The situation today is: Lots of knowledge, but little understanding. Lots of means, but little meaning. Lots of know-how, but little know-why. Lots of sight, but little insight.A certain bumper sticker conveyed a similar sentiment with these words, "You are only young once, but you can be immature your whole life." In a word, what we sorely lack today is wisdom.
What is wisdom? How does wisdom differ from its close cousins knowledge, understanding, and discernment? Knowledge is that which comes from the ability to see, to hear, and to ascertain through experience. Knowledge resides in the intellect.
Understanding is insight into the nature of a thing, a deeper level of knowing. A church member distinguished understanding from knowledge when he confessed, "I don't understand all I know about that." I know that a computer works with a binary code of 0's and 1's, for example, but I don't understand how a computer works.
Discernment is the ability to distinguish one thing from another and often involves one's moral sensitivities, i.e., feelings about right and wrong. The discerning person not only distinguishes one thing from another but will normally proceed to make a moral judgment as to which is best.
Wisdom goes beyond knowledge, understanding, and discernment. Wisdom is to exercise sound judgment based on these so as to pursue a proper course of action. The Bible terms as wisdom (hokma) various skills and abilities, including skill in spinning (Exodus 35:25), tailoring (Exodus 28:3), engraving and embrodering (Exodus 35:35), goldsmithing (Jeremiah 10:9), solving riddles (Proverbs 1:6) and soothsaying (Genesis 41:8), as well as the ability to work as a military strategist or statesman (Isaiah 10:13; 29:14; Jeremiah 49:7), architect (Exodus 35:30 - 36:1), or sailor (Ezekiel 27:8).
Over and above all of these exercises of wisdom, the greatest wisdom known to Scripture is found in the skill of living well. True wisdom is to perceive the nature of this world as created by God and to live in accord with it. In other words, wisdom is getting tuned into God's frequency for life and living in that frequency.
Solomon opens chapter two of the great book of Proverbs in an urgent plea for an acceptance of wisdom and discernment. Solomon with inspired wisdom sets forth this plea in the form of “conditional statements,” that is, IF we accept the conditions of the promise, THEN the fulfillment of the promise shall be ours to enjoy. We might call them “if – then” promises.
Solomon declares, IF “thou receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee” (Proverbs 2:1), that is, to accept and retain the word of God in our minds, THEN you will receive wisdom. IF “thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2) – giving diligent attention to and have a favorable desire for wisdom, THEN you will obtain wisdom. IF “thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3) – sincerely and earnestly trying to do what is right, THEN you shall find wisdom. IF “thou seekest her as silver, and searceth for her as for hid treasures” (Proverbs 2:4) – having the willingness to take great pains to secure wisdom, THEN you will come to know wisdom. IF we are willing to do all these things just mentioned, THEN “shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5) and THEN “shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path” (Proverbs 2:9).
If we want to receive wisdom, we must have the knowledge of God, and to receive this knowledge we must embark on a diligent study of the Scriptures. “Give diligence [study – KJV] to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We must also be like the Bereans, where of them it is said, “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Having a knowledge of God is the only means by which we can intimately know God, and therefore, the only way which we can gain spiritual wisdom.
Solomon teaches, “For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding: He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; [He is] a shield to them that walk in integrity; That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints” (Proverbs 2:6-8). In God’s word we gain wisdom (v. 6), sound wisdom (v. 7), and wisdom that preserves (v. 8). IF we are diligent students of God’s word, THEN we shall dwell in the wisdom of God.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33).
Prayer: God our Savior, bring us back to you and fill our minds with your wisdom. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
May God bless you,
Julie
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