“Get wisdom”

True wisdom is an attribute of God, an essential quality of the divine Mind. A dictionary defines “wisdom” as “discernment of the true and just way, and conformity to a course of action dictated by such discernment.” In the highest degree this definition applies to God, divine Mind; for Mind discerns the true course for each individual idea, and without “variableness, neither shadow of turning” governs it in perfect accord with that divine discernment.

Through all eternity each individual idea moves in perfect harmony with God’s all-embracing plan, wherein wisdom is supreme. Man, the image and likeness of God, reflects divine wisdom, and shows forth the glory of the Father in beauty, health, holiness, and love. The revelation of this true state of Mind, which is heaven itself, has in all ages moved men to extol the glories of wisdom. The wise man said, “Get wisdom: … get understanding.” This wisdom reflects divine intelligence, which includes all substance, all beauty, all activity, all harmony.

To get wisdom is abundantly to reflect all these qualities. It is to have a sense of life, eternal and free, with a peace that transcends all human comprehension. It is to experience an endless supply of spiritual thoughts, the rhythmic unfolding of heavenly bliss. All this, and more than words can express, comes with the true understanding of our Father-Mother God. The Bible says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” These things are the things of wisdom.

How are we to get wisdom? Through prayer. The Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” A prayerful contemplation of the divine nature is a great aid in getting wisdom. The definitions of “God” which Mrs. Eddy gives on pages 465 and 587 of the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” pondered with a pure desire to know and obey God, promote true wisdom, as do also the definitions of “man,” of “Christ,” and of “Church” found in the same book. Pondering these definitions breaks the dream of material sense and opens the door of thought for the angels of God to enter. These angels, or true thoughts, are the very manifestation of wisdom.

On page 275 of the textbook our Leader says, “No wisdom is wise but His wisdom; no truth is true, no love is lovely, no life is Life but the divine; no good is, but the good God bestows.” There is a basic difference between divine wisdom and human so-called knowledge. The former reflects divine intelligence; the latter relates to so-called mortal man and material things. One is absolute; the other pertains to human sense.

When the wise man said, “Get wisdom: … get understanding,” he referred to divine consciousness. Human knowledge he classified as vanity. This knowledge is useful in many ways, as related to human experience, but it does not advance thought in spiritual ways. The knowledge of material things, forces, and action is not divine wisdom; yet all legitimate human knowledge is promoted by the unfolding of wisdom and spiritual understanding, for true wisdom liberates human thought, and human thought thus liberated finds expression in useful human knowledge or science.

It is a notable fact that the greatest advances in natural science, so called, have been made by the most enlightened Christian nations. It may be said that the greater the spiritual achievements of a nation—the more it acquires of true wisdom—the greater will be its achievements in natural science and human inventions. Increase of human knowledge based on belief in the reality and power of matter or evil, however, leads to bondage and not to freedom. The depicting of disease, the featuring of crime, the describing in detail of accident and death, do not spring from wisdom, but from the illusion of material sense.

All who would promote true progress, success, health, and freedom, must first “get wisdom” and continually cultivate it. Peace among nations follows as men “get wisdom.” “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” As one gets wisdom and understanding, he gains the true knowledge of God, of the true idea of man, of all true activities and relationships—and this is heaven.