling every 25 years. Today on average, human knowledge is doubling every 13 months! For me this is dreadful news because it means that by the next fall I will be twice as dumb as I am now. Not good.

Needless to say, in today’s age we are flooded with information. However, as biologist E.O. Wilson observed years ago: “We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.” Do you share in his observation as you look at our world or your own life?

By our Scriptures today, we see that wisdom has been a priority for the people of God for millennia. But what is it exactly, and why is it so highly valued in the Scriptures?

From my study of the Scriptures, I would define wisdom as: The skillful and godly application of God’s values, purposes, and truth in the many practical affairs of everyday life.

Let’s break this down a little. Why do I define it as being, in part, about skillfulness? Because it is in the basic meaning of the Hebrew word for Wisdom (חָכְמָה – Hakma). For example, in Exodus 35:10, after God has given all the directives about building the tabernacle, Moses said to the people: “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded…” The word ‘skill’ is the same Hebrew word for wisdom.

Part of my point here is that wisdom, in part, is a word that describes someone who excels at their craft; namely, a craftsman. And this is what I think the Bible and the Lord calls us up into when they make this big push for wisdom: to be a Craftsman at life with God. That is, the ability to be skillful at creating a life well lived in Christ. And as educator Kenneth Robinson has said: “Nothing is so influential as a life well lived.”

Have you ever looked at part of your calling as living life in this particular way? What is a well-crafted life in Christ for you? To be sure, we Christians are not called to be perpetual novices about life, about the way of the soul, about the way of bringing God’s peace and justice into our troubled world, etc. We all called to be Craftsman. 

How does such a notion affect you? Does it excite you, challenge you, or make you nervous? What would change in your life, your relationships, your impact on the world, as a result of being more skillful and wiser in living? In what particular area in your Christian life would you want to be more skillful and effective?

“Lord, may Your wisdom fill me, shape me, and come through me today in service to others. Show me not only where I need to grow in skillfulness in living, but show me how I need to get there. In Your Glorious Name I pray, Amen.”

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