1 Then Job spoke again: 2 “You people really know everything, don’t you?  And when you die, wisdom will die with you!
Job 12:1-2

This sarcastic comment by Job was a response to his friends – yes, friends – who were there to console him in the midst of his suffering.  The well intended words each friend spoke to comfort Job wound up doing more harm than good.  Why?  Because they were rooted in each man’s personal wisdom (which as it turned out, wasn’t very wise at all).   Even through the distraction of his grief and pain Job was able to detect that “their” wisdom was not “true” wisdom.

It’s easy to sit back as the reader and cast stones at Job’s friends, but the fact of the matter is; we’re in the same boat.  Like them, we too have our own “personal wisdom,” our own views we consider wise, but truth be known, there is a chasm of ignorance separating “our” wisdom from “true” wisdom.  The life well lived is the one lived in the chasm; aware that the wisdom one has… is not, and the wisdom that is… is not yet known.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

The good Christian lives in the chasm, and studies God’s word in hopes that day by day the chasm might narrow.
The good Christian lives in the chasm, and speaks as one who knows the wisdom we have is not wisdom at all.