Proverbs
4:7 – Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy
getting get understanding.
We live in a world that puts a high priority on
education. I have heard it said that the generation of Americans 40 and under
has the highest percentage of college graduates in the history of the world. At
the same time, it contains the lowest percentage of people with any true job
skills. Whether or not these statistics are exactly accurate, the issue is
real. Modern education has produced an overabundance of people with degrees in
the humanities and arts who don’t know how to use a wrench. As I consider this,
I am forced to ask this question: what good is all that learning if it doesn’t
translate into any marketable skill? (I do not mean this to be derogatory; I
myself am an academic and not a tradesman.)The same idea can be applied to the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts. Wisdom is the skill to use those facts in a needed situation. Allow me to give an illustration. Knowledge is knowing that a desert path is 12.4 miles long. Wisdom is packing enough water for the hike (Scuderi). (To go a step further, insight is the forethought to build a lemonade stand at mile 6.)
The Bible has much to say about wisdom. The fear of the Lord is referred to as the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10). Wisdom will give the discretion to know when to keep silent and when to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Wisdom let us know that a gentle answer will turn away another person’s anger (Proverbs 15:1). Wisdom lets us know that it is not good to borrow because it makes us a slave to someone else’s desires (Proverbs 22:7). These are more than just head facts. They are sound principles of advice that, if heeded, will help one avoid many of life’s unnecessary pitfalls. In short, wisdom keeps us from acting hastily in adverse situations. It will help us make careful, informed decisions based on reason and logic instead of the emotion of the moment.
In II Samuel 1:27 King David has just learned that his father-in-law, King Saul, has been killed in battle. In David’s grief he utters these timeless words: “How are the mighty fallen.” Though his words are spoken as an exclamation, the questioning tone of David’s lament is unmistakable. How did one such as King Saul fall so far from God’s grace? I believe the answer is very simple. Saul thought he was smarter than God. He thought he didn’t need the advice of Samuel, the prophet of God. He thought he didn’t need the advice of his counselors and men of war. He was a law unto himself. Though he was a very talented and capable leader, his lack of wisdom caused him to fall far and hard. How are the mighty fallen!
The lesson for us today is noteworthy. None of us is an island. We are all in need of direction and guidance. Our own experiences are not enough. We must know how to apply the head knowledge we have in times of difficulty. We need the wisdom of the word of God and the advice of our elders. We don’t want the next generation to be a nation of people who can quote Shakespeare but can’t use a screwdriver.
We also don’t want the next generation to call itself Christian but not understand sound Biblical principles such as the sanctity of marriage, the principles of hard work, the value of spending less than you make, loyalty, etc. These things have made this country great and will preserve it into a new generation. The lack of these things will destroy us quicker than any terrorist organization. In short, we need wisdom. It will preserve us. Education is good. Knowledge is good. Wisdom is necessary.
Let us cling to wisdom. It will preserve us.
Blessings,
Spanish Pastor Jones
Works Cited
Scuderi, Royale. “What Are The Differences Between
Knowledge, Wisdom, and Insight?”Likehack.
Web. 18 March 2016