Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
As human beings, we have a lot of wise words we say to each other; words that have been carried down from speakers of the past. Often times we use these old phrases without knowing their origins or their original context. It may be surprising, but most of the well known words of wisdom you and I have often said or heard from others are actually from the Bible. More so than just common phrases that originated in movies or songs, these phrases came from the mouth of God. The reason these old wise words of wisdom still ring true is because they were written to always be true. Take a look at just how many well known wise words and phrases have not been born in a human's mind but in the Lord's:
A Leopard can't change its Spots (Jeremiah 13:23)
Truthfully, these wise words are not an English proverb but are actually prophecy from God. In the book of Jeremiah God spoke to His children, "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil," (Jeremiah 13:23). It's sobering knowledge that this phrase about people being set in their ways and resistant to change is about how we all are prone to sin and commit evil. The only one who can change us is God Himself.
The Writing is on the Wall (Daniel 5:5-6)
In Daniel chapter 5 there is a wicked king who defiles God's instruments of worship. The hand of God appears before the king and writes an inscription on his wall. The king has Daniel interpret, and Daniel says that the inscription reads the wicked king has been weighed, measured and found wanting (there's another common phrase). God wrote that the wicked king's days had been numbered (one more bonus phrase). If anyone present wanted to doubt that the wicked king would indeed be removed by God's hand, they'd have to avoid looking at God's latest redecoration of the king's palace. The writing was on the wall, and the truth was clear to all who needed to know.
It's possible some of you thought this phrase came from Shakespeare, but it's actually from more than a thousand years before his time. It is God who said to the writer of this proverb, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," (Proverbs 16:18). Many of us likely know bedtime stories about people who wanted to put themselves above others only to have their lives come crashing down. That's how it also is in the Bible with anyone who ever wanted to put themselves, their ideals or their nation above God. You can bet that's how it still works today, because God never stopped opposing the proud, while showing favor to the humble and oppressed (Proverbs 3:34).
Maybe your schools or your boss have told you this to encourage you to do more than is expected, but it is Jesus Christ who coined this famous phrase in His most famous sermon. Interestingly, though, this phrase was not originally spoken to encourage academic or professional excellence. Jesus spoke to His audience, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’But I tell you, do not resist an evil person," (Matthew 5:38-39). Jesus then said, "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles," (Matthew 5:41). Notice Jesus says the one going a mile was forced to do so. It is evil that has compelled this person to force another to walk a mile against their will, but God says that His children are not to resist this evil. Instead, to put evil to shame we are to not only suffer willingly but be willing to suffer even more, just as Jesus did for us.
Not just for keeping deadlines, these words of wisdom are above all for your spiritual well being. The principle of this matter comes straight from Jesus. He told a story about a man who needed work done in his field, so he hired some men. As the day progressed, he realized he didn't have enough men to get the job done, so throughout the day all the way into the evening he continued to hire men to work for him. At the end of the day the man who owned the field paid all of the workers the exact same amount, no matter when they started. When it comes to following God, it's better to start late than never at all.
Raie your hand, if you thought it was Abraham Lincoln who said this. It makes sense why you might have believed that, as it's his name that constantly follows this quote on billboards, museum walls and in textbooks. Well, honest Abe was no fool on this phrase's origins, as he studied God's Word from his youth and throughout his life. This phrase in particular shows up in three of the gospels, where the Pharisees accuse Jesus of having powers from satan. Jesus responds, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come," (Mark 3:24-26). It was very wise for Lincoln to remind the citizens of the United States of this wisdom from God, as any well written human speech will eventually fade "but the word of our God endures forever," (Isaiah 40:6-8).
Many political movements and activist groups like to say that their cause is noble and they rally up their followers to keep fighting their good fight. It was Jesus who said only He and His ways are good (Mark 10:18), so there is really only one true good fight. It's the one Paul urges his servant Timothy to fight. He writes to Timothy to flee from the causes and desires of the world, and to instead "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called," (1 Timothy 6:11-12). We, as believers, have been called to fight this same fight for the sake of eternal life. We fight against the lofty opinions and ideas of the world, and "we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Sure is interesting to see that all these familiar words of wisdom are from God Himself, and there are plenty more like them. There are also plenty of well known words of wisdom that are not from God and are ultimately not wise words at all. It can be hard to tell whether what someone is saying truly is wise or foolish, which is why a Christian's primary source for wisdom should be God's Word. It is written, "the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding," so everything spoken from God is trustworthy, useful and wise (Proverbs 2:6).
Sources
- The Bible (New International Version)
- Open Bible Info: Wisdom
- Wide Open Country: Common Phrases in the Bible
- Lifeway Research: Common Phrases in the Bible
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