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Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
I do not have human understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
- Proverbs 30:2-3
Socrates is often attributed as saying something like, “Wisdom is knowing what you don’t know.” The story goes that he did not believe he was the wisest person in the world, so he went looking for someone wiser; however, everyone he met was sure and confident of what they knew. He concluded that any wisdom he had was due to the fact he knew that his knowledge was limited. It’s not so far from what the apostle Paul wrote: “Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2).
Agur seems to say something similar, as well. He begins by acknowledging his utter lack of knowledge and wisdom. He calls himself stupid, lacking even average human understanding. So Agur looks up—an appropriate place to look. He looks to the heavens. Who might be the one over and above all of this world? Who might have established all of this? Who is this God and who is his son?
He’s after something, someone, greater. He recognizes the way that God is utterly beyond him. In so many ways unattainable. And that seems like a step towards wisdom. Indeed, John Calvin would agree. For the opening sentence to his Institutes, he wrote, “Nearly all wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” Knowledge of God and his supremacy and might and power will make us more aware of our limitations and our frailty. Knowledge of God will help us get to know who we are.
Agur debases himself, but maybe he is onto something. He has some understanding of God, so also of himself.
Agur makes two specific requests, and in these, acknowledges his own limitations. First, that lies would be far from him. He needs the truth. Second, for daily bread. He needs just basic provision; any more may lead to self-confidence, but less may lead to theft. Again, this recognition of his limitation and need is at least a step towards wisdom.
What’s striking is the way that Christ himself is the answer to these needs. Agur needs the truth? Jesus himself is the truth (John 14:6). Agur needs daily bread? Jesus himself is the bread of life (John 6:35).
Agur is after wisdom. Jesus Christ himself is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Indeed, Christ himself is the answer to any of our needs—to all of our limitations! When we know Christ, every need we might have is met, whether it be for wisdom, truth, bread, or whatever else. We don’t have (and we likely won’t have) all the right answers for every question or difficulty we face. We don’t have full understanding. We have many limitations, and we would be wise to acknowledge so.
But we have Christ. He is enough. He is the source of all wisdom, guiding us by his Spirit. He is the truth, providing the knowledge we need for salvation. He is our daily bread, sustaining and nourishing our spirits.
Thanks be to Christ that he is enough to meet every need!