7 pillars of Wisdom

 Read Proverbs 9.

Wisdom is pictured as having prepared a feast and sent out messengers inviting anyone to come.  The question of life is who will respond to wisdom and who will choose to behave foolishly?

It is interesting that wisdom is said to be built on a platform of seven pillars.  But we are not told what they are.  Though many have made various suggestions to explain the symbolism, the reality seems to be that wisdom has a large, spacious place with plenty of room for all who wish to respond.

I am indebted to Dr. Henry Morris and his masterful synthesis of Scripture as he connected the seven pillars to James 3:17.  "But the wisdom from above is...
1. First pure
Without a commitment to maintaining a life of piety and holiness, wisdom can go no further.  Without purity, a person’s thinking will be tainted.  We are to be holy, because the One we worship is holy.

2. Peaceable
A wise person seeks peace, even in times of confrontation.  There is a settledness and contentment in the demeanor of one who is wise.

3. Gentle
Who does not feel safe in the presence of a person who is mild-mannered?  Gentleness puts the feelings of others ahead of our own.  A soft voice is most often more effective and heard above the yells of others.

4. Open to reason.
A sure sign of a wise person is how they respond when presented with a decision.  Do they foolishly try to intimidate or are they easily approachable?  Do their decisions make sense to all?

5. Full of mercy and good fruits
One who is wise is known by their many acts of kindness to others.

6. Impartial
The wise are characterized by fair and equitable decisions.  There is no prejudice or favor to one side.

7. Sincere
What you see is what you get.  There are no hidden agendas, no hypocrisy or double messages.