We can look at wisdom from two aspects, the human aspect and the divine. Jesus' parable of the ten bridesmaids is, on the surface, a lesson in practical wisdom, but, since he used the story to teach us about the kingdom of God, he is lifting our minds to consideration of divine wisdom. Jesus several times in the Gospels speaks about simple human wisdom, or common sense: to build on rock and not on sand; to count the cost of any enterprise, such as building a house, lest we would not have resources with which to finish it.

Paul instructs the Thessalonians, and therefore all of us, to conduct our lives in a way pleasing to God and to learn how to make greater progress in our relationship with God, our life of faith and our spirituality. We are to grow in holiness, as St Paul says.

This is both divine wisdom and simple human common sense. We see how the saints progressed in their spiritual lives, often leaving behind them, as Augustine did, a sinful way of life as they came to know Jesus more clearly and realized, with God's grace, the foolishness of their ways.