Setting One's Face

Proverbs 17:24

The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

The contrast here is between the discerning who keeps focused on wisdom and the fool who chases after each fad that pops up from everywhere. Today he would be the one fascinated with the "new discoveries" of the "Da Vinci Code." His home library is an archive of each year's most popular self-help and new thinking books. He's taken all the newly discovered ancient Asian exercises and meditation practices. He's dabbled in Indian Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. He's got the latest book by the Dai Lama. And there is his collection of crystals and other New Age paraphernalia.

But the discerning "sets his face toward wisdom." He does not lose focus; he does not waver from the one true source of wisdom - Scripture. He does not lose sight of his one true hope - the redemption of Jesus Christ. He does not waver in his faith in the one true God. Like Christ when tempted by Satan, he does not waste time with fruitless debate about what is right or wrong for him but merely cites the teaching of Scripture. And like Christ, his trials do not discourage him, for keeps his eyes on the joy set before him.

For Christ is his wisdom. In Christ wisdom becomes simple and profound. To abide in Christ is all that he needs.