Wisdom for Today: Perfect or Present

“I can’t say that, we’re in church.”

My typical response is something along the lines of, “Because God cares more here than on the golf course?”

I’m certain you can guess the type of language that’s about to come out of someone’s mouth, or perhaps it’s a slanderous, gossipy word that is checked because we’ve just heard a sermon about love and forgiveness. Either way, the same questions remain:

“Are we to be perfect?”

“Are we to be more perfect in church than outside of church?”

“Does God someone place more value on what we do in church than outside of church?”

We’ve all said/done it. We’ve dressed up a little bit nicer out of respect for God. We’ve acted a little nicer in “God’s House.” We’ve hidden our sadness or depression around “God’s people.” Because I think there’s still a stigma of perfection over presence when it comes to church.

And I think it’s time to wise up.

Jesus does tell us to be perfect in exactly one scripture passage, Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” But what was he talking about? Wealthy, well-dressed, no problems, and delightful to be around? No. He was telling his disciples to love their enemies as much as they do their neighbors and friends. Perfection in the divine sense is the opposite of perfection per our worldly standards.

Perfection is more about Presence.

It’s whether or not people know you’ll be there for them with compassion instead of judgment.

It’s whether or not people know they’ll be loved by you, even if the world would want you to be enemies.

It’s based in the wisdom that God, above all else, desires us to be in relationship with each other. I do believe it was Jesus (quoting Leviticus and Deuteronomy) who told us the greatest commandments are two linked commandments: “Love God with everything you are and love your neighbor as yourself.”

That’s presence. That’s perfection. That’s wise. Wherever you are. However you are. Whoever you are.

I want to leave you with a description of “wisdom” as personified in Proverbs 8-9:6. I’m giving you the image of “Lady Wisdom” because the longest part of this passage is about Lady Wisdom’s presence with God from the beginning – that the world is built on God’s wisdom of love and relationships – so if we want the world to go well, we should seek God’s wisdom over our own. That’s why we go to church. Not to be perfect, but to be present and transformed.

Proverbs 8-9:6

Does not wisdom call,

and does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights, beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

‘To you, O people, I call,

and my cry is to all that live.

O simple ones, learn prudence;

acquire intelligence, you who lack it.

Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right;

for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

They are all straight to one who understands

and right to those who find knowledge.

Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold;

for wisdom is better than jewels,

and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

I, wisdom, live with prudence,

and I attain knowledge and discretion.

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

I have good advice and sound wisdom;

I have insight, I have strength.

By me kings reign,

and rulers decree what is just;

by me rulers rule,

and nobles, all who govern rightly.

I love those who love me,

and those who seek me diligently find me.

Riches and honour are with me,

enduring wealth and prosperity.

My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,

and my yield than choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

endowing with wealth those who love me,

and filling their treasuries.

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,

the first of his acts of long ago.

Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,

before the hills, I was brought forth—

when he had not yet made earth and fields,

or the world’s first bits of soil.

When he established the heavens, I was there,

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

when he made firm the skies above,

when he established the fountains of the deep,

when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

then I was beside him, like a master worker;

and I was daily his delight,

rejoicing before him always,

rejoicing in his inhabited world

and delighting in the human race.

‘And now, my children, listen to me:

happy are those who keep my ways.

Hear instruction and be wise,

and do not neglect it.

Happy is the one who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting beside my doors.

For whoever finds me finds life

and obtains favour from the Lord;

but those who miss me injure themselves;

all who hate me love death.’

Wisdom has built her house,

she has hewn her seven pillars.

She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,

she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls

from the highest places in the town,

‘You that are simple, turn in here!’

To those without sense she says,

‘Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

Lay aside immaturity, and live,

and walk in the way of insight.’