At the end of Session 2, I asked you where you might be chasing after vapour. Perhaps you saw how temporary so many of the things we chase after can be. Today we move from longing to fulfilment — seeing Christ Himself as God’s wisdom.
Let me ask you a question.
Have you ever noticed how what the world calls “wise” often looks very different from what God calls “wise”?
Think about it. The world says:
• Look out for number one.
• Project strength.
• Never admit weakness.
But God’s wisdom? It turns all of that upside down.
In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says something astonishing: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
To the world, the idea of God’s Son dying on a cross looked ridiculous — weak, shameful, foolish. And yet Paul goes on to say, “Christ Jesus… has become for us wisdom from God — our righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).
In other words, if you want to see true wisdom, don’t just read a proverb or a clever saying. Look at the cross. Look at Jesus. That is God’s wisdom on display — self-giving love, humility, sacrifice that brings life.
But what does that wisdom look like in everyday life? James, the brother of Jesus, gives us a beautiful picture. He writes in his NT book: “The wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).
That’s so different from the so-called wisdom of the world — which often produces envy, pride, and selfish ambition. James says you can tell true wisdom not by how clever someone sounds, but by the character it produces.
Connecting Back to Our Journey
• In Proverbs, Solomon showed us the gift of wisdom — but also its limits when we try to live it out on our own.
• In Ecclesiastes, Solomon showed us the despair of a life lived “under the sun,” like vapour, fleeting and ungraspable.
• And now Paul and James point us to the answer: wisdom isn’t just a principle. It’s a Person. Jesus Himself.
In my book Dancing With Wisdom, I wrote that wisdom is about living in rhythm with God — letting head, heart, and hands come together in harmony. And when Christ is at the centre, there is a dance that becomes possible.
So let me ask: whose wisdom are you living by right now? The world’s version — climbing ladders, grasping for control, proving yourself? Or God’s wisdom — humble, peace-loving, full of mercy?
What step could you take this week to show “wisdom from above” in a relationship or decision you’re facing?
As we close let us consider: Solomon pointed us to wisdom. Ecclesiastes showed us our need for something more. And in Jesus, we discover wisdom Himself. The question is not just “How do I live wisely?” but “Am I willing to let Christ live His wisdom through me?” Because the invitation is open: to live not by the world’s wisdom, but by God’s wisdom from above — the wisdom that leads to life.
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways do you see the world’s wisdom shaping your decisions — and how does God’s wisdom contrast?
2. Which of James’s qualities of wisdom (pure, peace-loving, considerate, full of mercy, sincere…) challenges you the most?
3. How can you invite Christ to live His wisdom through you in a specific relationship or decision this week?
