Seeking Wisdom: Beyond Earthly Knowledge
The first portion of our mission statement reads: “Capstone Classical Academy engages students to acquire wisdom...." What does it mean to acquire wisdom? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, wisdom is marked by deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment. This definition, though it sounds good, describes earthly wisdom. While it is true that we desire our learners and scholars to be wise on this earth, our mission statement goes beyond earthly wisdom.
In the book of James, we read that bitter jealousy and selfish ambition is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly (James 3:14-15). In contrast, James 3:17-18 tells us that “... wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” When James speaks of wisdom, he is not speaking about how much knowledge a man has, but rather the proper application of knowledge.
Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs to seek after knowledge as if it were a hidden treasure. When we seek knowledge, the knowledge of the Word of God, we will understand “the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5). Furthermore, as we delight in God’s Word, the Holy Spirit opens the things of God to us (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). To know wisdom is to know Jesus Christ; He is the embodiment of true wisdom.
Clark and Jain, in their book The Liberal Arts Tradition, state “[t]he goal of education is not simply knowledge for knowledge’s sake, however; the goal of true education is for our knowledge of God, man, and creation to come to full flower in wisdom and for this wisdom to help us better love and serve our neighbor.” One who is wise manifests the life of Christ in his conduct. This type of wisdom cannot come from self, it can only come from God.
As we are rooted and built up in Him (Colossians 2:7), we do not need to settle for the wisdom of this earth, but rather we can seek the wisdom from above. May we endeavor to point our learners and scholars to seek and acquire a wisdom that goes beyond what this world can offer.