Email

Wisdom

Wisdom

Many people mistake the biblical references to wisdom as references to intelligence or learning. Paul criticizes the Corinthians for going to a secular court with fellow believers and questions them as to if they do not have anyone in their church who has the wisdom to decide a matter. Solomon strongly urged the acquisition of wisdom. The value of wisdom is a consistent biblical theme. Real wisdom is much more than just cleverness or study.

It has been said that the best education in the world comes from the school of hard knocks. The only problem is the tuition is so high. One can learn from his own experiences or the experiences of others. It is all too common that we only are willing to learn from others after we have had many painful experiences ourselves. For example, the lesson that profligate spending is unwise sadly often has to be learned from ones own painful experiences.

One reason the wisdom often seems elusive can be seen from the verse;

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Here we see pride facilitating the substitution of foolishness for wisdom. One might consider humility a requirement for truth which then can receive wisdom. For example, the young person who is humble and follows truth may be more receptive to advice from parents or older and wiser Christians that they avoid encumbering debt and foolish spending.

Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Here we can observe that wisdom is from God. This is true wisdom not to be confused with what the world calls wisdom.

James 3:14-15 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

The wisdom of the world is smug, clever, conniving, manipulative, deceptive, and serves selfish ambition. In contrast, Jesus is called the wisdom of God and all real wisdom is to be found in him. This distinction can be more clearly seen in an example contrasting the wisdom of the world represented by the bumper sticker “He who dies with the most toys wins" with the biblical admonition to surrender all for Christ (Luke 9:24).

It is sad that those who claim Christ so often fail to pursue him and grow in him that they might be filled with the wisdom that he has for those who earnestly seek him (James 1:5).

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Information about Christianity and the Christian life.