Based on the Little Red Book of Wisdom and the topic of finishing well.
Knowledge and wisdom are not the same. Knowledge is simply the collection of information, while wisdom is the ability to correctly apply that information. Examples:
Another way to define wisdom is God-given and God-centered discernment. True wisdom does not come from ourselves or other people, but from a complete reliance on the Holy Spirit.
There are some general (or “common sense”) principles of wisdom that both Scripture and the world teach (or at least parts of the world). Examples:
However, the vast majority of what the world teaches us is completely contrary to the Word of God. Examples:
These sharp disagreements extend to other crucial matters such as relationships, marriage, finances, time, ownership of possessions, and much more. As Christians, we must learn to rely on the Holy Spirit to help us recognize the Wisdom from Above versus the Wisdom from Below.
James 3:13-18, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-23, “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”
Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
God is omniscient, we are not. Therefore, His wisdom will always surpass ours.
The wisdom we receive from God can be divided into three categories: wisdom for our day-to-day life, wisdom for making decisions, and wisdom for building sound doctrine. Again, it is important to note that true wisdom comes from complete reliance on the Holy Spirit, not from rationalizing what we hear or read.
1 Corinthians 2:11, “For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”
This is wisdom of Biblical principles that direct how we live daily before God and how we treat others. While the Lord uses all Scripture to impart wisdom to us, the book of Proverbs contains much wisdom on how we are to live wisely for God.
Proverbs 1:1-7, “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
This is wisdom for when we have to make decisions. Some of these decisions may not have a clear-cut answer in Scripture. Examples:
These are situations that require us to go before the Lord in prayer and ask for His perfect guidance. We must then apply this knowledge through humble obedience.
James 1:5-6, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
GotQuestions has the following to say about doctrine, “The word translated “doctrine” means “instruction, especially as it applies to lifestyle application.” […] Doctrine is the worldview by which we govern our lives. If our doctrine is based soundly upon Scripture, we can know we are walking in the path God designed for us.” With this in mind, it is always important to take what we hear and test it against Scripture through the Holy Spirit’s guidance. This is important due to the myriad of false teachers and teachings there are, in addition to how easy it is for even believers to share statements produced not by the Spirit, but by the flesh.
1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 Corinthians 2:10-13, “these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
True wisdom comes from calling on God for His discernment in all things. If we live according to our own wisdom or that of the world’s, we risk missing God’s best for us. It is crucial we grow in wisdom daily through prayer and reading the Word, especially Proverbs.
Questions: