When you think of wisdom, who comes to mind?

Perhaps Yoda, or maybe Gandalf or Dumbledore? Or a mere human like Mr. Miyagi? Possibly Mr. Feeny or Wilson Wilson if you’re a child of the 90s. Maybe you just think of Morgan Freeman in general.

It sure would be nice to have a Yoda in your life. There’s a reason why the insightful old sage character is such a common figure in so many great stories. There’s a reason why these characters are so comforting.

The reason is wisdom. Wisdom is appealing. Your heart craves wisdom.

Did you know that? Did you realize your heart longs to know wisdom? Wisdom is incomparably valuable.

It’s the wisdom offered from these classic characters which pushes the heroes of literature, film, and television past their struggles to the next level of success.

We want to be those heroes. We want to know the answers to the questions rumbling in our brains. We want to make smart decisions. We want to be the best at what we do. We crave wisdom in our lives.

If wisdom then is so valuable, where can we find it?

The answer can be found in Job chapter 28:

But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding. No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. “It is not here,” says the ocean. “Nor is it here,” says the sea. It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver. It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli. Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold…It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp eyed-birds in the sky cannot discover it. Destruction and Death say, “We’ve only heard rumors of where wisdom can be found.” God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, for he looks througout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. (Job 28:12-24)

Only in God can wisdom be found. The craving in our souls for wisdom can only be satisfied from Him.

God’s wisdom is unlike any other. He is not just knowledgeable about all things. His decisions are always wise as well. He is always working out our best interests. There are no accidents with God. His work always brings about the best possible results, because He loves us with a love like no other.

The wisdom God provides sets our paths in His protection. His wisdom is infinitely valuable because it allows us to be careless.

Wait, is carelessness a good thing? I used to ask myself that question after hanging out with a mentor of mine. He would end many conversations and meetings by telling me to, “Be careless.”

This didn’t make sense to me at first. Isn’t being careless the same as being thoughtless? Isn’t that a dangerous way to live?

As I grew older, I became more fond of this mantra. I think what my mentor intended was when we seek the wisdom of God, we find we don’t have to care about what the world cares about.

When we walk in God’s wisdom, our cares are accounted for. We recognize the things we used to care about are covered by God. We don’t have to pursue any other paths to find the answers. We don’t have to worry about earning anything through our actions.

Instead of being careless about life, we can care less about ourselves and care more about the world around us, doing our part in making disciples of all the nations.

The only way to be truly careless and carefree is to seek daily the freeing wisdom of God. God’s wisdom will set you free from the chains of the world.

Go out today. Seek wisdom. And be careless.

Where do you find wisdom? What does wisdom mean to you? What’s the wisest thing anyone has ever said to you? Is being careless a good piece of advice? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and join the conversation: