James Cagle 

The Bible says, “Who is as the wise man? And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed” (Ecc.8:1).

Wisdom throughout scripture is viewed as the highest prize and that which man should seek after all his days. We’re encouraged to seek wisdom and ask God for wisdom. Wisdom is within the reach of mortal man.

True wisdom isn’t necessarily having all the facts and being able to answer all the questions. According to our text it’s knowing “the interpretation of a thing.” That means, a wise man is someone who can look at an event, a situation, a catastrophe, some phenomena, that has puzzled everyone else, and explain it in such a way as to give its happening meaning.

No man comes into the world as a wise man. A man becomes wise by seeking answers and explanation to life’s many questions. He seeks for the logic, and the reason and the meaning behind the many events that take place in his personal life. And where he goes and to whom he turns for answers, explanations, and understanding will determine whether he becomes truly wise.

To possess true wisdom, our source of wisdom must be God’s Word (KJV) and God Himself. God made our world and everything in it and everything in the cosmos that our little world is a part of. God has also from eternity past had a plan for our world. And His plan is being carried out and fulfilled every day. And He gave us a copy of His plan, and this plan is revealed in the Bible (KJV). God has stuck to His plan and fulfilled it in days’ past and will fulfill it in days to come. God has no plan B in case plan A fails, because God never fails.

So, a wise man is a man who believes God’s in control and always will be regardless of how chaotic Satan and man may make things. He has complete faith and confidence in God and His Word (KJV) and believes without a shadow of a doubt that God’s plan will ultimately be fulfilled. And this confidence in God and His Word is the anchor that keeps his soul and gives him peace in a world that’s gone mad.

A true wise man then is a man that has a biblical world view. He is a man that views the events of the world through the eyes of the Word and interprets them in light of Scripture. He has come to understand and interpret Scripture in order to take Scripture and explain and interpret world events.

The world is in an upheaval, with divides and clashes everywhere, and moving up and down. The wise man knows though that the epicenter is Jerusalem.

This wisdom of the heart is reflected on the countenance of the wise man. It makes his face “shine” with confidence and “boldness.” Our outlook on life would be so much better if we would be wise enough to believe and trust God.

James H. Cagle is a resident of Ray City.