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24. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Let us trace our interest in wisdom from the beginning. It first “enters into the heart.” (Chapter 2:10.) There it “rests in him that hath understanding” (Chapter 14:33), as his principle of conduct. Now it is before his eyes in the Book of Wisdom, as his rule of faith and life. (Ib. verse 8.) It is the center, to which all his thoughts, motives, and pursuits tend. All is now order. Every faculty, desire, and affection, finds its proper place. ‘He that hath understanding fixeth his eyes upon wisdom, and contenteth himself with that object; whereas the eyes of a fool are constantly wandering everywhere; and his thoughts settle upon nothing that may avail to his good.’† His eyes are in the ends of the earth, rolling and wandering from one object to another. His thoughts are scattered. He has no definite object, no settled principle, no certain rule. Talent, cultivation of mind, improvement of opportunity — all are frittered away. He cares for those things which are furtherest from him, and with which he has the least concern.
An original writer thus vividly portrays this inconstancy — ‘Today he goes to the quay to be shipped for Rome. But before the tides come, his tide is turned. One party thinks him theirs; the adverse theirs; he is with both; with neither; not an hour with himself. Indifference is his ballast, and opinion his sail; he resolves not to resolve. He knows not what he doth hold. He opens his mind to receive notions, as one opens his palm to take an handful of water. He hath very much, if he could hold it. He is sure to die, but not what religion to die in. He demurs, like a posed lawyer, as if delay could remove some impediments. — In a controverted point, he holds with the last reasoner he either heard or read. The next diverts him, and his opinion dwells with him perhaps so long as the teacher of it is in his sight. He will rather take dross for gold than try it in the furnace. He receives many judgments, retains none. — He loathes manna after two days’ feeding. — His best dwelling would be his confined chamber, where he would trouble nothing but his pillow. He is full of business at Church; a stranger at home; a skeptic abroad; an observer in the street; everywhere a fool.’†
This diversion is a great engine of the enemy. His great object is to turn the mind aside from what is immediate to what is indefinite, from what is plain and important to what is unsearchable;† from what is personal to what is irrelevant.† Many trifles take the place of the “One thing needful.” And is not this waste of time often a temptation to the Christian? Where are his eyes, or his thoughts, at prayer? Alas! too often, instead of “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), his great object, the life of prayer, the only way to God — are they not in the ends of the earth, as if there was no nearer, no better object of attraction? Oh! do not we want simplicity of spiritual understanding to keep him, the great uncreated Wisdom, constantly before our eyes? Lord! I am ashamed of my base inconstancy. But it is thou alone canst heal it. “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.” (Psalm 119:37.) Fix them — O fix them — on him on whom all heaven, all the redeemed, delight to gaze for ever.
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