REFERENCES to wisdom in the Bible are numerous. Several words in the Greek and Hebrew are thus translated; and the Revised Version of the Bible renders the word "wisdom" sometimes as "discretion" and "understanding." In one passage the wise are referred to as "them that have sight." Christian Science teaches us to understand wisdom as spiritual vision, consciousness of the divine omnipresence.
In writing of wisdom the Apostle James does not refer to learning found in books, to philosophy, or to physical science. He has the same comprehension of it that Solomon had when he entreated the Lord for "an understanding heart." The fulfillment of Solomon's prayer was manifested in "wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore." It is interesting that one translator should give "largeness of heart" as "wide intelligence." James says of "the wisdom that is from above"— the reflection of divine intelligence —that it is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits." He sees wisdom as discernment, which is ever compassionate, ever available. This is not the seemingly brilliant scintillation of human intellect; it is the tender, understanding love expressed through father, mother, brother, sister, friend, ready to help in the learning of hard lessons, to solve difficult problems, to lend a hand in lifting heavy burdens. Such wisdom heals; and spiritual healing teaches the one who is healed to help himself and others, doing it with that deep tenderness and compassion which Christ Jesus expressed toward those who thronged him.
What, then, is wisdom? Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, on page 312 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," says: "How true it is that whatever is learned through material sense must be lost because such so-called knowledge is reversed by the spiritual facts of being in Science." Wisdom, then, must be learned and assimilated through the spiritual senses, because it consists of the realization of man's spiritual existence. James tells us that it is "without partiality, and without hypocrisy." Wisdom is for all equally; it is absolute, and can be expressed only through honesty and complete purity. Such wisdom cannot be simulated, because its only proof is in the works which result therefrom.
