For the last several years, it has been a ‘tradition’ for our family to gather near the start of the new year and reflect on the good, bad, and the ugly from the past year. To that, we add the hope, dreams, and intentions of the next. Not quite resolutions, because we believe that there are better approaches than that, but the recollection gives us a chance to revisit fond memories, recognize God’s goodness, and then turn our attention toward what His goodness might look like in the year ahead.
One conversation I had with my wife, leading up to this annual sit down with our boys to talk about the new year, stirred up my thinking about what this blog means, or, at least what I hope it means. And then I started thinking of you, and wondered how you might answer that question.
The premise for Wisdom In All Things is that we could quickly understand and apply wisdom in all areas of our lives: mind, body, and soul. Because we don’t have a lot of time, could it be delivered in the form of exposing a truth, exploring it biblically, and then succinctly executing (the integration of) it—what I hope you get with each post. But what does that look like? And, to what end?
In that conversation with my wife, I began to describe how, ideally, we would be the right blend of Clark Kent and James Bond. The kind, innocent, do-right character of Clark, coupled with the sophisticated, evil-destroying, innovative resolve of Bond.
It was, after all, what Jesus (kind of) told His disciples: be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. A little bit James Bond and a little bit Clark Kent. We read this in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Wise as a Serpent
While the intentions of a serpent and the disciples differ greatly, it is the wisdom or prudence of the serpent that Jesus is commending. Their sharp powers of judgement guide their crafty, patient ways. Some translations of this verse use the word ‘shrewd’. As with 007, they too exercise their sharp wit to discern their environment for potential angles of attack or a hasty retreat.
Innocent as a Dove
Like Clark Kent, a dove is pretty harmless, if not down right cowardly. It is this idea of doing no harm, and being blameless or innocent that Jesus is highlighting. The disciples were to be characterized by purity, so that violent, malicious, or immoral behavior would not jeopardize their representation of God or the fulfillment of their mission.
“The disciples’ shrewdness must not be cunning (sinister or dishonest) though, for they needed to be “innocent” as well. Either characteristic without the other is dangerous. Innocence without prudence becomes naiveté.” – Dr. Thomas L. Campbell
https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/matthew/matthew.htm#head87
In the Midst of Wolves
I think it goes without saying—the world we live in is increasingly wolf-infested, and growing more so by the week. While we have our challenges and opposition to face, one could argue that the disciples had it even worse. Setting aside their obvious lack of creature comforts and technological advances, they were surrounded by a hostile culture and government—I have yet to hear of anyone in these times threatened with being thrown to the lions.
Regardless, we too are being sent out into this world, such as it is. A world that is too easily influenced and growing more hostile and dangerous to the truth. It is precisely the kind of environment that requires the right blend of Clark Kent and James Bond—or, should I say, a “wise-serpent, innocent-dove man”—to exercise wisdom in all things.
So as we start the year off, I wanted you to have this context, this foundation, by providing you the end before you start (or continue) down this path of wisdom. The hope is that we become a whole person, fully engaged in and committed to how God has called us to live, seeking not what we can get out of life, but what we can put into it.
Here’s to a new year of growing more wise and innocent!
Scott
Photo by Carlo D’Agnolo on Unsplash