Sermon by The Rev. Dr. Maryann Amor
That clip was from a TV show called What Would You Do. For those who haven’t seen it, it’s a hidden camera show where actors stage everyday situations that challenge unsuspecting bystanders to respond…or not.
In the scene we just watched, a Muslim deli worker (played by an actor) faces racism from a white American (also an actor). As the situation unfolds, real people, who don’t know they are being filmed, witness the racism. Some of them, as you saw, stood up in support of the deli worker.
When I watch this show, I admit I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I can’t help but wonder if I would be strong enough, confident enough, to stand up for what I know is right…to defend those facing discrimination, hatred, and mistreatment. I question whether my own fear…fear of what might happen to me if I side with those who are suffering…would paralyze me. Despite having experienced racism myself, I wonder if I could truly be an advocate, an ally, for others. Would I have the courage to act as those people did in the video, to do what is right?
At the heart of being people of faith is living rightly, but this is often overlooked. For much of its history, the church has prioritized right knowing over right acting—focusing on learning about the Bible, church history, and doctrine. To be a Christian has become connected with attending Sunday School, taking Confirmation classes, and participating in Alpha. The focus of our faith has shifted from how we live to what we know.
But the Hebrew Scriptures lay a foundation that prioritizes right living. While knowing Scripture is important, what’s even more important is how we live in this world, a truth encapsulated by the concept of wisdom.
Now, we often associate wisdom with book learning and school, but in the ancient world, it was something completely different. For the ancients, wisdom was about how one lived…it was learned by observing the elders and was about choosing the right path over the wrong one.
Wisdom was also connected with God, who was seen as its ultimate source. God gifted humanity with intelligence, enabling us to live well. In other words, deep within us, God has placed the ability to know how to live rightly, to know what to do in any given situation. We have the choice to follow this divine wisdom—or not.
Over the next few weeks, the lectionary will guide us through the theme of wisdom, exploring what it means to choose the right path and live well. Today, we begin that journey.
Our first reading from 1 Kings presents Solomon as the new king after David. God appears to Solomon in a dream and offers him anything he desires. Instead of asking for riches or fame, Solomon says, "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil." Solomon seeks wisdom, the ability to lead the people justly and know the difference between right and wrong. Notice that God doesn’t tell Solomon to study books or attend classes, to gain wisdom….instead, God simply gives it to him.
In the Psalm, we hear that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The Psalmist connects wisdom to how we relate to God. The psalm begins with the word Hallelujah, Hebrew for “Praise God,” and recounts the great works of the Lord. This Psalm teaches us that wisdom begins by recognizing our place as God’s creation, approaching God with fear….not terror, but reverence and awe, a profound respect for the Creator.
These two readings show us how the ancient people viewed wisdom. It was a gift from God, given to help Solomon make good decisions and lead well. Wisdom is also about approaching God with reverence and awe, praising God for what God has done.
For us, these passages shed light on what wisdom means in our lives today. Just as God granted wisdom to Solomon, God has given each of us the same gift…the innate knowledge of how to treat people with equity, justice, and love. From a young age, children demonstrate this wisdom when they share toys, even with strangers. Wisdom is already planted deep within us. We choose whether to use it or not.
Also, to be wise, we must accept that this gift comes from God, who holds ultimate control and power in our lives and the world. We must live in humility, continually in awe of what God has done. Life is not about us; it’s about God.
If we live by the wisdom that the Hebrew Scriptures explore, we will instinctively know what to do in any situation, such as when we witness someone facing racism or hatred, as we saw in the video. We don’t need books or classes to tell us what right living is, because God has already given us that gift. What we need is the confidence to live according to it. And we can find that confidence when we recognize that God, who is in ultimate control, is on our side. God will stand by us as we move through our fears and take the risk to live by His gift of wisdom.
Amen.
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