Before we jump into the subject of vice and virtue, we want to remember that early on we noted that in Proverbs wisdom is personified. Wisdom wasn't just present when the world was created, but wisdom was the agency through which the world was created. 

In John 1:1 we read:
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him, all things were made. 
Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

The Greek philosophers thought that the logos, or the word, was the principle by which the world was created. It was the wisdom of the universe. The logos, or the word, is what's ultimately real and the creation of what's real. So again, wisdom is personified. So John is using some familiar language and ideas to point to Jesus. 

Then here is what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:24, “...but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” The New Testament writers saw Proverbs as more than just poetry. They saw wisdom personified in Jesus Christ.  When Jesus shows up in Nazareth teaching the people, they ask, "Who is this man? Where did he get this wisdom from?" 

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

It's appropriate that right after Easter, when we spoke of the crucifixion of Jesus, we read in 1 Corinthians that Christ is the power of God and he is the wisdom of God. If we are going to gain wisdom, it's going to be revolving around the person of Jesus and getting more of him. When Jesus comes and brings his kingdom, it's an upside-down kingdom. The way to power is through weakness. The way to acclaim is through forgetting yourself. The way to become rich is through poverty. And the way to become wise is actually to humble yourself and to submit yourself more to Jesus. 

Here's my question for you. Are you ready to embrace this kingdom that God has brought in Jesus Christ? We read from a poem from Edward Shilleto, "Other gods were strong, but thou was weak. They rode but thou did stumble to the throne. But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak. And not a God has wounds but thou alone." 

Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, our desire is to embrace this kingdom that Jesus has brought. It's an upside down kingdom. Give us opportunities to simply look for places where we can embrace this kind of kingdom that runs counter to the way that other people live and to the things that they value. We know that this is true wisdom. And we pray this in Jesus name, amen.