Wisdom

June 9, 2019

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” —Proverbs 1:5-7 NKJV

For generations, Solomon was known for his wisdom. Most of the sayings in the Biblical book of Proverbs are attributed to him, and the book itself begins by extolling the value of wisdom, which seems in this world to always to be in short supply. Wisdom is more than mere knowledge. Education is valuable and worthy of pursuit, but not for knowledge’s sake alone. Knowing is but part of an education; knowing what to do with knowledge is even more important; and knowing God is most important. Too many are book smart and life stupid.

Wise old Solomon is a good example of this. He asked for and received wisdom from God, but didn’t hold fast to that wisdom, allowing his sensual desires to overrule his judgment, which led to the division and eventually destruction of his nation and dynasty. Like most things in life, if you don’t use it, you lose it, and wisdom is like a leaky tire; unless you keep replenishing it, you’ll eventually go flat, and when that happens, everything stops. Progress ends. 

James said, “The wisdom from above is is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (3:17). Like Solomon, many today imagine they can be wise and dissolute at the same time. We cut corners, fudge integrity, toy with immorality. We follow the latest wisdom of the world and are puzzled when it doesn’t work out. Sin blinds, then it binds. I’ve never gone wrong when following Scripture. I’ve always gone wrong when I haven’t. I’m grateful tonight for the wisdom of the Word of God that has often made me wiser than the so-called experts of this world. That wisdom has been a lifesaver more than once, and I expect will be so again.