While with the police department I worked on a DUI squad. During a multi-agency task force my team coordinated with several other police departments to provide added enforcement to a particular part of the city. The various agencies co-located their resources to form a temporary command post where dozens of police officers processed those that had been arrested. Each agency had tables set up outside of their respective command vehicles where the initial portion of the processing would take place.
One particular night was very busy with every seat taken at our two large folding tables. Most were quiet or respectfully answering questions to get through the experience as quickly as possible. However, there was one obnoxious young man indiscriminately yelling accusations, pointing at people, petulantly stomping his feet and mocking passersby. His disruptive behavior drew the attention of everyone walking in and out of the area.
One of our civilian volunteers was an older man whose orderly attire matched his attitude. He was a diligent worker that always projected a calm confidence while saying very little. I happened to be watching when he coolly walked behind the young man, leaned over, whispered a few words and continued about his business. In an instant the youngster collected himself, hung his head and became silent. Neither before nor since have I seen anything like it.
I waited until the next day to ask our volunteer what he said. Modestly, he told me that during the man’s rant he picked up on a comment about his father. The volunteer simply asked the young man if his father would be proud of his behavior. Without confrontation or drawing the notice of others the volunteer solved the problem. It is reminiscent of an observation by the author of Ecclesiastes.
I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. (Ecc. 9:13–16)
There are two insights in this account. First, wisdom triumphed over might. We are prone to assess our life situation (good or bad) based on what our eyes tell us, but God’s frame of reference is different. His wisdom is “unsearchable” and His judgments “inscrutable” (Rom. 11:33).
In 2 Kings 6 Israel’s destruction was imminent. Israelites could only see that they were surrounded by their enemy, but God’s prophet, Elisha, was allowed to see an angelic army with chariots of fire at the ready. Israel was never safer. Conversely, in Luke 12, Jesus told the parable about the man who was so convinced of his ongoing success that he planned to build larger barns to ensure he had a future that excluded work, only to have his life taken that very day. Never was his future at greater risk. Don’t rely on a self-fashioned wisdom based on what you can see, defer to the wisdom of a God that sees all—a wisdom that is better than might.
Second, godly wisdom does not need recognition. “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom” (Jas. 3:13). Wisdom exercised wisely is a good work done in humility. Wise actions do not need an award ribbon.
Does this combination describe you? Do you meet adversity with godly composure, demonstrating a patient trust in the Lord’s wisdom? When God does grant you wisdom in a difficult situation is it your habit to exercise it without drawing attention to yourself or taking credit (even in a small way)? Ask the Lord to help you mature into a Christian with a reputation for quiet wisdom. In simple terms, seek God’s wisdom and when He gives it to you, be quiet about it.
Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. (Ecc. 7:19)