First what is wisdom?
Oxford English Dictionary defines wisdom as “Capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends; sometimes, less strictly, sound sense, esp. in practical affairs: opp. to folly;” also “Knowledge (esp. of a high or abstruse kind); enlightenment, learning, erudition.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon defines wisdom as “the right use of knowledge.”
Other definitions of wisdom include:
- the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.
- the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
- the body of knowledge and principles that develops within a specified society or period.
If I take Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s definition of wisdom, then it is the right use of knowledge. With all the knowledge that man has obtained, has he used it in the right way? My answer would be no.
Man is greedy for ____________ (you fill in the blank). Man will use whatever is at his disposal to obtain that what he is most greedy for, be it power, money, love, land, material things, etc. So how does this relate to wisdom? For example, if man has the knowledge to make money and will do it at whatever cost, is that really the right use of it? I would say no. It is ok to make money, but if you have to trample on others and use the knowledge you have obtain in a wrong way to make it, then that is not ok.
In order to be wise, man should be seeking God’s will for him. However, one of the first steps is? To fear the Lord.
Proverbs 1:6-8 New International Version (NIV)
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,
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.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
This was written by Solomon who was considered the wisest man on Earth. Look where this is placed within Proverbs, in Chapter 1.
We can have all the knowledge in the world, but without wisdom, that knowledge will be a complete waste and in the end it will be used in a way that lead to his own destruction.
Proverbs 12:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 14:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 16:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.
Proverbs 21:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
Here are 4 verses where Solomon told us that man does what he thinks is right, but it is not. There are many more throughout Proverbs. So what is Solomon trying to say? Stop doing things your way, this is not Burger King, and instead do things according to what God wants. It will not be an easy road, but you can do it. That problem is do you want to?