Eccl. 7:25-26: "This only have I found: God created humanity upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes. 'Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens the face and changes its hard appearance." (Today’s NIV)

What’s the difference between craftiness and wisdom?

Salomon found many people who thought to be intelligent and may be were very intelligent. They had all the knowledge and knew all the tricks to achieve the best for themselves. However they were not really honest. They tried to deceive one another and to take advantage of one another. Their hearts and subsequently also their facial expression became hard against the needs and problems of other people.

Wisdom, Salomon says, is something different. The wise wo/man not only has knowledge and skills, s/he knows to evaluate things from God’s perspective. S/he is able to assess what is really important from the perspective of eternity. S/he understands people. S/he learns to understand how the different parts fit together and how they will affect people and relationships. S/he doesn’t look for the short-term success, but for the long-term best for him/herself, for his/her family and church and for the world where we all live.

How can recognize whether somebody is just smart, or whether s/he is wise as well? We can already see it in his/her face when s/he is confronted with difficulties or human weakness. When that happens, his face doesn’t get hard. It starts brightening, as God himself shines his light through him/her. In everything s/he sees the opportunity for God and for him/herself, to be used by God in this matter. This wisdom is not the result of our own thinking; it can only be given by God.