A Few Words About Wisdom

A lot of people are smart. They read a lot, know a lot of trivia, and can cite facts like a Jeopardy contestant. These people are considered wise, sages if you will. People of this nature are said to be full of wisdom.

And while it holds true that education never ends (or shouldn't), for many it does. And it is also true that the observant learn something new every single day. Keeping one's eyes open to their surroundings rather than looking down for coins will result in new knowledge.

Knowledge, much like fake news, may be gleaned from friends, family members and people we meet by happenstance. It may or may not be valuable knowledge, however. The fact is, not all knowledge is good, for it may be as fake as a counterfeit dollar bill. Therefore, we must be careful of the knowledge we seek and gain.

Modern education

Contemporary education may earn you a degree, a piece of parchment to proudly hang on your wall, but it doesn't necessarily make you wise or smart. The simple truth is that a lot of today's education is simply indoctrination.

As a student you are asked and even quizzed and tested on what the professor has lectured on. If you refuse to follow the narrative of the times, you are considered a radical, a bad student. Instead, to be a "good" student, you are compelled to regurgitate what has been taught in lectures. You may just as well be a Stepford Wife (an old flick about robotic women).

And don't get me started on academic essays that run counter to a professor's ideology (mostly liberals).

Regurgitation is not learning. Learning stems from questioning the lecturer, challenging the prevailing narrative. Scholars of old did this and were the wiser for it. Men and women of old did not buy into the lecture unless the professor was able to answer inquisitively posed questions.

A lot of students today believe they are learning but most are not, because they fail to seek true knowledge outside the classroom.

They are much too busy on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms in a feeble attempt to become rich and famous.

Or maybe their time is spent working a job, texting their bff's and chitchatting with the neighbors, or they are pursuing matters that are more pleasurable.

But perhaps some are single parents who are exhausted at the end of the day.

Am I chiding you now? Not at all. On the contrary, I am educating you!

Worldly wisdom

The wisdom of the world is paying you a wage, putting food on your tables, and hopefully offering you some semblance of a comfortable lifestyle. But this is hardly the wisdom we should be seeking. Hear me out. There is indeed a higher wisdom and let me explain it as simply as I am humanly able.

God's wisdom

Some of you knew I was going here. That's fine. That's my choice as a disciple of Jesus Christ, the fully God/Man who paid for the sins of the world for all who will believe on Him.

The LORD himself said:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8, NIV).

Jesus, who created the universe in obedience to the Father's plan, has a surpassing wisdom of all of humanity.

God's infallible word pleads with us frequently to seek wisdom above all things!

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile" (1 Corinthians 3:19-20, NIV).

You see, friends, Godly wisdom is, of course, from God and honors God. Godly wisdom begins with the fear of God (a deep, even profound respect for who He is and a hatred of sin), and this results in a holy life.

Conversely, worldly wisdom is not concerned whatsoever with honoring God but rather with pleasing the self.

How do we obtain Godly wisdom?

First, and as above, we fear the Lord. Then the primary method by which we gain godly wisdom is by learning God’s Word.

"May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word" (Psalm 119:169, NIV).

Therefore, if we are to become truly wise, each of us we must acquire wisdom from God (and that includes me). And guess what, friends and readers, who we will associate with on a daily basis will determine our wisdom.

"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm" (Proverbs 13:20, NIV).

In a veritable nutshell, those of us who want and seek godly wisdom will choose for our heroes those who exhibit wisdom in their personal lives.

"Indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:3-6, NIV).

It's our choice

Either we can choose to seek the wisdom of this passing world or we can choose to seek godly wisdom. What will it be for you? As for me and my house, we have chosen the latter and I encourage you to do the same. May the Lord give you discernment as you make your choice. Amen.