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Huh! I should think that you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and... heh heh heh... wisdom. - Dexter Jettster (Star Wars)
Only this Space Cowboy would start off a post about wisdom with a quote from a Star Wars movie. It may be a sign that I need some of that elusive wisdom because I chose not to quote a wise Star Wars character like Yoda or Obi Wan Kenobi in favor of something uttered by an intergalactic fry cook in a movie that I don't particularly care for instead.
Now that we have established how un-wise I am, let's delve into the meat of the matter. This week Terri and I started reading and studying the book of Proverbs. In case you are not familiar with that particular book of the Bible it focuses on ... you guessed it ... wisdom.
Lets look at some definitions of wisdom. I will start with Wikipedia, which again proves that I may not be all that wise:
Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledge, self-transcendence and non-attachment, and virtues such as ethics and benevolence.We could use a lot more of that in our society these days.
This is how the dictionary defines it:
1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.
I'm kinda worried that Wikipedia seems to have a better definition than the dictionary.
Here is a biblical definition of wisdom:
Indeed there is more about wisdom in scripture than you can find in popular texts.
Yes, even Star Wars though I still think it runs in second place, at least ahead of the dictionary.
In all seriousness, Proverbs lays it all out there.
Here is some info on Proverbs from The Bible Project:
Linked to Solomon and other wise men, the book of Proverbs includes hundreds of short, clever sayings designed to teach every person how to live and act wisely. Each saying touches on a common area of life and shows us what kind of world we live in and what it looks like to live well before God and toward others.
The wisdom in Proverbs is often described as a lady, but it's not an impersonal force. It's an attribute of God Himself. By fearing or respecting God and reading and obeying the wise, practical counsel found in this book, we develop the important skills and moral mindset we need to live successful, good and goodly lives in God's world.
More insight can be gained from Bible Study Tools:
According to the prologue (1:1-7), Proverbs was written to give "prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young" (1:4), and to make the wise even wiser (1:5). The frequent references to "my son(s)" (1:8,10; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1; 5:1) emphasize instructing the young and guiding them in a way of life that yields rewarding ends. Acquiring wisdom and knowing how to avoid the pitfalls of folly lead to personal well-being, happy family relationships, fruitful labors and good standing in the community (see outline, p. 1279). Although Proverbs is a practical book dealing with the art of living, it bases its practical wisdom solidly on the fear of the Lord (1:7; see Ps 34:8-14 and note). Throughout the book reverence for God and reliance on him are set forth as the path to life, prosperity and security (cf. 3:5-10; 9:10-12; 14:26-27; 16:3,6-7; 18:10; 19:23; 20:22; 22:4; 28:25; 29:25). Such godly wisdom is a virtual "tree of life" (3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4) that yields the happy life that God fashioned the creation to produce.
In the initial cycle of instruction (1:8 -- 9:18) the writer urges the young man to choose the way of wisdom (that leads to life) and shun the ways of folly (that, however tempting they may be, lead to death). The author chooses two prime exemplifications of folly to give concreteness to his exhortations: (1) to get ahead in the world by exploiting (even oppressing) others rather than by diligent and honest labor, and (2) to find sexual pleasure outside the bonds and responsibilities of marriage. Temptation to the one comes from the young man's male peers (1:10-19); temptation to the other comes from the adulterous woman (ch. 5; 6:20-35; ch. 7). Together, these two temptations illustrate the pervasiveness and power of the allurements to folly that the young man will face in life and must be prepared to resist (see also Literary Structure below).
The major collections of proverbs that follow range widely across the broad spectrum of human situations, relationships and responsibilities offering insights, warnings, instructions and counsels along with frequent motivations to heed them. The range and variety of these defy summation. However, an illustrative section can convey the general character, moral tone and scope of the collections. In a variety of situations and relationships the reader is exhorted to honesty, integrity, diligence, kindness, generosity, readiness to forgive, truthfulness, patience, humility, cheerfulness, loyalty, temperance, self-control and the prudent consideration of consequences that flow from attitudes, choices and/or actions. Anger should be held in check, violence and quarrelsomeness shunned, gossip avoided, arrogance repudiated. Drunkenness, gluttony, envy and greed should all be renounced. The poor are not to be exploited, the courts are not to be unjustly manipulated, legitimate authorities are to be honored. Parents should care for the proper instruction and discipline of their children, and children should duly honor their parents and bring no disgrace on them. Human observation and experience have taught the wise that a certain order is in place in God's creation. To honor it leads to known positive effects; to defy it leads only to unhappy consequences. All of life should be lived in conscious awareness of the unfailing scrutiny of the Lord of creation and in reliance on his generous providence.
Of course the best way to gain and understand God's wisdom is to study Proverbs, meditate on it, and pray about it.
Here is Proverbs1:
1 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[1]knowledge and discretion to the young- 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.[2]
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools[3] despise wisdom and instruction.
Wisdom's Warning
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for innocent blood, let's ambush some harmless soul; 12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us; we will all share the loot"- 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall[4] she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 "How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you- 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
Over the past few weeks I have heard a lot of sermons, both at my own church and at other churches across America that I have listened to, talk about wisdom. From that I have been lead to believe that this is something God is trying to teach us all, so I encourage everyone to study scripture to gain the wisdom our Lord has for us.
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