Wisdom is a word often employed in the English language. Despite its presence in common usage, its exalted place in most literature, and the high regard with which it is held across all religious and secular cultures, most people would probably find it hard to precisely define. Frequently, it is conflated with the word, knowledge. While it is dependent upon knowledge, it is definitely not just that. Other elements important to whatever wisdom is include among other things, skillfulness, prudence, cleverness, intelligence, and morality. But it is not solely any of those things.
Consider knowledge for a moment. One might know that certain substances diminish inhibitions in people and thereby make them more susceptible to suggestion. But to use that knowledge to obtain something from a person without their actual informed consent would be the opposite of wisdom. It might get a person what they think they want, but the long term consequences are evil and destructive to both the person who employed the substance, as well as to the person who unknowingly received it. One might be skillful at weaving entertaining and clever tales, but to use that skill to deceive others for personal gain isn’t wise, it’s immoral. So wisdom is something that transcends almost all of the elements that make it up. But one element it does not transcend, and from which it cannot be separated, is the element of understanding.
It is because of understanding that scripture tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). That short phrase, which is repeated multiple times throughout various scriptures, is one that expresses how an understanding of our place beneath an omniscient, omnipotent, and perfectly good and holy God will motivate us to use our intelligence, our cleverness, and our skills to prudently apply our knowledge toward good and moral purposes rather than toward purposes that interfere with God’s good and intended order. Biblical wisdom, then, is understanding what it is that we know, and properly applying it in ways that honor and please God, and that advance his superior purposes. In fact, a wise person will comprehend that his purposes are inferior to God’s, and will seek out God’s purposes, and then submit his own to the superior plans of his Lord. Doing so is a benefit to that person, as well as to those around him.
This is why the psalmist tells us that a house is built by wisdom and established by understanding (Psalm 24:3-5). Such wisdom and understanding will then allow for the builders of the home to use their knowledge to fill it with rich and pleasant things that can be appropriately enjoyed.
Many fools possess useful knowledge, but it is only the truly wise who apply that knowledge most properly. And this is because of their understanding of their place in a universe created and established by an all powerful, all knowing, ultimately wise, and perfectly righteous God who has set loving boundaries and enforces them.
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