Wednesday: The Life of Wisdom
One of the most beautiful stories in the Bible is found in the story of Solomon’s request to God, to give him above all things “an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9, NKJV).
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What important words did God say to Solomon that, had he heeded, would have spared the king the ruin that his possessions brought upon him? Why was what God said to him here so important for all of us? 1 Kings 3:14; see also 1 John 5:3, 1 Pet. 4:17.
Solomon had great wisdom, but wisdom in and of itself, if not acted upon and lived out, becomes nothing more than good information. In the biblical sense of the word, wisdom not acted upon is not truly wisdom. Many will be lost who will have had plenty of correct information about God and His requirements. But Solomon’s lack of obedience caused him to stray from the paths to which the Lord had called him. Only later in life did he truly come to his senses, writing in humility: “For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her” (Prov. 8:11, NKJV).
Wisdom is the application of knowledge and understanding. Knowledge represents the facts; understanding represents discernment; and wisdom comes in the process of applying our understanding and knowledge to our lives. A wise steward needs not just knowledge and understanding but the experience that comes from living out that knowledge and understanding.
Solomon’s example shows us how easily even the wisest and most understanding of people can get swept up in the emptiness of a materialist lifestyle if that person doesn’t live out the knowledge that he or she has been given.
| Compare 1 Corinthians 3:19 and Proverbs 24:13-14. What is the difference between the two kinds of wisdom talked about in these texts? Share your answers with class on Sabbath. |
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As a scientist and a teacher (reading instructor), I have always been fascinated with what my students (some even older and hence probably wiser than me) want from me. The moment you step into the lecture room, every one is quiet and visibly eager to listen to what you have to say. Such pursuit of information from a supposedly knowledgeable person is not only surprising but sometimes makes me wonder why they need it this eagerly. Of course the primary reason is to pass their exams and assessments, graduate and later get employed and have their own monies and stuff. Such is the attachment and the reasons for accumulating worldly information. If such eagerness and willingness can be applied to the pursuit of heavenly knowledge, we would live lives of fulfillment. Being taught by God himself and applying Godly skills to this challenging world would be of utmost importance for our salvation.
What is wisdom?
Wisdom is the application of knowledge and understanding. Knowledge represents the facts; understanding represents discernment; and wisdom comes in the process of applying our understanding and knowledge to our lives. A wise steward needs not just knowledge and understanding but the experience that comes from living out that knowledge and understanding'
A gift that grows by exercise and use of God's grace!
Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement; the quality of being wise.
Jason, how did Jesus define being wise in Matt 7: 24?
It would seem that it is wise to obey the Lord.
So obedience demonstrates one to be wise. (The Proverbs are filled with this conclusion. Also notice what Jesus says in the following verses concerning those who do not obey.)
In Daniel 2:21 Daniel exclaims that God "gives wisdom to the wise.
So might we conclude that God gives increased wisdom to the obedient? Jesus did teach that those who obey God "will know[understand] the doctrine[teachings]". Daniel also wrote what the messenger told him saying "the wise will understand" after mentioning that the wicked(disobedient) would not understand, meaning; those who obey the Lord will understand the prophecy given to Daniel that was sealed until the "time of the end".
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." (Proverbs 9:10).
Wisdom is to follow good not evil... God not the devil... Wisdom is to put knowledge into actions! For that, we surely need help! That help can come through the communion with God, which can be made simple by the relationship with His Son. To be truly wise we need to accept Jesus in our hearts!
These text in 1 King shows that God gift of wisdom are conditional...
Proverb 9:10
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverb 4:7
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
What a message. So many times we boast about our accomplishments and with all the knowledge we have gained at our top universities. It is a shame with all that knowledge we are still but fools without God's intervention in our ability to understand and make application in our daily lives.
Without God we can just be an educated fool.
... or indeed an uneducated one ...
I understand what you are saying Tracey-Ann, and if our university education was just to obtain a piece of paper allowing us to write letters after our name, and providing the opportunity to wear a bit of medieval fancy dress then education would be foolishness indeed. However there is another side to the discussion that should be addressed as well.
There is nothing worse that arrogant ignorance. A good education, rightly directed under the direction of the Holy Spirit has the potential to empower people to be powerful witnesses to the love of God.
God can use both the educated and uneducated if they are willing to be used by him.
I would not ask the question of "What is wisdom?" but rather the question of What is the difference between "the wisdom of the world" and the wisdom of God?
Pete, your question is a pertinent one and I think we need to emphasize that the situation is made more complex by the fact that worldly people can give Godly wisdom, and people claiming to be Godly can give worldly wisdom. I was once asked what the purpose of education was. I answered that a good education should provide students with the skills to detect and reject garbage! That is a skill that only comes with practice under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says that the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God, and the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world.
The world says to keep all your money for yourself. God says to give your money away will make you rich in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The difference between the two is that Honey is delicious but it's only for the stomach (1cor3:19). But wisdom which is knowledge and understanding is for the mind (proverb 24:13-14).
What is it that most fundamentally distinguishes or differentiates the Kingdom of God from the Kingdom of Darkness? It is this fundamental difference that will also be the fundamental distinguishing difference between the 'wisdom' of the world and the wisdom of God.