Wisdom and folly in the context of relationships

Wisdom is not found in quiet meditation, for the sake of the wise, but in relationships, for the sake of others.

Connection with others is the very nature of wisdom in the Bible. The book of Proverbs anthropomorphizes both Wisdom and Folly who invite listeners into a relationship with them. Wisdom stands in public places, by the gates of the city, along the road, and in prominent places, telling men to sample her wares and promising success and prosperity to all who listen to her.

Folly, for her part, lies in wait for young men, and invites them to join her inside, where she brings only ruin and destruction.

It struck me as an interesting reminder not only that wisdom manifests itself in the relationships we have with others, but that Wisdom herself invites us into a relationship with her, and ultimately to God, since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The notion of Wisdom waiting at the gates of the city, calling to people to listen to her, suggests that having wisdom is not simply a static repertoire of sayings, proverbs and interesting nuggets, but a dynamic relationship with give, take and growth. We express our own wisdom in our relationships with others, but gaining wisdom is itself fundamentally born of a relationship.

After he prayed for wisdom at the start of his reign, Solomon immediately was faced with two women each claiming to be the mother of a living boy, each saying the other's son died during the night. Solomon gave orders to cut the boy in half, and when only one of the women dropped her claim in order to spare the boy's life, Solomon tagged her as the child's real mother.

This was an interpersonal relationship, where Solomon displays his understanding of the human heart. He didn't do as well at politics. Consider his decision to appoint leaders in Israel who don't correspond to the 12 tribes, and you can see that his wisdom at politics was lacking in other areas than his politically expedient marriages.

Perhaps he leaned too much on his own understanding, and didn't consult enough with others.