The First Gospel: Wisdom’s Sales Pitch | Josh Harrison
Wisdom’s Invitation: A Summary of “The First Gospel – Wisdom’s Sales Pitch”
It’s been a journey through the wisdom literature these past few weeks at Citizens Church, and tonight’s sermon added another fascinating layer. Having paused to explore the Psalms through David and grappled with Job’s problem of suffering, we walked with Preacher Josh Harrison into the world of Proverbs—specifically, one of its most poetic and formative chapters: Proverbs 8.
The “sales pitch” of Lady Wisdom, personified and calling out at the city gates, serves as both an invitation and a challenge. Tonight, let’s retrace our steps through this passage and pull out the primary insights Josh shared with us.
Wisdom at the Gates of the City
If you’re familiar with the biblical narrative, cities are rarely painted as spaces of utopian peace. More often, especially outside of Jerusalem, they symbolize places where crowds gather, where choices are driven by popularity, and where corruption can take root. It’s at these city gates—in the liminal space between chaotic city life and the open wilderness—that Wisdom stands, calling out to all who pass.
Josh reminded us that Wisdom, here, isn’t hiding deep within ivory towers. She’s public, available, and even a bit interruptive, urging us not to follow the crowd. The Bible is, in many ways, “romantic” in its continual call for us to step away from the rat race and into a quieter, more attentive way of being. It’s an ancient invitation to resist mindlessly walking the same path as everyone else, to turn aside—even if briefly—so that we might actually hear Wisdom’s voice.
The Value and Features of Wisdom
The passage is littered with superlatives: Wisdom is “more precious than silver, gold, or rubies.” Yet what makes her so desirable? For Josh, the heart of Proverbs 8 is Wisdom’s “sales pitch”—not unlike a vendor at a county fair, earnestly listing out the features of a product she truly believes in.
We’re told Wisdom offers:
Knowledge: more than mere information, but the foundation for understanding life.
Prudence: sound decision-making for those complicated choices that crop up.
Truth and Discernment: the ability to sort fact from fiction in a world of misinformation.
Justice: not just punishment for wrongdoing, but proactive, restorative wholeness.
Discretion: intentionality, planning, and purpose—a steady path marked by perseverance.
Good Counsel: both for giving and receiving wise advice.
Insight and Nuance: the ability to see through complexity and hold tension between competing truths.
Power: not domination or force, but the authority and capacity to live well.
Most striking, perhaps, is the way Wisdom is described as woven into the very fabric of creation: “I was there when God created the world.” In other words, to pursue Wisdom is not to chase after esoteric knowledge, but to align oneself with the way life, at its most fundamental, is meant to be lived.
How Do We Pursue Wisdom?
If this “sales pitch” tells us what Wisdom offers, the final verses of the passage (as well as Josh’s reflection) point us toward how we might receive it:
Listen: Pay attention—really listen—to Wisdom’s invitations.
Do Not Disregard: Don’t let insight slip away unused; wisdom must be acted upon.
Watch Daily: Make space in our routines to pursue wisdom intentionally and incrementally.
Receive: Ultimately, wisdom is a gift from God—we must ask and remain open to receiving it.
Jesus: The Ultimate Expression of Wisdom
Josh closed by drawing the thread from Proverbs to the person of Jesus. John’s Gospel describes Jesus as the Logos, the very Wisdom with God at creation. In Jesus, Wisdom is no longer just a poetic personification, but a living, breathing example—one to whom we can turn, learn from, and be transformed by.
Key Lessons from This Sermon
Wisdom is Accessible, Yet Requires Intention
She calls to everyone, but only those willing to step aside and seek her truly find her.True Wisdom is More Than Knowledge
It encompasses discernment, justice, counsel, purpose, and humility—shaping not just what we know, but how we live.Life’s Fulfillment Flows from Wisdom, Not Wealth
Pursuing wisdom establishes the foundation for a whole, meaningful life; wealth, prestige, or popularity alone cannot compare.Christ is Wisdom Incarnate
In Jesus, we see Wisdom embodied; if we want to live wisely, we must learn from and walk with him.
As we wander out from the city gate and back into our daily patterns, may we remember Lady Wisdom’s voice and let it reshape the contours of our lives.
