Some thoughts on Wisdom

   When the world thinks about wisdom, they think of the intellect. The worldly understanding of wisdom hinges on the human being's cognitive capacities, and in essence, is a concept of self-reliance. However, the reality that the Bible reveals allows us a special and undeserving revelation of, among other things, what wisdom really is. I am big on wisdom, and I think every Christian should be, too. As I unpack my thoughts on wisdom, with supporting scripture, I think you'll see why as well.

   It seems expedient to elucidate what wisdom is. Wisdom is usually defined along the lines of, “the application of knowledge.” However, I think that another way one can look at it is, “knowledge in action.” Wisdom is not knowledge, but it cannot be had without it. Wisdom presupposes knowledge, and subsequently is the utilization of knowledge. While there is no doubt that wisdom can be seen as an intellectual concept, the bible teaches us that there is a delineation between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. Therefore, it may benefit us to further define wisdom, such as, “The proper application of knowledge.” However, that being said, the bible further expounds on wisdom:

• Colossians 2:1 CSB - For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

• Colossians 2:2 CSB - I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery ​-- ​Christ.

• Colossians 2:3 CSB - In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

   

• Psalms 111:10 CSB - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.

   

• Proverbs 1:7 CSB - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

• Proverbs 9:10 CSB - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

   

• 1Corinthians 1:30 CSB - It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us ​-- ​our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,

   The scripture makes it apparent that true, godly wisdom begins with Christ Jesus. Wisdom is a person. One cannot truly be wise without having a intimate, authentic relationship with the Lord. As we can see in the above verses, and important part of this relationship is holy fear. This kind of fear mentioned in Psalms and Proverbs is somewhere in between being afraid for your life and intense reverence. This does not speak of a horror-movie kind of fear, but something more than heightened respect.

   This may seem complicated, but in reality, its simple. Once someone believes on Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit is given to the believer.

• John 14:16 CSB - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.

• John 14:17 CSB - "He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn't see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.

• John 14:26 CSB - "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

• John 15:26 CSB - "When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father ​-- ​the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father ​-- ​he will testify about me.

• John 16:13 CSB - "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.

• John 16:14 CSB - "He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

   These passages make it clear to us that one of the Holy Spirit's missions is to teach us of wisdom, which is personified in Christ. Wisdom comes through knowing Christ, and Jesus Himself is Himself wisdom. When we read the gospel accounts of His perfect, sinless life, we do indeed see, “The proper application of knowledge.” Awesome, isn't it?

   Now Solomon was given wisdom by God, and was wiser than any man, and yet in Ecclesiastes he reports that wisdom in and of itself does not lend to contentment. It can be a challenge to read through Ecclesiastes and not be bedraggled by the “vanity and vexations of spirit” which the book itself is replete with, but here are some pertinent verses to chew on:

• Ecclesiastes 1:16 CSB - I said to myself, "See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge."

• Ecclesiastes 1:17 CSB - I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.

• Ecclesiastes 1:18 CSB - For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.

• Ecclesiastes 8:16 CSB - When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one's eyes do not close in sleep day or night),

• Ecclesiastes 8:17 CSB - I observed all the work of God and concluded that a person is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a person labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if a wise person claims to know it, he is unable to discover it.

• Ecclesiastes 9:14 CSB - There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it.

• Ecclesiastes 9:15 CSB - Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

• Ecclesiastes 9:16 CSB - And I said, "Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded."

• Ecclesiastes 9:17 CSB - The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools.

   Solomon, however, does ultimately find the true wisdom, though I cannot say whether or not he realized it:

• Ecclesiastes 2:24 CSB - There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God's hand,

• Ecclesiastes 2:25 CSB - because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?

• Ecclesiastes 3:14 CSB - I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him.

• Ecclesiastes 3:15 CSB - Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. However, God seeks justice for the persecuted.

• Ecclesiastes 3:22 CSB - I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?

• Ecclesiastes 5:19 CSB - Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God,

• Ecclesiastes 5:20 CSB - for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

• Ecclesiastes 9:9 CSB - Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun.

• Ecclesiastes 9:10 CSB - Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

• Ecclesiastes 12:13 CSB - When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.

• Ecclesiastes 12:14 CSB - For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

   Solomon knew years before Paul that God was the source of wisdom, thought the mystery later revealed that Christ is the beginning and ultimate form of wisdom. If we want to set our hearts towards wisdom, we have nowhere else to start than with our beloved savior Himself. Not only is He wisdom personified, but He is also where godly wisdom begins. Let's be encouraged in the fact that Jesus will give us wisdom, after all James 1:5 says, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and it will be given to him.” Certainly, in the strange times we live in, we need wisdom to continue on (note that Christ Jesus is personified as wisdom here:)

• 2Peter 1:2 CSB - May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

• 2Peter 1:3 CSB - His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

• 2Peter 1:4 CSB - By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

• Philippians 4:6 CSB - Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

• Philippians 4:7 CSB - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

• Philippians 4:19 CSB - And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

   When the world thinks of wisdom, they think of the intellect. The minds of men. However, as born-again Christians, let us think of Christ. Christ is the beginning of wisdom, and is wisdom personified. When we have Him, we will not have to live in the “vanity and vexation of spirit,” that Solomon experienced, and the world lives in daily. Furthermore, let us be reminded of the lost souls that wallow in this mire daily and be moved to share wisdom with them. Thanks for reading this blog post. Hopefully this encourages you today. I'll leave you with some proverbs for you to peruse. Peace and Grace.

• Pro 2:6 CSB - For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

• Pro 3:13 CSB - Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding,

• Pro 10:31 CSB - The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

• Pro 14:8 CSB - The sensible person's wisdom is to consider his way, but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

• Pro 18:1 CSB - One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom.

• Pro 23:23 CSB - Buy ​-- ​and do not sell ​-- ​truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

• Pro 24:3 CSB - A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding;

• Pro 28:26 CSB - The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.