Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.” Folly is anything that exalts man’s power, wisdom, and wealth in place of God’s. The wisdom and power and wealth of God is all found in Christ who is glorious. His gospel is all about the Glory of God. There is no good news that does not speak about God, because God—for who He is—is really the good news.
Wisdom has a tongue. In my Bible college years, Greg Harris helped me understand that this tongue is both human and does not have to be perfect. Those who know my former professor know of his debilitating battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It seems like yesterday I asked Dr. Harris about his experience with RA and he shared the low points it brought to mind. But I recall equally, the joy that came from his lips as he spoke about the story of Moses around the burning bush of Glory where God asked Moses, “Who made man’s mouth?” Being handicapped as a person doesn’t just effect the body, but also the mind. Life can feel not worth living without Glory. And those who search do indeed find that in God’s design, Glory satisfies. I learned my initial lessons on Glory from a man who at one time could not speak, but whose tongue was used later to speak Glory that exalted the wisdom of God over the wisdom of man. I’m not into lifting up professor Harris, he needs no lifting—at least not from me. But God is faithful, and He is often pleased to use reluctant, rebellious, or even handicapped tongues to speak His wisdom in His time. The one who does all of the lifting is God—and anyone who is used of God to speak His Glory would tell you that.
Even so, the puzzling question I had, was why my professor’s writings were not mass marketed and sold. The answer was in Scripture—a fool would not buy wisdom even if it could be bought. And we are all fools before we come to Christ. The Christian market is much smaller than the Christian bookstore and outlets.
Yet, should we worry or not write or speak just because the market is small or at times non-existent? Absolutely not, “the counsel of the Lord, it will stand” (Prov. 19:21). This type of counsel requires waiting, it does not come quickly but should encourage our patient endurance and continued labors in Glory studies. The examples of those who do not wait have sad endings (cf. Psalm 106:13). The wisdom of God made known is worth waiting for, speaking about and studying. In fact. as God’s people, it becomes the very best use of our tongues.
Ephesians 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
A tongue attached to God’s Word is a precious and wise counselor. There is a market for Glory, not because we sustain it, but because God saves sinners who find God’s Word their delight, and their counsel (cf. Psalm 119:24).
Everyone has someone who has influenced them, and for the Christian it is some teacher or teachers; books or writings; pastors or churches. These things often go together, or at least they should. I am sharing on a site that is a ministry by one of my professors of the past. For you it may not be this professor, but it is in the same spirit. God chooses to use tongues, imperfect and sometimes reluctant, or even handicapped, to do great things in our lives. We honor those who in our lives are used, but we glorify the God who uses them. Yes, wisdom has a tongue that is graciously given by God to push back the darkness and heal the brokenness through Glory.
I thank God for that. I am thankful that human teachers exist and that God uses them. I am thankful that some of these human teachers choose to teach for and by and about God’s Glory. And I am thankful (and I hope you are) that Glory is still on the market, and always will be, because the Glory of God does not depend on the strength, wisdom, nor power of man.
