From the beginning of recorded history, mankind has searched after wisdom. In the book of Proverbs the writer paints a vivid portrait. We see wisdom speaking to people at the crossroads; wherever they are, she's there ready to instruct them. She's at the "gates" and the "doors" of the city. She makes her appeal to everyone: "Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth.... Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding." Prov. 8:6, 7, 14. Wisdom's voice can be heard by receptive thought in every age.
Wisdom is a primal attribute of God, and instruction that goes directly to this source will always lead men and women to a deeper understanding of how to live. Certainly we find God's wisdom uniquely expressed in the life and teachings of Christ Jesus. He taught with the full authority of his Father and corroborated his teaching by healing sickness and sin. He showed his disciples how to heal through the Christ he exemplified.
Probably we have all wondered what it would have been like to be instructed by Jesus. We can get some indication from his Sermon on the Mount. See Matt., chaps. 5-7. This sermon lays out the commitment required to live a Christian life—our duty to God to be Christlike and our obligation to love others. We are shown that we can begin to fulfill this duty only as we obey God's commandments in both our thoughts and actions.
