Spitting Into the Wind

I think that the path of wisdom is the path of the heart.. a path that cannot be figured out with the head. One of the wisest men in history put it this way:

"I said to myself, "I know more and I'm wiser than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I've stockpiled wisdom and knowledge." What I've finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless--nothing but spitting into the wind. Much learning earns you much trouble. The more you know, the more you hurt." (Ecc 1:16-18 MSG)

Living out of the wisdom of my heart has been a difficult path for me.. jettisoning my head "wisdom" is just not natural for me because I have lived the majority of life from my head. Here is the way the Apostle James put it:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:13-17)

In this passage we once again see the struggle of our inner and outer being. There is a fleshly wisdom that often masquerades itself in ‘intellectual’ sayings and ‘thoughtful’ deeds.. at its core it is bitter, self-serving and controlling. The wisdom of the heart.. of the beautiful inner man.. is transcendent in nature.. it is from above. This heart's wisdom loves peace, is considerate, it is submissive, merciful, impartial and sincere. Isn’t it interesting that this kind of wisdom isn’t described in terms of education or knowledge. How much of my life has been a quest for earthly wisdom.. seeking the approval of man.. chasing after intellectual credentials.. studying the scripture to puff myself up.. desiring to be somebody.. no understanding that self is the focus of this kind of wisdom. Here is the way the Apostle Paul put it:

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Cor 1:20)

Fleshly wisdom is foolish ... we must learn to walk in the wisdom of our innermost being... to pay attention to that gut instinct even when it doesn't make sense to our head. When we walk in our own natural wisdom we are like fools with spit on our face.