God’s Wisdom Turns Tables

God’s wisdom doesn’t follow the rules
it rewrites them.

When we think of wisdom, we often imagine knowledge, strategy, influence, being ahead of everyone else. But St. Francis saw something entirely different. For him, the Wisdom of God was not an idea to master, it was a Person to follow: Jesus Christ, crucified and poor.

This is deeply rooted in Scripture. First Letter to the Corinthians tells us: “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24). Not worldly brilliance. Not dominance. But a crucified Savior.

St Francis took this seriously and literally.

He stripped himself of wealth, status, and security, not because he despised the world, but because he recognized something higher:
God’s wisdom often appears foolish to the world.

To embrace poverty.
To forgive enemies.
To serve the lowest.
To rejoice in suffering.

None of this “makes sense” by human standards. Yet this is the logic of the Gospel.
St Francis didn’t just admire this wisdom, he embodied it. He called it “Lady Poverty,” treating it as a treasure, not a loss. Why? Because it made space for total dependence on God.

And that’s the turning point:
God’s wisdom is not about control. It’s about surrender.

In a culture that prizes self-sufficiency, St Francis reminds us that true wisdom begins when we stop trying to be our own foundation.

Practical ways to live this out:

• Choose simplicity over excess, even in small decisions. Resist the constant pull to accumulate more, and instead ask what is truly necessary. It trains the heart to depend less on things and more on what actually sustains life.
  Over time, what feels like “less” becomes a deeper kind of fullness.
• Accept being misunderstood when you choose what is right. Not everyone will see your intentions, and some may judge you unfairly. Resist the urge to constantly explain or defend yourself just to be approved.
  Integrity is proven over time, not in a single moment of validation. Peace comes from knowing you stood in truth, even when others didn’t understand.
• Serve someone who cannot repay you. Choose generosity without calculating what you’ll get in return. Look for those who are overlooked, forgotten, or unable to offer anything back. This kind of love stretches the heart and frees it from hidden self-interest. In giving without return, you begin to reflect the quiet, self-giving love at the center of the Gospel.
• Spend time in silence, letting God reorder your priorities. Step away from the noise long enough to hear what truly matters. In the quiet, distractions lose their power and deeper truths begin to surface. God gently reshapes your desires, aligning them with what is lasting and real. What once felt urgent fades, and what is essential becomes clear.
• Let go of the need to “win” every argument. Not every disagreement is an invitation to prove yourself right. Sometimes the deeper strength is choosing understanding over victory. Humility makes space for truth to emerge without force or pride. Peace often grows where the need to win is quietly surrendered.

The wisdom of God will not always make you look strong but it will make you free. And that freedom is far more powerful than anything the world can offer.